Environmental Protection Agency April 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer review workshop to review the external review draft report titled, ``Implications of Climate Change for Bioassessment Programs and Approaches to Account for Effects'' (EPA/600/R-11/036A) and its supporting document, ``Freshwater Biological Traits Database'' (EPA/ 600/R-11/038). The EPA also is announcing a 30-day public comment period for both documents. These draft documents were prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development. The main report identifies the components of state and tribal bioassessment programs that may be affected by climate change. The study (1) Investigates the potential to identify biological response signals to climate change within existing bioassessment data from Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah; (2) analyzes how biological responses can be categorized and interpreted; and, (3) assesses how the programs may influence decision-making processes. The study focused on benthic macroinvertebrates, i.e. animals without backbones that are larger than the size of a pencil point, which are important indicators used in bioassessments of shallow rivers and streams. The ultimate goals of the main report are (1) to provide a foundation for understanding the potential climatic vulnerability of bioassessment indicators, and, (2) to advance the development of specific strategies to ensure the effectiveness of monitoring and management plans under changing conditions. The results of the study support research needs and key actions identified in the ``National Water Program Strategy: A Response to Climate Change'' (U.S. EPA, 2008; https://water.epa.gov/ scitech/climatechange/strategy.cfm). The public comment period and the external peer review workshop are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the documents. EPA intends to forward public comments that are submitted in accordance with this notice and received by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2011, to the external peer review panel prior to the meeting for their consideration. When finalizing the draft documents, EPA will consider all public comments received throughout the 30-day period in accordance with this notice. EPA is releasing these draft documents solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. These documents have not been formally disseminated by EPA. They do not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. ERG invites the public to register to attend this workshop as observers. In addition, ERG invites the public to give oral and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft documents under review. The draft documents and EPA's peer review charge are available primarily via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at https:// www.epa.gov/ncea. In preparing final reports, EPA will consider ERG's report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

EPA is approving into the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP), amendments to the stage I vapor recovery rule and administrative changes to stage II vapor recovery rule submitted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on June 11, 2010. These rule revisions made volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission control requirements for filling at gasoline dispensing facilities more stringent by applying them statewide, making the rule applicable to smaller tanks and revising the requirements for newer submerged fill pipes. These new State requirements update the SIP consistent with new Federal requirements from January 10, 2008 area source National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for gasoline dispensing facilities. The revisions also delete references to compliance dates which have passed. The rules are approvable because they are consistent with the Clean Air Act (Act) and EPA regulations, and should result in additional emission reductions of VOCs throughout Indiana.

EPA is approving a request submitted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on November 24, 2010, to revise the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). These revisions address sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM) limits for Cargill, Incorporated (Cargill) at its facility in Hammond (Lake County), Indiana. Indiana's SO2 revisions tighten emission limits for some existing units at Cargill's Hammond facility and remove the references to other emission units that are no longer in operation, in accordance with the terms of a September 2005 Federal consent decree. The PM revisions reflect the permanent shutdown of, and changes in unit identification for other Cargill units.