Environmental Protection Agency April 25, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA's Regional Offices are proposing for public comment the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit for stormwater discharges from large and small construction activities. This draft construction general permit includes new requirements that implement the technology-based Effluent Limitation Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards, which were issued by EPA for the construction and development industry on December 1, 2009. The draft permit also includes new water quality-based requirements for construction sites discharging stormwater to waters requiring additional pollutant control. EPA proposes to issue this construction general permit for five (5) years, and to provide permit coverage to eligible existing and new construction projects in all areas of the country where EPA is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting authority, including Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico, Indian Country Lands, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and U.S. territories and protectorates.

EPA is notifying the public that it has received negative declarations for Other Solid Waste Incinerator (OSWI) units from the State of Florida; Large Municipal Waste Combustor (LMWC), Small Municipal Waste Combustor (SMWC), and OSWI units from Jefferson County, Kentucky; LMWC, SMWC, and OSWI units from Forsyth County, North Carolina; LMWC, SMWC, and OSWI units from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; LMWC, SMWC, Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator (HMIWI), and OSWI units from Buncombe County, North Carolina; and LMWC and HMIWI units from the State of South Carolina. These negative declarations certify that LMWC, SMWC, HMIWI, and OSWI units, as indicated above, subject to the requirements of Sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act do not exist in areas covered by the following air pollution control programs: Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Louisville, Kentucky, Air Pollution Control District; Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department; Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency; Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency; and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is publishing these negative declaration submittals as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The revisions add the primary and secondary lead standards of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\), related reference conditions, and update the list of appendices under ``Documents Incorporated by Reference.'' Virginia's SIP revisions for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead are consistent with the Federal lead standards. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

On November 30, 2010 EPA promulgated Subpart W: Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. As part of the provisions outlined in this rule, the EPA stated that the Agency would allow certain owners or operators to use best available monitoring methods (BAMM) in lieu of specified parameters outlined for calculating greenhouse gas emissions for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the greenhouse gas reporting rule. EPA is giving notice that the Agency has initiated the reconsideration process in response to requests for reconsideration of certain provisions in the regulations. First, EPA has been asked to reconsider the requirement to submit requests to use best available monitoring methods during the 2011 calendar year by April 30, 2011 and pursuant to its authority under CAA section 307(d)(7)(B) consequently is extending the deadline contained in those provisions until July 31, 2011. Second, EPA has also been asked to reconsider the time period during which owners and operators of certain specific sources could automatically use BAMM without having to request approval by the Administrator. As a result of this second request, pursuant to its authority under CAA section 307(d)(7)(B) EPA is also extending the date by which owners and operators of certain specific sources would not be required to request approval by the Administrator for the use of BAMM from June 30, 2011 until September 30, 2011.