Environmental Protection Agency 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is in part approving and in part conditionally approving two State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions made by the State of North Dakota. The SIP submissions demonstrate that North Dakota's SIP meets the requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for ozone on July 18, 1997. Section 110(a)(1) of the CAA requires that each state, after a new or revised NAAQS is promulgated, review their SIPs to ensure that they meet the requirements of the ``infrastructure elements'' of section 110(a)(2). The State of North Dakota submitted revisions to their Infrastructure SIP for the 1997 ozone NAAQS, dated April 6, 2009, as well as a certification of the adequacy of their infrastructure SIP for the 1997 ozone NAAQS, dated November 23, 2009. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of bifenthrin in or on tea, dried; grass, forage; and grass, hay. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This regulation additionally establishes time-limited tolerances in or on apple, nectarine, and peach under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The time-limited tolerances expire and are revoked on December 31, 2015. Finally, this regulation removes time-limited tolerances on orchardgrass, forage and orchardgrass, hay, as they will be superseded by permanent tolerances.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will hold a webinar/ teleconference meeting on October 17, 2012. EFAB is an EPA advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to provide advice and recommendations to EPA on creative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and activities. The purpose of this meeting is to hear from informed speakers on environmental finance issues, proposed legislation, and EPA priorities; to discuss activities and progress with regard to current EFAB work projects; and to consider recent requests for assistance from EPA offices. Environmental finance discussions are expected on the following topics: Clean air technology; tribal environmental programs; transit-oriented development in sustainable communities, energy efficiency/green house gas emissions reduction; drinking water pricing and infrastructure investment; and green infrastructure.

EPA is making several determinations relating to 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas in California. First, EPA is determining that six 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas in California (Amador and Calaveras Counties, Chico, Kern County, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, Nevada County, and Sutter County) (``six CA areas'') attained the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by their applicable attainment dates. Second, in making these determinations for Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties and Nevada County, EPA is also granting them one-year attainment date extensions. Lastly, EPA is determining that the six CA areas and the Ventura County 8-hour ozone nonattainment area in CA have attained and continue to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the most recent three years of data. Under the provisions of EPA's ozone implementation rule, these determinations suspend the requirements for these areas to submit revisions to the state implementation plan related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard for as long as these areas continue to meet the 1997 8- hour ozone NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting the petition submitted by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) to exclude or ``delist'' a certain wastewater treatment sludge generated by its facility in Essex Junction, Vermont from the lists of hazardous wastes. This final rule responds to a petition submitted by IBM to delist F006 waste. The F006 waste is sludge generated from IBM's Industrial Waste Treatment Plant (IWTP). After careful analysis and use of the Delisting Risk Assessment Software (DRAS), EPA has concluded the petitioned waste is not hazardous waste. The F006 exclusion is a conditional exclusion for 3,150 cubic yards per year of the F006 wastewater treatment sludge. Accordingly, this final rule excludes the petitioned waste from the requirements of hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) to incorporate a new Missouri regulation to restrict Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from fuel burning equipment used for indirect heating. The new regulation consolidates four existing area-specific regulations into one state- wide rule for clarity. The requirements prescribed in the new regulation are as stringent as the conditions specified in the currently approved SIP with the four existing area-specific regulations. EPA has determined that the SIP revision submitted by the State of Missouri satisfies the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The EPA Office of the Science Advisor announces that Versar, Inc., a contractor to the EPA, will convene an independent panel of experts to review the draft document, Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making. Any member of the public may register to attend this peer review meeting as an observer. Time will be set aside for observers to give brief oral comments on the draft document at the meeting. The draft document is available via the internet on the Risk Assessment Forum web page (https://www.epa.gov/raf/ frameworkhhra.htm).

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Regional Haze Regulations'' (EPA ICR No. 1813.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0421), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through October 31, 2012. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (77 FR 24952) on April 26, 2012, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

EPA is approving the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia (West Virginia) on July 8, 2011. This revision pertains to amendments of West Virginia's Legislative Rule regarding ambient air quality standards (45 CSR 8 Ambient Air Quality Standards). These amendments incorporate by reference the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in effect on June 1, 2010 for sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and lead. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This regulation amends the existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of polyoxin D zinc salt when used as a fungicide on almonds, cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, ginseng, grapes, pistachios, pome fruits, potatoes, and strawberries by expanding the current exemption to include all food commodities. This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of polyoxin D zinc salt in or on all food commodities when applied as a fungicide and used in accordance with good agricultural practices. On behalf of Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Conn & Smith, Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting that EPA amend the existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for polyoxin D zinc salt. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of polyoxin D zinc salt under the FFDCA.

This notice announces EPA's order for the cancellations, voluntarily requested by the registrants and accepted by the Agency, of the products listed in Table 1 and 2 of Unit II., pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This cancellation order follows a June 13, 2012 Federal Register Notice of Receipt of Requests from the registrants listed in Table 3 of Unit II. to voluntarily cancel these product registrations. In the June 13, 2012 notice, EPA indicated that it would issue an order implementing the cancellations, unless the Agency received substantive comments within the 30 day comment period that would merit its further review of these requests, or unless the registrants withdrew their requests. The Agency received notice from one registrant, Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corp, to withdraw their cancellation request for registration no. 002749- 00119, a tributyltin oxide product. EPA did not receive any other comments on the notice. Accordingly, EPA hereby issues in this notice a cancellation order granting the requested cancellations, with the exception of registration no. 002749-00119. Any distribution, sale, or use of the products subject to this cancellation order is permitted only in accordance with the terms of this order, including any existing stocks provisions.

EPA is evaluating a petition by Dakota Spirit AgEnergy for approval of a fuel pathway for its corn ethanol plant under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. The corn ethanol plant would import process steam from a combined heat and power (CHP) system located at an offsite facility. EPA is inviting comment on the application of a certain methodology for allocating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the steam and on the feasibility and appropriateness of using this allocation methodology for other similar CHP configurations under the RFS program.

Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated, in accordance with 40 CFR part 53, a new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of PM2.5 in the ambient air.

This action finalizes the residual risk and technology review conducted for the pulp and paper industry source category regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. The EPA is required to conduct residual risk and technology reviews under the Clean Air Act. This action finalizes amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants that include a requirement for 5-year repeat emissions testing for selected process equipment; revisions to provisions addressing periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction; a requirement for electronic reporting; additional test methods for measuring methanol emissions; and technical and editorial changes. The amendments are expected to ensure that control systems are properly maintained over time, ensure continuous compliance with standards and improve data accessibility; we estimate facilities nationwide will spend $2.1 million per year to comply.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. The SIP revision addresses the infrastructure elements specified in section 110(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 2008 lead national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). EPA is approving this SIP revision in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

The EPA is finalizing the designation of two new ocean dredged material disposal (ODMD) sites offshore of Yaquina Bay, Oregon, pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, as amended (MPRSA). On April 5, 2012, the EPA published a proposed rule to designate the sites and opened a public comment period under Docket ID No. EPA-R10-OW-2012-0197. The comment period closed on May 7, 2012. The EPA received several comments on the proposed rule. The EPA's responses are included in section 2.c of this final rule labeled ``Response to Comments Received.'' The EPA decided to finalize the action to designate the new sites because the new sites are needed to serve the long-term need for a location to dispose of material dredged from the Yaquina River navigation channel, and to provide a location for the disposal of dredged material for persons or entities who have received a permit for such disposal. The newly designated sites are subject to ongoing monitoring and management to ensure continued protection of the marine environment.

EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ). These revisions propose to allow the terms and conditions of various elements of the preconstruction program in Virginia to be combined into a single permit, establish limitations for issuance of Plantwide Applicability Limits (PALs), and provide an exemption to Virginia's New Source Review (NSR) Program for the use of alternate fuels. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This notice announces EPA's decision to identify certain water quality limited waters and the associated pollutant to be listed pursuant to the Clean Water Act Section 303(d)(2) on New York's list of impaired waters, and requests public comment. Section 303(d)(2) requires that States submit, and EPA approve or disapprove, lists of waters for which existing technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain or maintain State water quality standards and for which total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) must be prepared. On August 16, 2012, EPA disapproved New York's decision to exclude the Lower Esopus Creek from its 2012 303(d) list. EPA evaluated existing and readily available data and information and concluded that the applicable narrative water quality standard for turbidity is being exceeded in the Lower Esopus Creek. Based on this evaluation, EPA has determined that the Lower Esopus Creek is not fully attaining the water quality standards established by New York State and should be included on the State's 303(d) list of impaired waters. EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review its decision to add this water to New York's 303(d) list, as required by 40 CFR 130.7(d)(2). EPA will consider public comments before transmitting its final listing decision to the State.

The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'' or ``the Agency'') is issuing this direct final rule to update and clarify several sections of the Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) regulations associated with the manifesting requirements, which uses the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Today's changes are to match, as much as possible, the manifesting requirements for PCBs under TSCA to the manifesting requirements for hazardous waste under RCRA, of which the regulatory changes to implement the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest form were promulgated on March 4, 2005.

In this order, EPA denies an objection to a prior order denying a petition requesting that EPA revoke all pesticide tolerances for dichlorvos under section 408(d) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The objection was filed on February 1, 2008, by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The original petition was also filed by NRDC. Previously, in July 2008, EPA denied this same objection but the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated that decision, in part, and remanded the matter to EPA. This order is being issued in response to the court's remand.

In accordance with the RCRA Prospective Purchaser Agreement, notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement concerning a portion of the Delphi Flint West Site, a/k/a Chevy in the Hole in Flint, Michigan with the following settling party: The City of Flint. The settlement requires the Settling Party to conduct various actions at the Property including: Conducting a Phase 1 and Baseline Assessment of the Property; capping and enhancement of the existing cover over contaminated soils; planting of trees and other native vegetation; installing walkways; installing new groundwater monitoring wells and the performance of groundwater monitoring at new and existing wells; executing and recording a Declaration of Restrictive Covenant and providing access to the Property. The settlement includes a covenant not to sue the Settling Party pursuant to Sections 3008, 7003, or 9006 of RCRA, with respect to the Existing Contamination. Existing Contamination is defined as any Waste Material present or existing on or under the Property as of the Effective Date of the Settlement Agreement; any Waste Material that migrated from the Property prior to the Effective Date; and any Waste Material presently at the Site that migrates onto, on, under, or from the Property after the Effective Date. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the EPA, Region 5, Records Center, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., 7th Fl., Chicago, Illinois 60604.

EPA is finalizing approval of a revision to the SCAQMD portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action was published on June 1, 2012 and concerns particulate matter (PM) emissions from cement manufacturing facilities. We are approving a local rule that regulates this emission source under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The EPA is proposing revisions to its Phase I stormwater regulations to clarify that stormwater discharges from logging roads do not constitute stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity and that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is not required for these stormwater discharges.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has notified EPA that it has developed an Advanced Clean Car program (ACC) which combines the control of smog and soot causing pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into a single coordinated package of requirements for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles (and limited requirements related to heavy-duty vehicles). The ACC program includes revisions to California's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program as well as its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program. By letter dated June 27, 2012, CARB submitted a request that EPA grant a waiver of preemption under section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. 7543(b) for the revisions to the LEV program. CARB also seeks confirmation that the amendments to the ZEV program are within-the- scope of prior waiver decisions issued by EPA, or in the alternative requests a waiver for these revisions. This notice announces that EPA has scheduled a public hearing concerning California's request and that EPA is accepting written comment on the request.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of nitric acid (CAS Reg. No. 7697-37-2) when used as an inert ingredient in antimicrobial pesticide formulations applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy processing equipment, and food-processing equipment and utensils at a maximum level in the end-use concentration of 1,000 parts per million (ppm). Ecolab Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of nitric acid.