Environmental Protection Agency 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

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 announcing that the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE), under an Interagency agreement between the Department of Energy and EPA, will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer-review workshop to review the external review draft document titled, ``Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (NCEA-S-1620). The EPA also is announcing a public comment period for the draft document. EPA intends to consider comments and recommendations from the public and the expert panel meeting when EPA finalizes the draft document. The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward public comments submitted in accordance with this notice to ORISE for consideration by the external peer-review panel prior to the workshop. 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. ORISE invites the public to register to attend this workshop as observers. In addition, ORISE invites the public to give brief oral comments at the workshop regarding the draft document under review. The draft document and EPA's peer-review charge are available via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. When finalizing the draft document, EPA intends to consider ORISE's report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer-review workshop and any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92- 463, the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Technology for Sustainability Subcommittee.

EPA is approving revisions to the Tennessee State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on September 8, 2006. This revision incorporates provisions related to the implementation of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated on May 12, 2005, and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006, and December 13, 2006, and the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) concerning Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) annual, and NOX ozone season emissions for the State of Tennessee, promulgated on April 28, 2006, and subsequently revised December 13, 2006. On February 8, 2007, Tennessee requested that EPA only act on a portion of the September 8, 2006 submittal as an abbreviated SIP. Consequently, EPA is approving an abbreviated SIP revision that addresses the methodology to be used to allocate annual and ozone season NOX allowances under the CAIR FIPs and opt-in provisions for the SO2, NOX annual, and NOX ozone season trading programs. EPA is not making any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is amending, to the extent EPA approves Tennessee's SIP revision, the appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note that approval. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the State'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.

In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (``CAA'' or ``Act''), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement agreement, to address a lawsuit filed by the Ingersoll-Rand Company in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Ingersoll-Rand Co. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, No. 98-1597 (DC Cir.). Ingersoll-Rand's petition for review challenges EPA rules establishing standards for certain nonroad diesel engines. 63 FR 58967 (Oct. 23, 1998) (so-called Tier III standards). Under the terms of the proposed settlement agreement, EPA has agreed to propose rules (or issue direct final rules) amending the Tier III standards to allow certain additional flexibilities for equipment manufacturers which are not vertically integrated with the nonroad diesel engine manufacturer.

The State of New Mexico has applied to EPA for Final Authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA proposes to grant Final Authorization to the State of New Mexico. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is authorizing the changes by an immediate final rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the immediate final rule because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. We have explained the reasons for this authorization in the preamble to the immediate final rule. Unless we get written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the immediate final rule will become effective on the date it establishes, and we will not take further action on this proposal. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw the immediate final rule and it will not take effect. We will then respond to public comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. You may not have another opportunity for comment. If you want to comment on this action, you must do so at this time.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to establish a Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket (``the Docket'') under Section 120(c) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986. Section 120(c) requires EPA to establish a Docket that contains certain information reported to EPA by Federal facilities that manage hazardous waste or from which a reportable quantity of hazardous substances have been released. The Docket is used to identify Federal facilities that should be evaluated to determine if they pose a threat to public health or welfare and the environment and to provide a mechanism to make this information available to the public. CERCLA section 120(c) requires that the Docket be updated every six months, as new facilities are reported to EPA by Federal agencies. EPA publishes a list of newly reported facilities in the Federal Register. The Docket contains information that is submitted by Federal facilities under the following authorities: CERCLA 103, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sections 3005, 3010 and 3016. EPA published the first Docket in the Federal Register in 1988 (53 FR 4280). CERCLA section 120(d) requires that EPA take steps to assure that a Preliminary Assessment (PA) be completed for those sites identified in the Docket and that the evaluation and listing of sites with a PA be completed within a reasonable time frame. The PA is designed to provide information for EPA to consider when evaluating the site for potential response action or listing on the National Priorities List (NPL). Today's notice identifies the Federal facilities not previously listed on the Docket and reported to EPA since the last update of the Docket (70 FR 61616) on October 25, 2005, which was current as of February 4, 2005. In addition to the list of additions to the Docket, this notice includes a section with revisions (that is, corrections and deletions) of the previous Docket list. This update contains 13 additions and 2 deletions since the previous update, as well as numerous other corrections to the Docket list. At the time of publication of this notice, the new total number of Federal facilities listed on the Docket is 2,293.

Due to an adverse comment, EPA is withdrawing the June 26, 2007 direct final rule (72 FR 35015) to approve the actions of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to address the provisions of the Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In the June 26, 2007 direct final rule, we stated that if we received adverse comments by July 26, 2007, EPA would publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule would not take effect. EPA subsequently received adverse comment on that direct final rule. EPA will address all comments received in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed action also published on June 26, 2007 (72 FR 35022). EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document.

EPA is proposing to approve the State Plan submitted by Louisiana on October 25, 2006. The plan addresses the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), promulgated on May 18, 2005 and subsequently revised on June 9, 2006. EPA is proposing that the submitted State Plan fully implements the CAMR requirements for Louisiana. CAMR requires States to regulate emissions of mercury (Hg) from large coal-fired electric generating units (EGUs). CAMR establishes State budgets for annual EGU Hg emissions and requires States to submit State Plans that ensure that annual EGU Hg emissions will not exceed the applicable State budget. States have the flexibility to choose which control measures to adopt to achieve the budgets, including participating in the EPA-administered CAMR cap-and-trade program. In the State Plan that EPA is approving, Louisiana would meet CAMR requirements by participating in the EPA administered cap-and-trade program addressing Hg emissions.

EPA is taking direct final action approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Colorado. On September 25, 2006, the Governor's designee submitted revised carbon monoxide (CO) maintenance plans for the Denver metropolitan and Longmont areas for the CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). These revised maintenance plans address maintenance of the CO standard for a second ten-year period beyond redesignation, extends the horizon years, and contains revised transportation conformity budgets. In addition, Regulation No. 11, ``Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program,'' and Regulation No. 13, ``Oxygenated Fuels Program,'' are removed from Denver's and Longmont's revised CO maintenance plans. EPA is approving Denver's and Longmont's revised CO maintenance plans, and the revised transportation conformity budgets. In addition, EPA is also approving the removal of Regulation No. 11 and Regulation No. 13 from Denver's and Longmont's revised CO maintenance plans. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Montana. EPA is approving a request submitted by the State of Montana on May 27, 2005 requesting to redesignate the Missoula ``moderate'' carbon monoxide (CO) nonattainment area to attainment for the CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is also approving the CO maintenance plan, which was also submitted on May 27, 2005 and includes transportation conformity motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEB) for 2000, 2010, and 2020. Lastly, EPA is approving CO periodic emission inventories for 1993 and 1996 that the State had previously submitted for the Missoula nonattainment area. The intended effect of this action is to make federally enforceable those provisions that EPA is approving. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Louisiana has applied to the EPA for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this immediate final action. The EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. Unless we receive written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Louisiana's changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect, and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the changes.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the zucchini yellow mosaic virus-weak strain (ZYMV-WK) on cucurbits, including, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, muskmelons, winter and summer squash, pumpkins, zucchini and other cucurbits when applied/used as a viruscide to protect curcurbit crop plants against severe strains of zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Bio-Oz Biotechnologies Limited submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of ZYMV-WK strain.

This regulation establishes tolerances for the combined residues of lambda-cyhalothrin, 1:1 mixture of (S)-[alpha]-cyano-3- phenoxybenzyl-(Z)-(1R,3R)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-e nyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (R)-[alpha]-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl- (Z)-(1S,3S)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and its epimer expressed as epimer of lambda-cyhalothrin, a 1:1 mixture of (S)-[alpha]-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl- (Z)-(1S,3S)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (R)-[alpha]-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl- (Z)-(1R,3R)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate in or on cucurbit vegetables (Group 9), tuberous and corm vegetables (Subgroup 1C), grass (forage, fodder, and hay) (Group 17), barley, buckwheat, oat, rye, wild rice, and pistachios. Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. and the Interregional Project No. 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

In accordance with the requirements of section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement under section 122(h)(1) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h)(1), concerning the Weld County Waste Disposal Site located at 4982 Weld County Road 35, approximately 4\1/2\ miles east of Ft. Lupton, in Weld County, Colorado. This settlement, embodied in a CERCLA section 122(h) Agreement for Recovery of Past Response Costs (``Agreement''), is designed to resolve CBS Corporation's liability at the Site for past work and past response costs through covenants under sections 106 and 107 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607. The proposed Agreement requires CBS Corporation to pay a total of $178,118.15. Opportunity for Comment: For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will consider all comments received, and may modify or withdraw its consent to the Agreement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the Agreement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA Region 8's Central Records Center, 1595 Wynkoop Street, 3rd Floor, in Denver, Colorado.

In accordance with section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement for recovery of past response costs concerning the THORCO Transformer Time-Critical Removal Site in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with the following settling party: THORCO, Incorporated (THORCO). The settlement requires the settling party to pay $18,000.00 to the Hazardous Substance Superfund. The settlement includes a covenant not to sue the settling party pursuant to section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a). For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the U.S. EPA Region 10 offices, located at 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101.

Arkansas has applied to the EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this immediate final action. The EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. Unless we receive written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Arkansas' changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect, and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the changes.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB), as previously announced, will have teleconference meetings on August 15, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET; September 19, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET; October 17, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET; November 21, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET; and December 19, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the ideas and views presented at the previous ELAB meetings, as well as new business. Items to be discussed by ELAB over these coming meetings include: (1) Expanding the number of laboratories seeking National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) accreditation; (2) homeland security issues affecting the laboratory community; (3) ELAB support to the Agency's Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM); (4) implementing the performance approach; and (5) follow-up on some of ELAB's past recommendations and issues. In addition to these teleconferences, ELAB will be hosting their next face-to-face meeting on August 22, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Cambridge, MA at 10 a.m. (ET). An Open Forum for the public to bring issues forward to ELAB for their consideration to address as part of their work will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Cambridge, MA. Written comments on laboratory accreditation issues and/or environmental monitoring issues are encouraged and should be sent to Ms. Lara P. Autry, DFO, U.S. EPA (E243-05), 109 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, faxed to (919) 541-4261, or e-mailed to autry.lara@epa.gov. Members of the public are invited to listen to the teleconference calls, and time permitting, will be allowed to comment on issues discussed during this and previous ELAB meetings. Those persons interested in attending should call Lara P. Autry at (919) 541-5544 to obtain teleconference information. The number of lines for the teleconferences, however, are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Preference will be given to a group wishing to attend over a request from an individual. For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Lara P. Autry at the number above. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Lara P. Autry, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

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 for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board Staff Office announces two public teleconferences and a meeting of the EPA SAB Integrated Nitrogen Committee.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is publishing a direct final notice of deletion of the Bailey Waste Disposal Superfund Site (Site), located near Bridge City, Texas, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is appendix B of 40 CFR Part 300, which is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Texas, through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed and, therefore, further remedial action pursuant to CERCLA is not appropriate.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted a request on November 6, 2006, and supplemented it on November 29, 2006, December 4, 2006, December 13, 2006, January 11, 2007, March 9, 2007, March 27, 2007, and May 31, 2007, for redesignation of the Dayton-Springfield, Ohio area (Clark, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery Counties) to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. On June 20, 2007, EPA proposed to approve this submission. EPA provided a 30-day review and comment period. The comment period closed on July 20, 2007. EPA received one comment in favor of redesignation from the Dayton area Regional Air Pollution Control Agency. Today, EPA is approving Ohio's request and the associated plan for continuing to attain the standard. As part of this action, EPA is making a determination that the Dayton- Springfield area has attained the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based on three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2004-2006 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the area. Preliminary 2007 air quality data show that the area continues to attain the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is approving the maintenance plan for this area and is redesignating the area to attainment. Finally, EPA is approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the years 2005 and 2018.