Environmental Protection Agency October 4, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO)/State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) Working Committee on Pesticide Operations & Management (WC/POM) will hold a 2-day meeting, beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending October 2, 2007. This notice announces the location and times for the meeting and sets forth the tentative agenda topics.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) announces a 45-day public comment period for the draft document titled, ``Scientific and Ethical Approaches for Observational Exposure Studies.'' This public comment period will overlap an external peer review of the draft document by EPA's Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) and discussion at their meeting on October 24, 2007. Notice of the HSRB meeting was published in the Federal Register on September 27, 2007, at 72 FR 54908 (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0942) and is posted on the EPA HSRB Web site, https://www.epa.gov/osa/ hsrb/. The draft document presents ``state-of-the-science'' approaches for conducting observational exposure studies based on sound science and conforming to the highest ethical standards. These studies, which collect information on how people come into contact with chemicals as they go about their everyday activities, are critical to EPA's mission to protect human health. This document is intended to serve as a resource and reference for researchers and is not meant to represent an official Agency ``guidance document.'' EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. EPA will consider any public comments submitted in accordance with this notice when revising the document.

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This SIP revision pertains to the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer products. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the availability of the EPA Web site, ``Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS)''2007. EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) in the Office of Research and Development (ORD) led the development of the CADDIS Web site in response to strong demand within the EPA (e.g., the Office of Water) and from stakeholders and citizens across the United States seeking a defensible method for determining causes of ecological impairment. CADDIS guides users through EPA's Stressor Identification process, with interactive tools and methods, worksheets, and examples to help scientists and engineers evaluate causes of biological impairment observed in aquatic systems such as streams, lakes, and estuaries. Access: The CADDIS 2007 Web site can be accessed via the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/caddis/.

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Kentucky State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on July 19, 2007. 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 is proposing to determine that the SIP revision fully implements the CAIR requirements for Kentucky. Therefore, as a consequence of the SIP approval, EPA will also withdraw the CAIR Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) concerning sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) annual, and NOX ozone season emissions for Kentucky. 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 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, Kentucky would meet CAIR requirements by participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade programs addressing SO2, NOX annual, and NOX ozone season emissions. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP revision 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 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 proposed 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.