Environmental Protection Agency March 5, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Facilities that currently report Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) use either paper reporting forms or the online reporting software application known as the Toxics Release Inventory-Made Easy Web or simply TRI- MEweb. Effective January 1, 2013, EPA proposes to require facilities to report non-confidential TRI data to EPA using electronic software provided by the Agency. The only exception to this electronic reporting requirement would be for the few facilities that submit trade secret TRI information (including sanitized and unsanitized information), who would continue to submit their trade secret reporting forms and substantiation forms in hard copy. As of Reporting Year (RY) 2010, approximately 95 percent of TRI reporting facilities were using TRI- MEweb, making it possible for the Agency to process and expedite the release of TRI data to the public. Under this rulemaking, EPA would also require facilities to submit electronically (i.e., not on paper forms or CD-ROMs) any revisions or withdrawals of previously submitted TRI data. For trade secret submissions, EPA would still accept revisions or withdrawals of previously submitted trade secret information on paper forms.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provision of section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, and the requirements governing the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation, 40 CFR part 142, that the Commonwealth of Virginia is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. The Commonwealth has adopted the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule which will provide for better public health protection by reducing potential cancer and reproductive and developmental health risks from disinfection byproducts in drinking water and by reducing illness linked with Cryptosporidium and other pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations. EPA is taking action to tentatively approve these program revisions. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this determination and may request a public hearing.

EPA published a direct final rule on January 5, 2012 to amend the Renewable Fuel Standard program regulations. Because EPA received adverse comment, we are withdrawing the direct final rule.

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 renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on August 31, 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.