Environmental Protection Agency January 19, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') of a proposed ability to pay administrative settlement agreement pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h). This settlement agreement is with Colville Post & Poles, Inc. and Eugene Spring (``Settling Parties'') to recover response costs that EPA incurred conducting a response action at the Colville Post & Poles, Inc. Site, near Colville, Washington. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Settling Parties agree to pay EPA $5,000 and all proceeds from the sale of the property at the Site, and to impose restrictions on the use of the property by executing and recording an environmental covenant. In exchange for this consideration, the proposed Agreement contains the United States covenant not to sue, subject to certain reservations set forth in the Agreement, provides protection from third-party law suits for contribution, and will, in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, release the Federal lien currently on the property.

The EPA is announcing the extension of the public comment period for the EPA's responses to state and tribal ozone designation recommendations for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The EPA sent the responses directly to the states and tribes on or about December 9, 2011. On December 20, 2011 (76 FR 78872, FRL- 9608-6), the EPA published a notice in the Federal Register that the EPA had posted the responses on its Internet Web site and the EPA invited public comment. In the notice, the EPA stated that public comments must be received on or before January 19, 2012. The EPA has received several requests from stakeholders for additional time to prepare their comments. Some of the requesters noted that the original 30-day comment period fell across two federal holidays. Taking that into consideration, the EPA is extending the comment period until February 3, 2012. The EPA intends to make final designation determinations for the 2008 ozone standards in spring 2012.