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

EPA conditionally granted the request from 3M for a waiver from testing tetrabromobisphenol A (CASRN 79-94-7). Regulations issued by EPA under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act require that specified chemical substances be tested to determine if they are contaminated with halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (HDDs) or halogenated dibenzofurans (HDFs), and that results be reported to EPA. However, the regulations allow for exclusion and waiver from these requirements if an appropriate application is submitted to EPA and is approved. EPA received such a request for a waiver from these testing requirements from 3M.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the augmented SAB Environmental Economics Advisory Committee to provide early advice on the value of water to the United States (U.S.) Economy. The SAB Staff Office also announces the availability of information on committee members and the opportunity for public comment.

Due to the receipt of adverse comments, EPA is withdrawing the September 27, 2011 (76 FR 59512), direct final rule approving Indiana's request to redesignate the Indianapolis, Indiana nonattainment area (Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, and Morgan Counties) to attainment for the 1997 annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In the direct final rule, EPA stated that if adverse comments were received by October 27, 2011, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. EPA has received adverse comments from three commenters and, therefore, is withdrawing the direct final rule. EPA will address the comments in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed action, also published on September 27, 2011 (76 FR 59599). EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.