Environmental Protection Agency October 16, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is announcing that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct a review of the draft document titled, ``Toxicological Review of Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene): In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/ 635/R-08/011A). The NAS is organizing, convening, and conducting this independent peer-review meeting. A public meeting of the NAS peer review panel will be held on November 13, 2008. The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development and was released on June 26, 2008, (73 FR 36321) 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. The draft ``Toxicological Review of Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene): In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' is available on the Internet on NCEA's home page under a June 26, 2008, Recent Additions entry and the Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. Copies are not available from NAS. In previous Federal Register notices concerning this draft document, EPA announced a 90-day public comment period that ended September 24, 2008, (73 FR 36321), as well as a public listening session that was held on August 18 (73 FR 43932). Submitted public comments may be accessed at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0461. EPA intends to forward public comments submitted in accordance with the June 26, 2008, Federal Register notice to the NAS for consideration by the external peer review panel prior to the November 13, 2008, meeting. In finalizing the draft document, EPA will consider public comments and recommendations from the expert panel. NAS invites the public to register to attend this peer review panel meeting as observers. In addition, NAS invites the public to give oral and/or provide written comments at the meeting regarding the draft document under review. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. A time limit for presentations will be specified by the NAS based on the number of registrants.

EPA is taking final action to revise the February 26, 2007 mobile source air toxics rule's requirements that specify which benzene control technologies a refiner may utilize to qualify to generate early benzene credits. This action will allow another specific benzene control technology, benzene alkylation, in addition to the four operational or technological changes specified in the current rule. This action also includes a general provision that allows a refiner to submit a request to EPA to approve other benzene-reducing operational changes or technologies for the purpose of generating early credits.

EPA is proposing to approve state implementation plan revisions submitted by the State of California to meet the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements applicable to the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), California 1-hour ozone nonattainment area. These requirements applied to the SJV following its reclassification from severe to extreme for the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard on April 16, 2004. Although EPA subsequently revoked the 1-hour ozone standard effective June 15, 2005, the requirement to submit a plan for that standard remains in effect for the SJV. EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revisions for the SJV as meeting applicable CAA requirements except for the provision addressing the reasonably available control technology requirements that the State has withdrawn.