Environmental Protection Agency August 29, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) is preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of the review of the secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and oxides of sulfur (SOX). This ISA is intended to update the scientific assessment presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur Ecological Criteria (EPA 600/R-08/082F), published in December 2008. Interested parties are invited to assist the EPA in developing and refining the scientific information base for the review of the secondary NOX and SOX NAAQS by submitting research studies that have been published, accepted for publication, or presented at a public scientific meeting. The EPA is also announcing that a workshop entitled ``Workshop to Discuss Policy-Relevant Science to Inform EPA's Review of the Secondary NOX and SOX NAAQS'' is being organized by NCEA and the EPA Office of Air and Radiation's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). The workshop will be held October 1 to 3, 2013, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The workshop will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served basis up to the limits of available space.

EPA is approving, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the state of Michigan's request to redesignate the Detroit-Ann Arbor nonattainment area (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties) to attainment for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standard) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). On July 5, 2011, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) submitted a request for EPA to redesignate the Detroit-Ann Arbor Michigan nonattainment area. EPA determined that the Detroit-Ann Arbor area has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard, and proposed on July 2, 2013, to approve Michigan's request to redesignate the area. EPA is taking final action today on that proposal. EPA also is taking final action in this rulemaking on several related proposals. EPA is approving, as a revision to the Michigan state implementation plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 1997 annual and 2006 24- hour PM2.5 NAAQS in the area through 2023. Finally, EPA finds adequate and is approving Michigan's nitrogen oxides (NOX) and PM2.5 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for 2023 for the Detroit-Ann Arbor area. EPA, therefore, grants Michigan's request to redesignate the Detroit-Ann Arbor area to attainment for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards.

EPA is finalizing approval of revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action was proposed in the Federal Register on November 9, 2012 and concerns oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from biomass boilers. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted March 22, 2011. This revision does not add any additional requirements to the existing rule but amends the rule by adding language that better clarifies specific roles and responsibilities to the interagency consultation process requirements. The revisions to Missouri's rule do not have an adverse affect on air quality. EPA's approval of this SIP revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).