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

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period on our proposed amendments for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)Increments, Significant Impact Levels (SILs) and Significant Monitoring Concentration (SMC) (September 21, 2007). The EPA is extending the comment period that originally ends on November 20, 2007. The extended comment period will close on January 21, 2008. The EPA is extending the comment period because of the timely requests we received to do so.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin to accept requests, from December 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008, for grants to supplement State and Tribal Response Programs. This notice provides guidance on eligibility for funding, use of funding, grant mechanisms and process for awarding funding, the allocation system for distribution of funding, and terms and reporting under these grants. EPA has consulted with state and tribal officials in developing this guidance. The primary goal of this funding is to ensure that state and tribal response programs include, or are taking reasonable steps to include, certain elements and a public record. Another goal is to provide funding for other activities that increase the number of response actions conducted or overseen by a state or tribal response program. This funding is not intended to supplant current state or tribal funding for their response programs. Instead, it is to supplement their funding to increase their response capacity. For fiscal year 2008, EPA will consider funding requests up to a maximum of $1.5 million per state or tribe. Subject to the availability of funds, EPA regional personnel will be available to provide technical assistance to states and tribes as they apply for and carry out these grants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to discuss advisory activities for the coming year.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern particulate matter (PM) emissions from fugitive dust sources and cement manufacturing plants. We are proposing to approve local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

There will be a 4-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and review the Scientific Issues Associated with the Agency's Proposed Action under FIFRA 6(b) Notice of Intent to Cancel Carbofuran.