Environmental Protection Agency December 27, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board, as previously announced, holds teleconference meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, and two face-to-face meetings each calendar year. For 2012, teleconference only meetings will be February 15, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; March 21, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; April 18, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; May 16, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; June 20, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; July 18, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; September 19, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; October 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; November 21, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; and December 19, 2012 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the ideas and views presented at the previous ELAB meetings, as well as new business. Items to be discussed by ELAB over these coming meetings include: (1) Issues in continuing the expansion of national environmental accreditation; (2) ELAB support to the Agency on issues relating to measurement and monitoring for all programs; and (3) follow-up on some of ELAB's past recommendations and issues. In addition to these teleconferences, ELAB will be hosting its two face-to-face meetings on January 30, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota in Sarasota, FL at 8 a.m. Eastern Time and on August 6, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Teleconference lines will also be available for these meetings. Written comments on laboratory accreditation issues and/or environmental monitoring, or measurement issues are encouraged. These comments and should be sent to Ms. Lara P. Autry, Designated Federal Officer, US EPA, Mail Code E243-05, 109 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, or email her at autry.lara@epa.gov. Members of the public are invited to listen to the teleconference calls, and time permitting, will be allowed to comment on issues discussed during the ELAB meetings. Those persons interested in attending should call Lara P. Autry on (919) 541-5544 to obtain teleconference information. For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities or to request accommodation of a disability, please contact Lara P. Autry on the number above, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give the Agency as much time as possible to process your request.

EPA is approving the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d)/129 state plan (the Plan) submitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the State of Florida on December 21, 2010, for implementing and enforcing the Emissions Guidelines (EGs) applicable to existing Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWIs). These EGs apply to devices that combust any amount of hospital waste and/or medical/infectious waste.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for Kansas, submitted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on October 26, 2009, that addresses Regional Haze for the first implementation period. EPA has determined that the plan submitted by Kansas satisfies the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), for states to prevent any future and remedy and existing anthropogenic impairment of visibility in Class I areas caused by emissions of air pollutants located over a wide geographic area (also known as the ``regional haze'' program). EPA proposed to approve these revisions on August 23, 2011 (76 FR 52604).

In this final rule, EPA is concluding that emissions from Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin significantly contribute to downwind nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)in other states. Each of these states except Oklahoma is already included in the annual NOX program that was finalized in July 2011. However, this rule does not affect that program. EPA is finalizing Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) to address the emissions in each of these states except for Kansas, for which EPA is not finalizing a FIP at this time. The FIPs apply the requirements of the ozone season NOX program in the Transport Rule (Federal Implementation Plans to Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone in 27 States; Correction of SIP Approvals for 22 States) to sources in Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. In addition, this action finalizes the budgets; associated variability limits, new unit set-asides, and Indian country new unit set-asides; and unit-level allowance allocations for each state under the FIPs.