Environmental Protection Agency June 11, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is announcing a public hearing to be held for the proposed rule ``Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements'' which published in the Federal Register on June 6, 2013. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Washington, DC

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) on November 12, 2012, concerning the state's Stage II vapor recovery (Stage II) program in southeast Wisconsin. The revision removes Stage II requirements as a component of the Wisconsin ozone SIP. The submittal also includes a demonstration under section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that addresses emissions impacts associated with the removal of the program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise in bioethics, biostatistics and human health risk assessment to be considered for appointment to its Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) advisory committee. Anticipated vacancies will be filled by September 1, 2013. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. Background: On February 6, 2006, the Agency published a final rule for the protection of human subjects in research that called for creating a new, independent human studies review board (i.e., HSRB). The HSRB is a federal advisory committee operating in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. 2 Sec. 9 (Pub. L. 92-463). The HSRB provides advice, information, and recommendations to EPA on issues related to scientific and ethical aspects of human subjects research. The major objectives of the HSRB are to provide advice and recommendations on: (1) Research proposals and protocols that include human subjects; (2) reports of completed research with human subjects; and (3) how to strengthen EPA's programs for protection of human subjects of research. The HSRB reports to the EPA Administrator through EPA's Science Advisor. General information concerning the HSRB, including its charter, current membership, and activities can be found on the EPA Web site at https://www.epa.gov/osa/ hsrb/. HSRB members serve as special government employees or regular government employees. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for either two or three year terms with the possibility of reappointment for additional terms, with a maximum of six years of service. The HSRB usually meets up to four times a year and the typical workload for HSRB members is approximately 40 to 50 hours per meeting, including the time spent at the meeting. Responsibilities of HSRB members include reviewing extensive background materials prior to meetings of the Board, preparing draft responses to Agency charge questions, attending Board meetings, participating in the discussion and deliberations at these meetings, drafting assigned sections of meeting reports, and helping to finalize Board reports. EPA compensates special government employees for their time and provides reimbursement for travel and other incidental expenses associated with official government business. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups. The qualifications of nominees for membership on the HSRB will be assessed in terms of the specific expertise sought for the HSRB. Qualified nominees who agree to be considered further will be included in a ``Short List''. The Short List of nominee names and biographical sketches will be posted for 14 calendar days for public comment on the HSRB Web site: https://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm. The public will be encouraged to provide additional information about the nominees that EPA should consider. At the completion of the comment period, EPA will select new Board members from the Short List. Candidates not selected for HSRB membership at this time may be considered for HSRB membership as vacancies arise in the future or for service as consultants to the HSRB. The Agency estimates that the names of Short List candidates will be posted in July 2013. However, please be advised that this is an approximate time frame and the date is subject to change. If you have any questions concerning posting of Short List candidates on the HSRB Web site, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Members of the HSRB are subject to the provisions of 5 CFR part 2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, as supplemented by the EPA in 5 CFR part 6401. In anticipation of this requirement, each nominee will be asked to submit confidential financial information that fully discloses, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support. The information provided is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to the public. Before a candidate is considered further for service on the HSRB, EPA will evaluate each candidate to assess whether there is any conflict of financial interest, appearance of a lack of impartiality, or prior involvement with matters likely to be reviewed by the Board. Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of several criteria, including: the professional background, expertise and experience that would contribute to the diversity of perspectives of the committee; interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and other attributes that would contribute to the HSRB's collaborative process; consensus building skills; absence of any financial conflicts of interest or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, or lack of independence, or bias; and the availability to attend meetings and administrative sessions, participate in teleconferences, develop policy recommendations to the Administrator, and prepare recommendations and advice in reports. Nominations should include a resume or curriculum vitae providing the nominee's educational background, qualifications, leadership positions in national associations or professional societies, relevant research experience and publications along with a short (one page) biography describing how the nominee meets the above criteria and other information that may be helpful in evaluating the nomination, as well as the nominee's current business address, email address, and daytime telephone number. Interested candidates may self-nominate. To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, nominees are requested to inform the Agency of how you learned of this opportunity. Final selection of HSRB members is a discretionary function of the Agency and will be announced on the HSRB Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm as soon as selections are made.

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is approving the request by Ohio to revise the Lima, Ohio 1997 8-hour ozone maintenance air quality State Implementation Plan (SIP) to replace motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) with budgets developed using EPA's Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) emissions model. Ohio submitted the SIP revision request to EPA on January 11, 2013.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is proposing to approve the request by Ohio to revise the 1997 8-hour ozone maintenance air quality State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Ohio portion of the Wheeling, West Virginia-Ohio area to replace the previously approved motor vehicle emissions budgets with budgets developed using EPA's Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) emissions model. Ohio submitted the SIP revision request to EPA on December 7, 2012.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions consist of two amendments: an amendment to the list of nonattainment areas; and an amendment to the 1997 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone for purposes of transportation conformity. EPA is approving these revisions to include the classification of Northern Virginia as ``marginal'' for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, and to revoke the 1997 ozone NAAQS for the purposes of transportation conformity as established by the EPA in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is approving Indiana's State Plan to control air pollutants from ``Sewage Sludge Incinerators'' (SSI). The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) submitted the State Plan on February 27, 2013. The State Plan is consistent with the Emission Guidelines (EGs) promulgated by EPA on March 21, 2011. This approval means that EPA finds that the State Plan meets applicable Clean Air Act (Act) requirements for subject SSI units. Once effective, this approval also makes the State Plan Federally enforceable.

EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Maryland on December 20, 2007, November 12, 2010, and June 22, 2011, as amended March 22, 2013. These SIP revisions pertain to adoption by Maryland of a Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program, which incorporates by reference California's second generation Low Emission Vehicle (LEVII) program regulations. Maryland's LEV regulations require new 2011 and subsequent model year passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or less that are sold in Maryland to meet California emission standards. The Clean Air Act (CAA) contains authority by which states other than California may adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards that are identical to California's standards. Maryland's supplemental SIP revisions submitted on November 12, 2010 and June 22, 2011 modify its program to harmonize with updates by California to its LEVII program and Federal GHG standards effective on 2012-2016 model year vehicles. The March 22, 2013 SIP amendment withdraws from the SIP revision submittal the portion of Maryland's LEV program rule that incorporates by reference a provision of California's rule regulating retrofit systems for conversion of motor vehicles to use natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas in lieu of the fuel on which they were originally certified. EPA is approving all of Maryland's LEV Program SIP revisions, except for the portion of Maryland's regulation withdrawn by Maryland from the SIP on March 22, 2013, in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.