Environmental Protection Agency January 18, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) concerning NESHAPs for hazardous waste combustors. This ICR is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA is proposing to simplify an existing provision in our marine diesel engine program that is intended to encourage owners of Great Lakes steamships to repower those steamships with cleaner marine diesel engines. The simplified program would automatically permit the use of residual fuel, through December 31, 2025, in a steamship if it has been repowered with a certified Tier 2 or later marine diesel engine, provided the steamship was operated exclusively on the Great Lakes and was in service on October 30, 2009. Steamships are powered by old, inefficient steam boilers. Voluntary replacement of these boilers with modern fuel-efficient marine diesel engines would result in reductions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides, even while the replacement diesel engines are operated on higher sulfur residual fuel, and would provide human health and welfare benefits for the people who live in the Great Lakes region. Conversion to new diesel engines would also result in considerable carbon dioxide reductions and fuel savings. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making this modification to the Great Lakes steamship incentive program as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD) and Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from stationary gas turbines. We are proposing to approve local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet via teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (ET). The Subcommittee will discuss sustainable communities, drinking water regulations and other issues and recommendations to the Administrator regarding environmental issues affecting small communities. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 1:40 p.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to davis.catherinem@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for appearances requires it. The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) will meet via teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET). The Committee will discuss the recommendations of the LGAC Workgroups and the SCAS. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Committee will hear comments from the public between 2:40 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET) on Monday, February 6, 2012. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for appearances requires it. Dates and Addresses: The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee meeting will be held by teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (ET). The Local Government Advisory Committee meeting will be held by teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET). Meeting summaries will be available after the meetings online at https://www.epa.gov/ocir/scas and can be obtained by written request to the DFO.

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 promulgating a final rule to incorporate the most recent versions of ASTM International (ASTM) standards into EPA regulations that provide flexibility to use alternatives to mercury- containing industrial thermometers. This final rule will allow the use of such alternatives in certain field and laboratory applications previously impermissible as part of compliance with EPA regulations. EPA believes the older embedded ASTM standards unnecessarily impede the use of effective, comparable, and available alternatives to mercury- containing industrial thermometers. Due to mercury's high toxicity, EPA seeks to reduce potential mercury exposures to humans and the environment by reducing the overall use of mercury-containing products, including mercury-containing industrial thermometers.