Environmental Protection Agency December 7, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is issuing this NODA in support of the proposed rule published on May 14, 2007, entitled Standards of Performance for Petroleum Refineries. EPA received a number of comments on the proposed rule and is in the process of evaluating those comments. During the review of recently received comments, we determined that data and analyses were inadvertently left out of the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2007- 0011. This NODA notifies the public that we have added data and analyses to the docket and provides an additional comment period for the proposed rule. Comments on all aspects of this proposal are welcome.

EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to vegetation, historic woodlands, and the cultural landscape, soil contamination, and surface and groundwater. EPA also expressed concern about transportation and environmental justice issues. Rating EC2.

EPA is approving revisions to the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR), through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), on September 26, 2007. The revisions include modifications to Georgia's Air Quality Rules found at Chapter 391-3-20-.21, pertaining to rules for Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance (I/M). Enhanced I/M was required for 1-hour nonattainment areas classified as serious and above, under the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990. The I/M program is a way to ensure that vehicles are maintained properly and verify that the emission control system is operating correctly, in order to reduce vehicle-related emissions. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the CAA.

EPA is issuing this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to invite comment from all interested parties on our plan to propose new emission standards and other related provisions for new compression-ignition marine engines with per cylinder displacement at or above 30 liters per cylinder. We refer to these engines as Category 3 marine engines. We are considering standards for achieving large reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and particulate matter (PM) through the use of technologies such as in-cylinder controls, aftertreatment, and low sulfur fuel, starting as early as 2011. Category 3 marine engines are important contributors to our nation's air pollution today and these engines are projected to continue generating large amounts of NOX, PM, and sulfur oxides (SOX) that contribute to nonattainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 and ozone across the United States. Ozone and PM2.5 are associated with serious public health problems including premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function. Category 3 marine engines are of concern as a source of diesel exhaust, which has been classified by EPA as a likely human carcinogen. A program such as the one under consideration would significantly reduce the contribution of Category 3 marine engines to national inventories of NOX, PM, and SOX, as well as air toxics, and would reduce public exposure to those pollutants.