Environmental Protection Agency February 18, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the New Mexico State Implementation Plan (SIP) at New Mexico Administrative Code 20.11.3 and 20.11.4, concerning transportation conformity and general conformity rules for Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The plan revision is intended to ensure consistency with amendments to the federal Transportation Conformity Rule and the federal General Conformity Rule. These plan revisions meet statutory and regulatory requirements, and are consistent with EPA's guidance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Information (OEI) is giving notice that it proposes to create a new system of records pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). EPA is implementing the My Workplace system of records utilizing Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint Online to deliver a cost effective, user-friendly, collaboration solution that will enhance productivity by facilitating communication, coordination and collaboration Agency-wide.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of two revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to EPA on October 5, 2010, and December 2, 2013. Together, these two SIP submittals revise the Texas Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Program to provide for the regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and clarify the applicability of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for all PSD permit applications. The December 2, 2013, submittal is a request for parallel processing of revisions proposed by the TCEQ on October 23, 2013. The December 2, 2013, submittal includes proposed revisions to the Texas SIP to provide the State of Texas with the express authority to regulate GHG emissions, issue PSD permits governing GHG emissions, establish appropriate emission thresholds for determining which new stationary sources and modifications to existing stationary sources become subject to Texas's PSD permitting requirements for their GHG emissions, and revises several Minor New Source Review (NSR) provisions to specify that Minor NSR permit mechanisms cannot be used for authorizing GHG emissions. The December 2, 2013, SIP revision also defers until July 21, 2014, application of the PSD permitting requirements to biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources. The October 5, 2010, submittal revises the Texas SIP to clarify that all PSD permits must undergo BACT review consistent with the requirements in the Federal and Texas PSD programs. EPA is proposing to approve portions of the October 5, 2010, and December 2, 2013, SIP revisions to the Texas SIP and NSR permitting program as consistent with federal requirements for PSD permitting of GHG emissions. EPA is proposing to sever and take no action on the portion of the October 5, 2010, SIP revision which pertains to the Texas Minor NSR program for Qualified Facilities. EPA is also proposing to sever and take no action on the portion of the December 2, 2013, SIP revision that relates to the provisions of EPA's July 20, 2011, ``Deferral for CO2 Emissions from Bioenergy and other Biogenic Sources Under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Programs'' (Biomass Deferral Rule), as the DC Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order to vacate that rule on July 13, 2013. EPA is also proposing to rescind the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for Texas, with three limited possibilities for retained authority, which was put in place to ensure the availability of a permitting authority for GHG permitting in Texas until final approval of the Texas SIP PSD GHG program. EPA is proposing this action under section 110 and part C of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

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.

On June 8, 2012, the State of Wisconsin, through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate the Milwaukee- Racine fine particle (PM2.5) nonattainment area (``Milwaukee-Racine Area'' or ``Area'') to attainment for the 2006 24- hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), and to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the Area. The Milwaukee-Racine Area is comprised of Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties. EPA is proposing to grant the state's request to redesignate the Area to attainment for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA's proposed approval involves several additional related actions. EPA is proposing to approve the state's plan for maintaining the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025. EPA is proposing to approve the ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOC), nitrogen oxides (NOX), direct PM2.5, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) inventories submitted by the state as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Finally, EPA finds adequate and is proposing to approve Wisconsin's NOX, direct PM2.5, SO2, and VOC motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for 2020 and 2025 for the Milwaukee Area. EPA is also addressing a number of additional issues, including the effects of two decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit or Court): The Court's August 21, 2012, decision to vacate and remand to EPA the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR); and the Court's January 4, 2013, decision to remand two final rules implementing the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard.