Environmental Protection Agency July 20, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing three amendments to the regulatory text in the prepared feeds manufacturing area source rule. First, this action would correct the date for new sources to submit a Notification of Compliance Status (NOCS) form. Second, this action would correct information that needs to be included in the Notification of Compliance Report for those small facilities that are not required to install cyclones on their pelleting operations. Third, this action would add language to the regulatory text requiring submittal of the annual compliance certification report that was inadvertently left out of the final rule. These corrections and clarifications would not change the standards established by the rule. These corrections and clarifications also would not result in the imposition of any costs beyond those included in the final rule.

As part of the review of the air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Ozone (O3), EPA is announcing that a workshop to evaluate initial draft materials for the health effects sections of the O3 Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) is being organized by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The workshop will be held on August 6, 2010, in Research Triangle Park, NC, and will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served basis up to the limits of available space.

EPA is proposing to approve Michigan's request to redesignate the Allegan County, Michigan 8-hour ozone nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) submitted this request on May 24, 2010 and supplemented it on June 16, 2010.

Under the Clean Air Act Section 211(o), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the Environmental Protection Agency is required to set the renewable fuel standards each November for the following year based on gasoline and diesel projections from EIA. Additionally, EPA is required to set the cellulosic biofuel standard each year based on the volume projected to be available during the following year, using EIA projections and assessments of production capability from industry. This regulatory action proposes these annual standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass- based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuels that apply to all gasoline and diesel produced or imported in year 2011. This action also presents two proposed changes to the RFS2 regulations. The first would create a temporary and limited means for certain renewable fuel producers to generate delayed RINs after they have produced and sold renewable fuel. This proposed provision would apply only to those producers who use canola oil, grain sorghum, pulpwood, or palm oil to produce renewable fuel. The second proposed regulatory provision would establish criteria for foreign countries to adopt an aggregate approach to compliance with the renewable biomass provision akin to that applicable to the U.S.