Environmental Protection Agency 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is granting full approval of revisions to the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State of West Virginia through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) on August 31, 2011, with the exception of the narrow issue of the requirement to include condensable emissions of particulate matter (condensables) in the definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant'' in the State's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. These revisions pertaining to West Virginia's PSD program incorporate preconstruction permitting regulations for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) into the West Virginia SIP. In light of a comment received on the July 31, 2012 proposed rule, EPA is reviewing West Virginia State Rule 45CSR14 to determine the extent to which its definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant'' satisfies the corresponding Federal definition, and will address this issue in a separate action. In addition, EPA is granting full approval of the PSD portions of other related infrastructure submissions required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) which are necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 PM2.5 and ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS, with the exception of the narrow issue of the requirement to include condensables in the definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant.'' EPA will address this issue in a separate action. EPA is granting approval of these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern negative declarations for volatile organic compound (VOC) source categories for the SMAQMD. We are proposing to approve these negative declarations under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the next meeting of the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) will be held November 7 and 8, 2012 at EPA's Potomac Yards Building (2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202), Room 4120 North. The CHPAC was created to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on science, regulations, and other issues relating to children's environmental health.

EPA is taking final action to approve in part and conditionally approve in part portions of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions, submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR), Division of Air Quality (DAQ), as demonstrating that the State meets the SIP requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. North Carolina certified in two separate submissions that its SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are implemented, enforced, and maintained in North Carolina (hereafter referred to as ``infrastructure submissions''). With the exception of elements 110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 110(a)(2)(J), North Carolina's infrastructure submissions, provided to EPA on April 1, 2008, and September 21, 2009, address all the required infrastructure elements for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. With respect to sections 110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 110(a)(2)(J), EPA is conditionally approving these requirements.

This action proposes amending the calculation and monitoring methodologies for the Electronics Manufacturing, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Proposed changes include revising certain calculation methods and adding a new method, amending data reporting requirements, and clarifying terms and definitions. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of the new and revised data elements. Many of these proposed actions are in response to a petition to reconsider specific aspects of our regulations. This document also proposes amendments to the General Provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to reflect proposed changes to the reporting requirements for the Electronics Manufacturing sector.

EPA is proposing to approve portions of two state implementation plan (SIP) revisions, submitted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, on August 31, 2007, and April 29, 2010, to address the reasonable further progress (RFP) plan requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the portion of York County, South Carolina that is within the bi-state Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. 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. EPA is also providing the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEB) for volatile organic compounds that were included in South Carolina's RFP plan. Further, EPA is proposing to approve these MVEB. This proposed action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. EPA will take action on North Carolina's RFP plan 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 implementation plan revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Arizona to address the requirements regarding air pollution emergency episodes in Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

EPA is proposing to approve state implementation plan revisions, submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, on June 15, 2007, and November 30, 2009, to address the reasonable further progress (RFP) plan requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. 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. EPA is also providing the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEB) for volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides that were included in North Carolina's RFP plan. Further, EPA is proposing to approve these MVEB. This proposed action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. EPA will take action on South Carolina's RFP plan 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 implementation plan revisions as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views these submittals as noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse comments.

EPA is proposing to approve the submittal from the State of New Mexico pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that addresses the infrastructure elements specified in the CAA necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). We are proposing to find that the current New Mexico State Implementation Plan (SIP) meets the infrastructure elements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. We are also proposing to find that the current New Mexico SIP meets the CAA requirement which addresses the requirement that emissions from sources in the area do not interfere with prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) measures required in the SIP of any other state, with regard to the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 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). The ICR, entitled: ``Pesticide Data Call- In Program'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2288.02 and OMB Control No. 2070-0174, is currently scheduled to expire on November 30, 2012. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the ICR.

EPA is making two determinations regarding the Pittsburgh- Beaver Valley fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as ``the Pittsburgh Area'' or ``the Area''). First, EPA determines that the Area has attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination of attainment is based upon quality-assured, quality-controlled and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2008-2010 and 2009-2011 monitoring periods, showing that the Pittsburgh Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. In accordance with the EPA's applicable PM2.5 implementation rule, this determination of attainment suspends the requirements for the Area to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions related to the attainment of the standard for so long as the Area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA also determines, based on quality- assured, quality-controlled, and certified monitoring data for the 2007-2009 monitoring period, that the Area attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS by its applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is taking final action to partially approve and partially disapprove revisions to the State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina submitted on September 23, 2009, October 6, 2009, and September 18, 2009, respectively. EPA is approving the determinations, contained in those submittals, that the existing SIPs for Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina are adequate to meet the obligation under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) to address interstate transport requirements with regard to the 2006 24-hour particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Specifically, the interstate transport requirements contained in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA prohibit a state's emissions from significantly contributing to nonattainment or interfering with the maintenance of the NAAQS in any other state. EPA is approving the States' determinations that their existing SIPs satisfy this requirement and conclusion that additional control measures are not necessary under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) because emissions from Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina do not contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state. EPA is also disapproving the SIP submissions from Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina to the extent that they rely on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to meet the 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Because CAIR does not address the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, it cannot be relied upon to satisfy any requirements related to that NAAQS.

An Exposure Modeling Public Meeting (EMPM) will be held for one day on October 30, 2012. This notice announces the location and time for the meeting and sets forth the tentative agenda topics.

This document announces the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) responses to Agency Clearance requests, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.). 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires any person who intends to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) a new chemical (i.e., a chemical not on the TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory (TSCA Inventory)) to notify EPA and comply with the statutory provisions pertaining to the manufacture of new chemicals. In addition under TSCA, EPA is required to publish in the Federal Register a notice of receipt of a premanufacture notice (PMN) or an application for a test marketing exemption (TME), and to publish in the Federal Register periodic status reports on the new chemicals under review and the receipt of notices of commencement (NOC) to manufacture those chemicals. This document, which covers the period from August 20, 2012 to September 7, 2012, and provides the required notice and status report, consists of the PMNs and TMEs, both pending or expired, and the NOC to manufacture a new chemical that the Agency has received under TSCA section 5 during this time period.

EPA is proposing to update a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (``OCS'') Air Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources located within 25 miles of States' seaward boundaries must be updated periodically to remain consistent with the requirements of the corresponding onshore area (``COA''), as mandated by section 328(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (``the Act''). The portions of the OCS air regulations that are being updated pertain to the requirements for OCS sources by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (Ventura County APCD). The intended effect of approving the OCS requirements for the Ventura County APCD is to regulate emissions from OCS sources in accordance with the requirements onshore. The change to the existing requirements discussed below is proposed to be incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations and is listed in the appendix to the OCS air regulations.

EPA is taking final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions, submitted by the State of Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), as demonstrating that the State meets portions of the SIP requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. MDEQ certified that the Mississippi SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2 NAAQS are implemented, enforced, and maintained in Mississippi (hereafter referred to as ``infrastructure submissions''). With the exception of sections 110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 110(a)(2)(G), each of which will be addressed in separate actions, Mississippi's infrastructure submissions, provided to EPA on December 7, 2007, and October 6, 2009, address all the required infrastructure elements for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2 NAAQS.

EPA is proposing to amend the definition of heating oil in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act. This amendment would expand the scope of renewable fuels that can generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as heating oil to include fuel oil produced from qualifying renewable biomass that would be used to generate heat to warm buildings or other facilities where people live, work, recreate, or conduct other activities. Fuel oils used to generate process heat, power, or other functions would not be included in the amended definition. Producers or importers of fuel oil that meets the amended definition of heating oil would be allowed to generate RINs, provided that the fuel oil meets the other requirements specified in the RFS regulations. This proposed amendment would not modify or limit fuel included in the current definition of heating oil. We are also proposing amendments to the diesel sulfur program to provide additional flexibility for transmix processors that produce locomotive and marine diesel fuel. Specifically, we are proposing to reinstate an allowance for transmix processors to produce 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur diesel fuel for use in older technology locomotive and marine diesel outside of the Northeast Mid-Atlantic Area. We are also requesting comment on extending this allowance to outside of the Northeast Mid-Atlantic Area. These proposed amendments to the diesel transmix provisions are expected to result in reduced compliance costs for transmix processors and users of locomotive and marine diesel fuel while having a neutral or positive environmental impact. EPA is also proposing to amend the fuel marker requirements for 500 ppm sulfur locomotive and marine (LM) diesel fuel to address an oversight in the original rulemaking where the regulations failed to incorporate provisions described in the rulemaking preamble to allow for solvent yellow 124 marker to transition out of the distribution system.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address regional haze in the State of Hawaii. This FIP addresses the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act'') and EPA's rules concerning reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future and remedying any existing man-made impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas in the State of Hawaii. The FIP establishes an emissions cap of 3,550 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) per year from three specific fuel oil-fired, electric utility boilers on the Island of Hawaii beginning in 2018. The Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) can minimize impacts on the ratepayers by meeting the cap through the increased use of renewable energy and energy conservation. EPA finds that this control measure, in conjunction with other emissions control requirements that are already in place, will ensure that reasonable progress is made during this first planning period toward the national goal of no man-made visibility impairment by 2064 at Hawaii's two Class I areas. EPA worked closely with the State of Hawaii in the development of this plan and the State has agreed to incorporate the control requirements into the relevant permits. The State has indicated that it intends to take full responsibility for the development of future Regional Haze plans.

Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated, three new equivalent methods, one for measuring concentrations of PM2.5, one for measuring concentrations of PM10, and one for measuring concentrations of PM10-2.5 in the ambient air.

EPA is finalizing approval of revisions to the Washoe County Air District Board of Health (WCDBOH) portion of the Nevada State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action was proposed in the Federal Register on July 30, 2012 and concerns regulations regarding compliance with permit conditions, recordkeeping, source sampling and testing, and statements of compliance with 40 CFR Part 70 permits. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

EPA is taking final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to EPA on October 7, 2009, for the purpose of providing for attainment of the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the Alabama portion of the tri-state Chattanooga PM2.5 nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``Chattanooga Area'' or ``Area''). The Chattanooga Area is comprised of Catoosa and Walker Counties in Georgia; Hamilton County in Tennessee; and a portion of Jackson County in Alabama. The Alabama SIP revision (hereafter referred to as the ``attainment plan'') pertains only to the Alabama portion of the Chattanooga Area (hereafter referred to as ``Jackson County''). EPA is now taking final action to approve Alabama's October 7, 2009, SIP revision regarding reasonably available control technology (RACT) and reasonably available control measures (RACM); reasonable further progress (RFP); contingency measures; and, for transportation conformity purposes, an insignificance determination for PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the mobile source contribution to ambient PM2.5 levels for the Alabama portion of the Chattanooga Area. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and the ``Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule,'' hereafter referred to as the ``PM2.5 Implementation Rule,'' issued by EPA on April 25, 2007.

EPA is approving revisions to the Vermont State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) Air Pollution Control Division to EPA on February 14, 2011. The SIP revision modifies Vermont's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program to establish appropriate emission thresholds for determining which new stationary sources and modification projects become subject to Vermont's PSD permitting requirements for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. EPA proposed approval of these regulatory revisions on August 16, 2012, and received no comments. This action affects major stationary sources in Vermont that have GHG emissions above the thresholds established in the PSD regulations.

Tennessee has applied to EPA for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA proposes to grant final authorization to Tennessee. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is authorizing the changes by an immediate final rule. EPA did not issue a proposed rule prior to the immediate final rule because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. EPA has explained the reasons for this authorization in the preamble to the immediate final rule. Unless EPA receives written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the immediate final rule will become effective on the date it establishes, and we will not take further action on this proposal. If EPA receives comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw the immediate final rule and it will not take effect. EPA will then respond to public comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. You may not have another opportunity for comment. If you want to comment on this action, you must do so at this time.