Environmental Protection Agency July 6, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection, EPA-New England, is issuing a notice of availability of the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits for certain Publicly Owned Treatment Works Treatment Plants (POTW treatment plants) and Other Treatment Works Treating Domestic Sewage (collectively, ``facilities'') in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including both Commonwealth and Indian country lands) and the State of New Hampshire. Throughout this document, these two permits are collectively referred to as the ``Publicly Owned Treatment Works General Permit'' (``POTW GP'' or the ``General Permit''). The General Permit replaces the prior POTW GP, which expired on September 23, 2010 (the ``expired POTW GP''). The POTW GP establishes Notice of Intent (``NOI'') requirements as well as effluent limitations, standards, and prohibitions for facilities that discharge to fresh and marine waters. Coverage under these General Permits is available to facilities in Massachusetts classified as minor facilities and to facilities in New Hampshire classified as major or minor facilities. Owners and/or operators of these facilities, including those facilities whose authorization to discharge under the expired POTW GP was administratively continued in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 558(c)) and 40 CFR 122.6, will be required to submit an NOI to be covered by the final POTW GP to both EPA-New England and the appropriate state agency, in accordance with the notification requirements of the General Permit. Following EPA and State review of the NOI, the facility will receive written notification from EPA whether coverage and authorization to discharge under the General Permit has been granted. The eligibility requirements for permit coverage, including the requirement that a facility have a receiving water dilution factor equal to or greater than 50, are provided in the General Permit. The General Permit does not cover new sources as defined under 40 CFR 122.2.

The Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyNew England Region, has determined that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the coastal waters of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, collectively termed the Outer Cape Cod for the purpose of this notice.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD), Kern County Air Pollution Control District (KCAPCD), and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from architectural coating operations. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

This notice announces the availability of EPA's preliminary human health risk assessment for the registration review of chlorpyrifos and opens a public comment period on this document. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. As part of the registration review process, the Agency has completed a comprehensive preliminary human health risk assessment for all chlorpyrifos uses. After reviewing comments received during the public comment period, EPA will issue a revised risk assessment, explain any changes to the preliminary risk assessment, and respond to comments and may request public input on risk mitigation before completing a proposed registration review decision for chlorpyrifos. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment.