Environmental Protection Agency December 17, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of the administrative record file for comment on 86 TMDLs and the calculations for these TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the state of Arkansas under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Several of these TMDLs available for notice, are being completed in response to the lawsuit styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Browner, et al., No. LR-C-99- 114.

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.

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 proposing a revision to the Nebraska State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the purpose of approving the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality's (NDEQ) actions to address the ``good neighbor'' provisions of the Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). These provisions require each state to submit a SIP that prohibits emissions that adversely affect another state's air quality through interstate transport. NDEQ has adequately addressed the four distinct elements related to the impact of interstate transport of air pollutants. These include prohibiting significant contribution to downwind nonattainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), interference with maintenance of the NAAQS, interference with plans in another state to prevent significant deterioration of air quality, and efforts of other states to protect visibility. The requirements for public notification were also met by NDEQ.

EPA is issuing this ANPR to invite comment from all interested parties on policy options and other issues related to the Agency's ongoing review of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (Pb). Consistent with recent modifications the Agency has made to its process for reviewing NAAQS, we are seeking broad public comment at this time to help inform the Agency's future proposed decisions on the adequacy of the current Pb NAAQS and on any revisions of the Pb NAAQS that may be appropriate. EPA is also soliciting comment on retaining Pb on the list of criteria pollutants and on maintaining NAAQS for Pb. As part of this review, the Agency has released several key documents that will inform the Agency's rulemaking. These documents include the Air Quality Criteria for Lead, released in 2006, which critically assesses and integrates relevant scientific information; risk assessment reports including the most recent report, Lead: Human Exposure and Health Risk Assessment for Selected Case Studies, which documents quantitative exposure analyses and risk assessments conducted for this review; and a recently released Staff Paper, Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead: Policy Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information, which presents an evaluation by staff in EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of the policy implications of the scientific information and quantitative assessments and OAQPS staff conclusions and recommendations on a range of policy options for the Agency's consideration. Under the terms of a court order, the Administrator will sign by September 1, 2008 a Notice of Final Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register. To meet this schedule, we anticipate the Administrator will sign a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in March 2008 for publication in the Federal Register, at which time further opportunity for public comment will be provided.