Environmental Protection Agency May 13, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In 2010, EPA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning renovation, repair, and painting activities in public and commercial buildings. EPA is in the process of determining whether these activities create lead-based paint hazards, and, for those that do, developing certification, training, and work practice requirements as directed by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This document announces a public meeting on June 26, 2013, and reopens the comment period for the December 31, 2012 Federal Register document to allow for additional data and other information to be submitted by the public and interested stakeholders.

EPA issued a Notice of Availability of the draft Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for New Hampshire, published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2013. A 30 day extension to the original comment period was published in the Federal Register April 4, 2013 and the comment period is currently set to expire on May 15, 2013. This notice extends the comment period from May 15, 2013 to August 15, 2013.

EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the State of Montana to demonstrate that the SIP meets the infrastructure requirements for the 1997 and 2006 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers ([mu]m) in diameter (PM2.5). The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that each state, after a new or revised NAAQS is promulgated, review their SIP to ensure that they meet infrastructure requirements. The State of Montana submitted a certification of their infrastructure SIP for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, dated February 10, 2010. EPA does not propose to act in this notice on the State's submissions to meet requirements relating to interstate transport of air pollution for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA will act on those submissions in a separate action.

EPA is proposing to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the State of North Dakota to demonstrate that the SIP meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers ([mu]m) in diameter (PM2.5) on July 18, 1997 and on October 17, 2006. The CAA requires that each state, after a new or revised NAAQS is promulgated, review their SIP to ensure that it meets the requirements of the ``infrastructure elements'' necessary to implement the new or revised NAAQS. On May 25, 2012, North Dakota submitted a certification of their infrastructure SIP for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. On August 12, 2010 and May 22, 2012, North Dakota submitted certifications of their infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. We are also proposing to approve two submissions from North Dakota that revise the SIP to address particular infrastructure elements. First, the State submitted revisions to the North Dakota Air Pollution Control Rules (NDAC) on January 24, 2013 that will update the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program by adopting by reference federal provisions as they exist as of January 1, 2012, which reflect the requirements of the 2010 PM2.5 Increment Rule. Second, on April 2, 2013, the State submitted revisions to the section of the SIP concerning state boards. EPA will act separately on certain requirements of the CAA relating to interstate transport of air pollution for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.