Environmental Protection Agency January 6, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). The NEJAC was chartered to provide advice regarding broad, crosscutting issues related to environmental justice. This notice solicits nominations to fill eight (8) new vacancies through June 15, 2015. To maintain the representation outlined by the charter, nominees will be selected to represent: Academia (1 vacancy); Business and industry (two vacancies); grassroots Community-based organizations (1 vacancy); Non-governmental/environmental organizations (1 vacancy); State and local government agencies (two vacancies); and Tribal governments (1 vacancy). Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by May 2012. Sources in addition to this Federal Register notice also may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide Kasugamycin (CAS No. 6980-18-3) to treat up to 10,000 acres of apples to control fire blight. The applicant proposes the use of a new chemical which has not been registered by the EPA. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

This action proposes amendments to the heat exchange system requirements of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for petroleum refineries in response to a petition for reconsideration filed by the American Petroleum Institute on the maximum achievable control technology standards we promulgated on October 28, 2009. We also are creating national uniform standards for heat exchange systems, largely based on the heat exchange system provisions that we adopted for petroleum refineries, and accompanying general provisions. We are proposing to revise the existing Petroleum Refinery NESHAP to cross-reference the uniform standard to allow an alternative option for complying with the standards for heat exchange systems. The proposed uniform standards would allow refiners to reduce monitoring frequency and burden by meeting a lower leak definition. If finalized, these national uniform standards would also be referenced, as appropriate, as we revise in the future NESHAP or new source performance standards for individual source categories that have heat exchange systems. Establishing a uniform standard for heat exchange systems is consistent with the objectives of Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, issued on January 18, 2011. We are also proposing other clarifications and technical corrections to the Petroleum Refineries NESHAP.