Environmental Protection Agency October 1, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on March 7, 2007. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) also previously submitted a final submittal dated June 16, 2006, which was subsequently updated in a prehearing request for parallel processing on November 16, 2006, to comply with EPA's revisions to the model rule. Alabama's final March 7, 2007, submittal replaces the State's June 16, 2006, and November 16, 2006, submittals. This revision addresses the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) promulgated on May 12, 2005, and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006, and December 13, 2006. EPA has determined that the SIP revision fully implements the CAIR requirements for Alabama. As a result of this action, EPA will also withdraw, through a separate rulemaking, the CAIR Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) concerning sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) annual, and NOX ozone season emissions for Alabama. 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 NOX that significantly contribute to, and interfere with maintenance of, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulates (PM2.5) 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 approving, Alabama has met the CAIR requirements by electing to participate in the EPA-administered cap- and-trade programs addressing SO2, NOX annual, and NOX ozone season emissions.

This notice announces final agency action on 14 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Red and Sabine River Basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Documents from the administrative record file for the 14 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at https:// www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/npdes/tmdl/index.htm. The administrative record file may be examined by calling or writing Ms. Diane Smith at the address below. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise EPA's definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for purposes of preparing State implementation plans (SIPs) to attain the national ambient air quality standard for ozone under Title I of the Clean Air Act (Act). This proposed revision would add compounds to the list of compounds excluded from the definition of VOC on the basis that these compounds make a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. The compounds under consideration are propylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate. The EPA is inviting comment on an alternative evaluation criteria for exempting one of these compounds (propylene carbonate), methods for tracking changes in the use and emissions of both of these compounds and their potential substitutes, and the potential for health risks that may result from this action.

Under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving notice of a meeting of the Total Coliform Rule Distribution System Advisory Committee (TCRDSAC). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the public health information, Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) framework, Total Coliform Rule (TCR) implementation and compliance, and issues that may affect finished water quality in distribution systems. The TCRDSAC advises and makes recommendations to the Agency on revisions to the Total Coliform Rule (TCR), and on what information should be collected, research conducted, and/or risk management strategies evaluated to better inform distribution system contaminant occurrence and associated public health risks. Topics to be discussed in the meeting include available public health information and how it relates to the TCR; how the TCR relates to other SDWA regulations, such as the Ground Water Rule; TCR implementation and compliance; and information on distribution system issues that may impact water quality.

EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to New Jersey's State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on February 6, 2007, and subsequently revised on July 9, 2007. This revision incorporates provisions related to the implementation of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), and the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (CAIR FIP) concerning SO2, NOX annual, NOX ozone season emissions for the State of New Jersey. The SIP revision that EPA is fully approving is an ``abbreviated'' SIP revision that addresses the methodology to be used to allocate annual and ozone season NOX allowances under the CAIR FIPs. The SIP revision that EPA is approving will also satisfy New Jersey's 110(a)(2)(D)(i) obligations to submit a SIP revision that contains adequate provisions to prohibit air emissions from adversely affecting another state's air quality through interstate transport. EPA is not making any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is amending the appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note approval of New Jersey's SIP revision.