Environmental Protection Agency November 22, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA Region 10 proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Oil and Gas Geotechnical Surveying and Related Activities in Federal Waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Permit No. AKG-28-4300). As proposed, the Geotechnical General Permit authorizes twelve types of discharges from facilities engaged in oil and gas geotechnical surveys to evaluate the subsurface characteristics of the seafloor and related activities in federal waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Geotechnical borings are collected to assess the structural properties of subsurface soil conditions for potential placement of oil and gas installations, which may include production and drilling platforms, ice islands, anchor structures for floating exploration drilling vessels, and potential buried pipeline corridors. Geotechnical surveys result in a disturbance of the seafloor and produce discharges consisting of soil, rock and cuttings materials, in addition to facility-specific waste streams authorized under this general permit. Geotechnical related activities also result in a disturbance of the seafloor and produce similar discharges. These activities may include feasibility testing of equipment that disturbs the seafloor, and testing and evaluation of trenching technologies.

EPA has received an application to register a pesticide product containing an active ingredient not included in any previously registered pesticide product. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on the application.

EPA is approving two revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for Missouri that were submitted on September 5, 2012. The revision to the Missouri rule ``Restriction of Emission of Sulfur Compounds'' removes redundant sulfur dioxide standards and outdated compliance dates. Due to these revisions, several within-rule references are amended. Revisions to the Missouri rule ``Emissions Banking and Trading'' removes all definitions, as they are now included in the general definitions rule. The reference to the state's Ambient Air Quality Standards rule that is included in the definition of National Ambient Air Quality Standards is also removed. The revisions to Missouri's rules 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).

EPA is approving revisions and additions to the Wyoming State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) to EPA on March 8, 2013. The SIP revision to the Wyoming Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program updates the program to regulate permitting of sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Specifically, we are approving revisions to Wyoming's Air Quality Standards and Regulations (WAQSR) Chapter 1, Common Provisions, Section 3, Definitions, and Chapter 6, Permitting Requirements, Section 4, Prevention of Significant Deterioration, and the addition of Chapter 1, Section 7, Greenhouse Gases. EPA is also rescinding the GHG PSD Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for Wyoming that was put in place to ensure the availability of a permitting authority for GHG PSD permitting in Wyoming. EPA is taking this final action under section 110 and part C of the Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA).

EPA is announcing a 60-day public comment period for the draft document titled, ``First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Nitrogen OxidesHealth Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-13/202). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the primary (health-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provide the scientific basis for EPA decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA intends to develop a separate ISA, and NAAQS review, for the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for NO2, in conjunction with a review of the secondary NAAQS for sulfur dioxide. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). This draft document is not final as described in EPA's information quality guidelines, and it does not represent and should not be construed to represent Agency policy or views. EPA will consider any public comments submitted in response to this notice when revising the document.