Environmental Protection Agency May 4, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2012, the proposed rule, ``Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.'' The EPA is making two announcements: first, two public hearings will be held for the proposed Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, and, second, the comment period for this rulemaking will be extended until June 25, 2012.

EPA is announcing a workshop, organized by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the Office of Research and Development, to explore the possible ways by which mode- of-action and toxicity pathways approaches may contribute to interpretation of cumulative human health risks of the criteria air pollutants. The workshop will be held on May 31, 2012, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served basis up to the limits of available space.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD), and Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). We are proposing to approve revisions to local rules that define terms used in other air pollution regulations in these areas and a rule rescission that address Petroleum Coke Calcining OperationsOxides of Sulfur, under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

EPA is proposing to approve the ozone 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina on November 12, 2009, with additional information provided in a supplement dated April 5, 2010. The emissions inventory is part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina ozone attainment demonstration that was submitted for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``bi-state Charlotte Area'') is comprised of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North Carolina; and a portion of York County in South Carolina. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. EPA will take action on the South Carolina submission for the ozone 2002 base year emissions inventory, for its portion of the bi-state Charlotte Area, in a separate action. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments.

EPA has granted an experimental use permit (EUP) to the following pesticide applicant. An EUP permits use of a pesticide for experimental or research purposes only in accordance with the limitations in the permit.

This action amends the preamble and regulatory text to the ``Final Response to Petition From New Jersey Regarding SO2 Emissions From the Portland Generating Station'' published November 7, 2011, to revise minor misstatements. These revisions clarify the EPA's finding that the Portland Generating Station (Portland) significantly contributes to nonattainment or interferes with maintenance of the 1- hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the State of New Jersey and remove the references to specific New Jersey counties identified in the EPA's November 7, 2011, final rule. These revisions have no impact on any other provisions of the rule.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluoxastrobin in or on peanut and peanut, refined oil. Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of carfentrazone-ethyl in or on crop group 18, non-grass animal feed (forage, hay, and seed). FMC Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

EPA is taking direct final action to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) pertaining to the GenOn Chalk Point Generating Station (Chalk Point). These revisions approve specific provisions of a 2011 Consent Decree between MDE and GenOn to reduce particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SOX), and nitrogen oxides (NOX) from Chalk Point. These revisions also remove the 1978 and 1979 Consent Orders for the Chalk Point generating station from the Maryland SIP as those Consent Orders have been superseded by the 2011 Consent Decree. EPA is approving these SIP revisions because the reductions of PM, SOX, and NOX are beneficial for reducing ambient levels of the PM, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone. They also reduce visible emissions from Chalk Point. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).