Environmental Protection Agency 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA expressed environmental concerns about air quality, water quality and stormwater impacts, and requested that the final EIS and ROD commit to all stated mitigation measures. Rating EC1.

This document announces the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) responses 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.

EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register of October 8, 2008 proposing data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides. EPA received two requests to extend the comment period on the proposed rule. Today's document extends the comment period for 90 days, from January 6, 2009 to April 6, 2009.

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 May 31, 2009. 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.

This regulation amends the pesticide tolerance for isoxaflutole by removing isoxaflutole's benzoic acid metabolite (RPA 203328) from the established tolerance expression and revising downward tolerance levels for isoxaflutole in or on field corn. Bayer CropScience requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires any person who intends to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) a new chemical (i.e., a chemical not on the TSCA Inventory) to notify EPA and comply with the statutory provisions pertaining to the manufacture of new chemicals. Under sections 5(d)(2) and 5(d)(3) of TSCA, EPA is required to publish a notice of receipt of a premanufacture notice (PMN) or an application for a test marketing exemption (TME), and to publish periodic status reports on the chemicals under review and the receipt of notices of commencement to manufacture those chemicals. This status report, which covers the period from October 20, 2008 through October 31, 2008, consists of the PMNs or expired, and the notices of commencement to manufacture a new chemical that the Agency has received under TSCA section 5 during this time period.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of a final document entitled, ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and SulfurEcological Criteria,'' and the supplementary annexes (EPA/600/R-08/082F). The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA's secondary NAAQS are based on ecological and welfare effects.

EPA issued a direct final rule on October 15, 2008, entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Alaska; Interstate Transport of Pollution.'' This document makes a minor correction to the October 15, 2008, action to correct a typographical error in the regulatory text for the rule.

This document makes a correction to the Preamble of the final rule amending the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation published on November 26, 2008 (73 FR 71941). The final rule announced the vacatur of the July 17, 2002 revisions to the Clean Water Act section 311 regulatory definition of ``navigable waters'' in accordance with an order, issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (D.D.C.) in American Petroleum Institute v. Johnson, 541 F.Supp.2d 165 (D.D.C. 2008), invalidating those revisions and restoring the regulatory definition of ``navigable waters'' promulgated by EPA in 1973. The final rule amended the definition of ``navigable waters'' in part 112 to comply with that decision.

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.

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: ``Notice of Pesticide Registration by States to Meet a Special Local Need (SLN) under FIFRA Section 24(c)'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 0595.10 and OMB Control No. 2070-0055, is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2009. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection.

There will be a 3-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and review a set of scientific issues being considered by the Agency that are associated with the data required to register Plant- Incorporated Protectants (PIP).

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 and consolidate several existing approved Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the consolidated ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of this information collection. The consolidated ICR, entitled: ``Pesticide Registration Fees Program'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2330.01 and OMB Control No. 2070-new, will consolidate the following currently approved ICRs: ``Product Registration Maintenance Fees'' (EPA ICR No. 1214.07, OMB Control No. 2070-0100) and ``Pesticide Registration Fee Waivers (PRIA)'' (EPA ICR No. 2147.03, OMB Control No. 2070-0167).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of novaluron in or on sugarcane, cane and tomato. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). It also revokes the existing, time-limited tolerance for residues of novaluron in or on sugarcane, cane and revises the chemical name for novaluron in 40 CFR 180.598 to reflect EPA's preferred nomenclature.

In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of request for amendment by a registrant to delete uses in certain pesticide registrations. Section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA provides that a registrant of a pesticide product may at any time request that any of its pesticide registrations be amended to delete one or more uses. FIFRA further provides that, before acting on the request, EPA must publish a notice of receipt of any request in the Federal Register.

EPA is taking final action to repeal expired, and therefore, obsolete regulatory provisions regarding interim ocean dumping sites, interim ocean dumping permits, and interim ocean dumping criteria. Repeal of all reference to ``interim'' provisions is necessary based on legislation enacted since promulgation of the reference, EPA action since promulgation of the reference, or the passage of a date specified in a definition of the reference. This action does not make any substantive changes to EPA's ocean dumping regulations. This is a housekeeping measure intended only to eliminate confusion by repealing obsolete regulatory text.

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 March 31, 2009. 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.

On November 21, 2008, the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA made available a final report titled, Risk and Exposure Assessment to Support the Review of the NO2 Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard: Final Report. This final report has two primary purposes. The first is to convey the approaches taken to characterize human exposures and health risks associated with ambient NO2 and to present the results of these analyses. The second is to present a discussion of the NO2 scientific evidence and the exposure- and risk-based information specifically as it relates to the current and potential alternative NO2 standards.

On behalf of the U.S. government agencies comprising the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (hereafter USG), EPA is issuing this notice to promote transparency, increase awareness of the proposals concerning chemicals for addition to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereafter Convention), to make interested persons aware of the process for adding chemicals to the Convention, to indicate at which steps receiving comments or information from interested persons would be useful to the interagency process, and to indicate for those steps the type of information to be submitted and the due date. EPA is issuing this notice to ensure that the process for the review of chemicals proposed for addition to the Convention allows sufficient time for the submission and consideration of public comments on chemicals proposed for addition to the Convention. EPA, on behalf of USG, intends to issue future notices that alert interested persons to additional chemicals proposed for addition to the Convention and for which the approach to commenting described in this notice will be applied. EPA's responsibility with respect to this process will be to ensure that comments received are considered by the Agency as part of its internal process and to ensure that comments received are made available to USG for their consideration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to allow refiners and laboratories to use more current and improved fuel testing procedures with twelve American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) analytical test methods. Once these test method changes are adopted, they will supersede the corresponding earlier versions of these test methods in EPA's motor vehicle fuel regulations. EPA is also proposing to take action to allow an alternative test method for olefins in gasoline.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is proposing to enter into an administrative settlement agreement (``Settlement Agreement'') with Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (``Settling Party'') pursuant to section 122(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(h). The Settlement Agreement provides for Respondent's payment of certain past costs incurred at the Borden Chemicals Printing Site located within the City of Camden, Camden County, New Jersey (``Site''). In accordance with section 122(i) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), this notice is being published to inform the public of the proposed Settlement Agreement and of the opportunity to comment. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, EPA will receive written comments relating to the proposed Settlement Agreement. EPA will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the proposed settlement is inappropriate, improper or inadequate. EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, New York 10007-1866.

The EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted on December 19, 2007 by the State of Connecticut. This SIP revision includes regulations to update the enhanced motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in Connecticut. The revised program includes a test and repair network and on-board diagnostic (OBD2) testing for 1996 and newer vehicles. The intended effect of this action is to approve the revised program into the Connecticut SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD) and Kern County Air Pollution Control District (KCAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). Under authority of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act), we are approving local rules that address permitting.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from large water heaters and small boilers and process heaters. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).