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

EPA is proposing to approve three revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Two of these revisions relate to an amendment to Arizona's Basic and Enhanced Vehicle Emissions Inspection Programs that would exempt motorcycles in the Phoenix metropolitan area from emissions testing requirements. The third revision would expand the geographic area in which various air quality control measures, including the vehicle emissions inspection program but also including other control measures, apply in the Phoenix metropolitan area. EPA is proposing approval of these SIP revisions because we have found that they meet all applicable requirements and would not interfere with reasonable further progress or attainment of any of the national ambient air quality standards. EPA is proposing this action under the Clean Air Act obligation to take action on State submittals of revisions to state implementation plans.

In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (``CERCLA''), notice is hereby given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA''), Region 2, of a proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement for Recovery of Past Response Costs (``Agreement'') pursuant to Section 122(h)(1) of CERCLA, with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Corporation (``Settling Party''). The Settling Party is a potentially responsible party, pursuant to Section 107(a) of CERCLA, and thus is potentially liable for response costs incurred or to be incurred at or in connection with the Digital Equipment Corp. Superfund Site, a/k/a the PCB Horizon Site (``Site''), located in San German, Puerto Rico. Under this Agreement, the Settling Party agrees to pay a total of $50,000 to EPA in two equal payments for past response costs in accordance with the following schedule. Within five business days after the Settling Party receives notice from EPA that this Agreement has been signed by EPA, the Settling Party shall deposit its first payment of $25,000.00 into an interest-bearing escrow account. If the Agreement is made effective after public comment, the Settling Party shall within fifteen (15) days arrange to have the money from the escrow account paid to EPA. The Settling Party shall make its second payment of $25,000.00 to EPA 180 days after the effective date of this Agreement. EPA will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the Agreement if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the proposed Agreement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA Region 2 offices, 290 Broadway, New York, New York 10007-1866.

The EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan revisions submitted by the State of New Hampshire. These SIP revisions consist of a demonstration that New Hampshire meets the requirements of reasonably available control technology for oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds set forth by the Clean Air Act with respect to the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, revisions to existing rules controlling these pollutants, and source-specific orders for fifteen individual sources. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the state of Arizona pursuant to the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 1997 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and the 1997 and 2006 NAAQS for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The Clean Air Act requires that each State adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA. Arizona has met most of the applicable requirements. Where EPA is disapproving, in part, Arizona's SIP revisions, several of the deficiencies have already been addressed by a federal implementation plan (FIP). The remaining deficiencies are subject to a two-year deadline for EPA to promulgate a FIP, unless EPA approves an adequate SIP revision prior to that time. EPA remains committed to working with Arizona to develop such a SIP revision.