Environmental Protection Agency July 20, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on September 22, 2006, enacted at Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 33, Part III, Chapter 5, Section 506(C) (LAC 33:III.506(C)). This revision addresses the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Trading Program, promulgated on May 12, 2005 and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006. EPA is proposing to determine that the SIP revision fully implements the CAIR SO2 requirements for Louisiana. Therefore, as a consequence of the SIP approval, EPA will also withdraw the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (CAIR FIP) concerning SO2 emissions for Louisiana. The CAIR FIPs for all States in the CAIR region were promulgated on April 28, 2006 and subsequently revised on December 13, 2006. CAIR requires States to reduce emissions of SO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) that significantly contribute to, and interfere with maintenance of, the national ambient air quality standards for fine particulates and/or ozone in any downwind state. CAIR establishes State budgets for SO2 and NOX and requires States to submit SIP revisions that implement these budgets in States that EPA concluded did contribute to nonattainment in downwind states. States have the flexibility to choose which control measures to adopt to achieve the budgets, including participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade programs. In the SIP revision that EPA is proposing to approve, Louisiana would meet CAIR SO2 requirements by participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade program addressing SO2 emissions. The intended effect of this action is to reduce SO2 emissions from the State of Louisiana that are contributing to nonattainment of the PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) in downwind states. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA).

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 for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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.

This notice announces the opening of the application period for the U.S. EPA's second annual Water Efficiency Leader Awards. The awards recognize those organizations and individuals who are providing leadership and innovation in water efficient products and practices. These awards are intended to help foster a nationwide ethic of water efficiency, as well as to inspire, motivate, and recognize efforts to improve water efficiency. This program will enable EPA to document ``best practices'', share information, encourage an ethic of water efficiency, and create a network of water efficiency leaders. Recognition will be given on the basis of persuasive community or organizational leadership in the area of water efficiency, originality and innovativeness, national/global perspective and implications, and overall improvements in water efficiency. Actual (as opposed to anticipated) results are preferred and applicants should be able to demonstrate the amount of water saved. Candidates may be from anywhere in the United States, they may work in either the public or the private sector, and they may be either self-nominated or nominated by a third party. The following sectors are encouraged to apply: Corporations, Industry, Individuals, Non-Governmental Organizations and other Associations, Institutions, and Teams, Local, State, Tribal, and Federal Governments, and Military Individuals and Organizations. In order to be considered, applicants must have a satisfactory compliance record with respect to environmental regulations and requirements. Applications will be judged by a panel of national water efficiency experts from a variety of sectors. The panelists will provide recommendations to EPA, who will then make the final decision. EPA reserves the right to contact nominees for additional information should it be deemed necessary. To Apply: Send a one page description (single sided) of the water efficient project being nominated. Also send a completed and signed application form found at https://www.epa.gov/water/wel.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to enter into an amendment to an administrative settlement that resolved certain claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA) pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C 9622(h). In accordance with Section 122(i) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), this notice is being published to inform the public of the proposed amendment and of the opportunity to comment. The amendment will incorporate twenty-nine (29) additional Settling Parties into Settlement Agreement, CERCLA Docket No. 02-2004-2011, binding the new Settling Parties to the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement, which became effective on June 22, 2004. As a result of this amendment, and a previous amendment, effective on November 9, 2005, the total number of Settling Parties under the Settlement Agreement will be seventy-one (71). The new Settling Parties, and the previous Settling Parties, will be jointly and severally liable for the requirements of the Settlement Agreement, as amended, to pay up to $13,150,000 to fund EPA's performance of a remedial investigation and feasibility study (``RI/ FS'') for the Lower Passaic River Study Area of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site. Of this amount, $10,750,000 has already been paid; the amendment will make available up to $2,400,000 in additional contingent funding for those aspects of the RI/FS that EPA is performing. The Settling Parties have also recently entered into an administrative order on consent with EPA under which they will take over performance of most aspects of the RI/FS. By entering into the amendment, the new Settling Parties will resolve their potential liability for Past Response Costs incurred in connection with the RI/FS (defined as those costs incurred through the effective date of the original Settlement Agreement, June 22, 2004, which total $2,829,802.62), as well as certain Future Response Costs incurred in connection with the RI/FS (those costs up to $13,150,000 that the Settling Parties have collectively committed to pay). For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, EPA will receive written comments relating to the settlement. EPA will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the proposed settlement is inappropriate, improper or inadequate. EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, New York 10007-1866.