Environmental Protection Agency February 5, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is hereby granting a project waiver of the Buy American requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2) [manufactured goods are not produced in the United States of a satisfactory quality] to LaSalle for the purchase of membrane bioreactor (MBR) membrane racks, which include the hollow fiber membrane modules and the associated proprietary mechanical equipment to secure the membranes in the tank. This is a project- specific waiver and only applies to the use of the specified product for the ARRA funded project being proposed. Any other ARRA project that may wish to use the same product must apply for a separate waiver based on project-specific circumstances. These hollow fiber membrane racks, which are supplied by Siemens Water Technologies Corporation, are manufactured in Australia and China, and meet LaSalle's performance specifications and requirements. The Acting Regional Administrator is making this determination based on the review and recommendations of EPA Region 5's Water Division. LaSalle has provided sufficient documentation to support its request, as detailed below. 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 hollow fiber membrane racks for LaSalle's ``East Side Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Project'' that may otherwise be prohibited under Section 1605(a) of the ARRA.

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 (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.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of December 9, 2009, making available for comment a policy paper entitled ``Revised Risk Assessment Methods for Workers, Children of Workers in Agricultural Fields, and Pesticides with No Food Uses,'' that describes how the Agency plans to use revised methods in conducting risk assessments for pesticide uses and exposures not governed by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Implementing this policy will increase protections, especially for agricultural workers and children of workers in agricultural fields. The December 9, 2009 notice announced the availability of the policy paper and opened a public comment period of 60 days (until February 8, 2010). Today's notice extends the comment period for an additional 60 days, from February 8, 2010, to April 12, 2010.