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

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is requesting that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ozone nonattainment Area (or ``Area'') be redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is composed of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties. EPA is approving the ozone redesignation request for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, PADEP submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area that provides for continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. EPA is approving the 8-hour maintenance plan. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, which EPA is approving. In addition, EPA is approving the adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the Scranton/Wilkes- Barre Area maintenance plan for purposes of transportation conformity, and is approving those MVEBs. EPA is approving the redesignation request, and the maintenance plan and the 2002 base year emissions inventory as revisions to the Pennsylvania SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting nominations of a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to fill vacancies on the Good Neighbor Environmental Board. Vacancies are expected to be filled by February 15, 2008, and so nominations are requested to be received by December 15, 2007.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

EPA is proposing to update a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (``OCS'') Air Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources located within 25 miles of States' seaward boundaries must be updated periodically to remain consistent with the requirements of the corresponding onshore area (``COA''), as mandated by section 328(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (``the Act''). The portions of the OCS air regulations that are being updated pertain to the requirements for OCS sources by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (Santa Barbara County APCD), South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (Ventura County APCD). The intended effect of approving the OCS requirements for the Santa Barbara County APCD, South Coast AQMD, and Ventura County APCD is to regulate emissions from OCS sources in accordance with the requirements onshore. The change to the existing requirements discussed below is proposed to be incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations and is listed in the appendix to the OCS air regulations.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

EPA is announcing a public comment period for the external review draft document titled, ``Toxicological Review of 1,2,3- Trichloropropane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (NCEA-S-1669). The EPA intends to consider comments and recommendations from the public and the expert panel meeting, which will be scheduled at a later date and announced in the Federal Register, when EPA finalizes the draft document. The public comment period will provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward public comments, submitted in accordance with this notice, to the external peer-review panel prior to the workshop for their consideration. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre- dissemination public 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. The draft document is available via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at www.epa.gov/ncea. When finalizing the draft document, EPA intends to consider any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

This document announces the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) response to Agency Clearance requests, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

This notice announces the Agency's decision not to initiate a Special Review of Ethyl Parathion and its decision to terminate the Special Review of Tributyltin (TBT) used in antifouling paints. The Agency has taken these actions because all pesticide registrations of ethyl parathion and all TBT antifouling paints are canceled. These decisions were proposed in the Federal Register on August 8, 2007 and the Agency received no comments in response to these proposed decisions.

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 to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR, entitled: ``Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1759.05 and OMB Control No. 2070-0148, is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection.

EPA issued a final rule in the Federal Register of May 16, 2007, concerning the establishment of tolerances for combined residues of pendimethalin and its metabolites, 4-[(1-ethylpropyl)amino]-2- methyl-3-5-dinitrobenzyl alcohol in or on various commodities. This document is being issued to correct the amendatory language.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations for membership on the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. The membership of this committee will include a balanced representation of interested persons with relevant experience to contribute to the functions of the committee and will be drawn from farm groups, conservation and environmental groups, agricultural processors and retailers, academia, citizen's groups and tribal governments. Background: In order to help EPA build a more positive and proactive relationship with the agricultural industry to protect human health and the environment, the EPA is forming a Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. This Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator on environmental issues and programs that impact, or are of concern to, farms, ranches and rural communities. The Committee expects to meet approximately two (2) times a year, or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer DFO). Meetings will be held in Washington DC and the EPA regions. Members serve on the Committee in a voluntary capacity. However, EPA may provide reimbursement for travel expenses associated with official government business. Because of the nature of the issues to be discussed, it is the intent of the Agency for the Committee to have a majority of members who are actively engaged in farming or ranching. Members may represent farmers, ranchers, and rural communities large and small, crop and livestock, commodity and specialty, regionally balancedand the rural suppliers, marketers, and processors that serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities; as well as the academic/research community who do research on environmental issues impacting agriculture, tribal agriculture groups, state and local government representatives, and environmental/conservation groups. USDA and other Federal agencies, as appropriate, will be invited to nominate members to serve as regular government employees. In selecting committee members, EPA will consider each candidate's qualifications including, but not limited to, whether the candidate is: Actively engaged in farming. Occupies a senior position within their organization. Holds leadership positions in ag-related organizations, businesses and/or workgroups. Has broad experience outside of their current position. Has experience working on issues where building consensus is necessary. Has membership in professional societies, broad-based networks or the equivalent. Has extensive experience in the environmental field dealing with agricultural issues. Provides services to producers. Is involved in processing, retailing, manufacturing and distribution of agricultural products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's (CASAC) Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Primary NAAQS Review Panel (Panel) to conduct a peer review of EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur OxidesHealth Criteria (First External Review Draft) (EPA/600/R-07/108, September 2007) and to conduct a consultation on the EPA's Sulfur Oxides Health Assessment Plan: Scope and Methods for Exposure and Risk Assessment.

Section 110(h) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (the ``Act''), requires EPA by November 15, 1995, and every three years thereafter, to assemble the requirements of the Federally enforceable State Implementation Plans (SIPs) in each State and to publish notice in the Federal Register of the availability of such documents. This notice of availability fulfills the three-year requirement of making these SIP compilations for each State available to the public.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) and the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action revises and adds various definitions of terms used by the ICAPCD and MBUAPCD. We are proposing to approve these local rules under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

This regulation extends time-limited tolerances for residues of cyprodinil in or on onion, dry bulb; onion, green; and strawberry. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). The tolerances will expire on December 31, 2009.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

EPA is approving a Tribal Implementation Plan (TIP) submitted by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut. The TIP establishes an enforceable cap on nitrogen oxide emissions from stationary sources owned by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority and located within the external boundaries of the Mohegan Reservation. This action is intended to help attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

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 to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR, entitled TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Test Rule Exemptions, and Voluntary Data Submission and identified by EPA ICR No. 1139.08 and OMB Control No. 2070-0033, is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

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 Total Coliform Rule (TCR) revision and information about distribution systems issues that may impact water quality. The TCRDSAC advises and makes recommendations to the Agency on revisions to the 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: TCR rule objectives and how the TCR relates to other Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, TCR indicator framework, TCR implementation and compliance analysis, potential ways to revise the TCR, and an assessment of the information on distribution system issues that may impact water quality.

EPA expressed environmental concerns about the cumulative impacts related to the recent decision to resume year-round training operations in the Eagle River Flats area at Fort Richardson, AK. EPA recommended a cumulative impact analysis, particularly on water resources and the Cook Inlet Beluga whale population in this area. Rating EC2.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update motor vehicle refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment standards. Under Clean Air Act Section 609, motor vehicle air- conditioning (MVAC) refrigerant handling equipment must be certified by the Administrator or an independent organization approved by the Administrator and, at a minimum, must be as stringent as the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in effect as of the date of the enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. In 1997, EPA promulgated regulations that required the use of SAE Standard J2210, HFC-134a Recycling Equipment for Mobile Air Conditioning Systems for certification of MVAC refrigerant handling equipment. SAE has replaced Standard J2210 with J2788, Recovery/Recycle and Recovery/Recycle/ Recharging Equipment for HFC-134a Refrigerant. To avoid confusion, EPA is updating its reference to include the new SAE standards. This action reflects a change in industry standard practice. This action proposes to revise the EPA addresses to send equipment certification forms.

Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated, in accordance with 40 CFR part 53, two new equivalent methods: One for measuring concentrations of ozone (O3) in the ambient air and one for measuring concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the ambient air.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel (CASAC Panel) to conduct a consultation on EPA's Draft Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (Draft Integrated Plan for Review of the PM NAAQS, October 16, 2007).