Environmental Protection Agency November 17, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is hereby granting a waiver of the Buy America requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2) [manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality] to the Town of Newburyport, Massachusetts (``Town'') for the purchase of a foreign manufactured rotary sludge dewatering press. This is a project specific waiver and only applies to the use of the specified product for the ARRA project being proposed. Any other ARRA recipient that wishes to use the same product must apply for a separate waiver based on project specific circumstances. The Town's proposed wastewater treatment facility improvements will include replacement of the existing belt filter presses for sludge generated at the plant. Based upon information submitted by the Town and its consultants, it was determined that two 4-channel rotary press sludge dewatering units, manufactured by Fournier Industries of Quebec, Canada, will meet the Town's design and performance specifications. The Acting Regional Administrator is making this determination based on the review and recommendations of the Municipal Assistance Unit. The Town, through its consulting engineers, has provided sufficient documentation to support their request. The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Administration and Resources Management has concurred on this decision to make an exception to Section 1605 of ARRA. This action permits the purchase of two 4-channel rotary press sludge dewatering units, manufactured by Fournier Industries, by the Town, as specified in its August 13, 2009 request, as part of the improvements to the wastewater treatment facility.

EPA is administeringunder the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs)the CAIR NOX Annual Trading Program Compliance Supplement Pool (CAIR CSP) for the States of Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The CAIR FIPs require the Administrator to determine by order the CAIR CSP allowance allocations for units in these States whose owners and operators requested and qualify for these allocations and to provide the public with the opportunity to object to the determinations of allocations and denials of allocations. On August 6, 2009, EPA issued a NODA setting forth such determinations in the Federal Register and provided an opportunity for submission of objections. Through the NODA issued today, EPA is making available to the public the Agency's determinations, after considering all objections, of CAIR CSP allowance allocations and denials of such allocations under the FIPs, as well as the data upon which the allocations and denials of allocations were based.

Notice of availability for a 30 day review and comment period is hereby given for six revised data standardsWell Information Data Standard, ESAR: Field Activity, ESAR: Monitoring Location, ESAR: Analysis and Results, ESAR: Project and Quality Assurance and Quality Control Data Standards.

EPA will begin to accept requests, from December 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010, for grants to supplement State and Tribal Response Programs. This notice provides guidance on eligibility for funding, use of funding, grant mechanisms and process for awarding funding, the allocation system for distribution of funding, and terms and reporting under these grants. EPA has consulted with state and tribal officials in developing this guidance.

EPA is amending the Final Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) to exclude from the regulation all documents and information submitted electronically to EPA by applicants for, and recipients of grants, cooperative agreements and other forms of financial assistance pursuant to EPA financial assistance regulations.