Environmental Protection Agency March 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Arizona Statutes portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns particulate matter (PM) emissions from dust generating operations that do not already have a permit. We are proposing to approve a state general permit to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing under the Clean Air Act to approve a revision to the Arizona Statutes portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns particulate matter (PM) emissions from dust generating operations that do not already have a permit within the Phoenix Planning area. We are proposing to approve a state statute that requires the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to develop and adopt a general permit that specifies episodic best management practices that are to be implemented by certain dust-generating activities.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2013 Service Contract Inventory. This inventory provides information on service contract actions over $25,000 that were made in FY 2013. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the Agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Service Contract Inventories (December 19, 2011). The Environmental Protection Agency has posted its inventory and a summary of the inventory on the EPA's homepage at the following link: https://www.epa.gov/oam/inventory/inventory.htm

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the State of West Virginia's requests to redesignate to attainment the Charleston nonattainment area (hereafter ``the Charleston Area'' or ``the Area'') for both the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards). EPA is also approving as a revision to the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP), the associated maintenance plans to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Area. West Virginia's maintenance plans include insignificance findings for the mobile source contribution of PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions to the Area for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards, which EPA agrees with and is approving for transportation conformity purposes. In addition, EPA is approving the 2008 emissions inventory for the Area for the 2006 24- hour PM2.5 NAAQS. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve requests from Florida and North Carolina for the EPA to relax the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Standard applicable to gasoline introduced into commerce from June 1 to September 15 of each year in six counties in Florida, and in counties in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area (also referred to as the ``Triangle Area'') and the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point Area (also referred to as the ``Triad Area'') in North Carolina. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to amend the regulations to change the RVP standard for six counties in Florida and for the counties in the Triangle and Triad Areas from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi for gasoline in the aforementioned areas. The EPA has preliminarily determined that these changes to the federal RVP regulation are consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's (Pennsylvania) State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions consist of an update to the SIP approved Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) SIP for Berks County (also referred to as the ``Reading Maintenance Area''). Also as a part of this SIP revision is an update to the area and point source inventories for NOX. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is clarifying its final action on revisions to the Hawaii State Implementation Plan (SIP), published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2012.

This regulation amends tolerances for residues of S- metolachlor in or on corn, field, forage; corn, field, stover; corn, pop, stover; corn, sweet, forage; and corn, sweet, stover. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the CASAC Oxides of Nitrogen Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Review Panel to discuss its draft reviews of EPA's Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide (External Review Draft) and Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Oxides of NitrogenHealth Criteria (External Review DraftNovember 2013).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 is publishing a direct final notice of deletion of the Eau Claire Municipal Well Field Superfund Site (Site) located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Wisconsin, through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Clean Air Act Tribal Authority'' (EPA ICR No. 1676.05, OMB Control No. 2060-0306) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through August 31, 2014. 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 30- day public comment period for the draft revised web-based, ``EPA's Report on the Environment 2014'' (ROE 2014). The ROE is a comprehensive source of scientific indicators that describe the trends in the nation's environmental and human health condition. ROE 2014 was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and Development, working in collaboration with EPA Program and Regional offices. The public comment period provides opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the draft ROE 2014. The draft ROE will also be reviewed by the agency's independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) at a later date which will be announced in the Federal Register. When finalizing the draft ROE 2014, EPA intends to consider any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice and intends to forward these comments to the SAB panel prior to their review. EPA is releasing the draft ROE 2014 for the purposes of public comment and peer review. This draft 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. The draft ROE 2014 Web site can be accessed at the following url: www.epa.gov/draftroe.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the Moyer's Landfill Superfund Site (Site) located in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to revise the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This direct final action adds 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (also known as AMP; CAS number 124-68-5) to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition of VOCs on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 is publishing a direct final Notice of Deletion of the Coleman-Evans Wood Preserving Superfund Site (Site), located in Whitehouse, Florida, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which consists of a second limited maintenance plan for the carbon monoxide (CO) Pittsburgh Area (``the Pittsburgh Area'' or ``the Area'') in Allegheny County, formerly designated as a CO nonattainment area. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA). Whenever new or revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are promulgated, the CAA requires states to submit a plan for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of such NAAQS. The plan is required to address basic program elements, including, but not limited to regulatory structure, monitoring, modeling, legal authority, and adequate resources necessary to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. These elements are referred to as infrastructure requirements. The Commonwealth of Virginia has made a submittal addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.

This notice announces EPA's order for the cancellations, voluntarily requested by the registrants and accepted by the Agency, of the products listed in Table 1 of Unit II., pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This cancellation order follows a January 22, 2014 Federal Register notice of receipt of requests from the registrants listed in Table 2 of Unit II. to voluntarily cancel these product registrations. In the January 22, 2014 Federal Register notice, EPA indicated that it would issue an order implementing the cancellations, if appropriate according to the terms of the requests, unless the Agency received substantive comments within the 30-day comment period that would merit its further review of these requests, or unless the registrants withdrew their requests. The Agency received one comment on the January 22, 2014 Federal Register notice which is addressed in Unit III., the registrants did not withdraw their requests, and cancellation is appropriate according to the terms of the requests. Accordingly, EPA hereby issues this cancellation order granting the requested cancellations. Any distribution, sale, or use of the products subject to this cancellation order is permitted only in accordance with the terms of this order, including any existing stocks provisions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that the Idaho SIP meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on July 18, 1997 and October 17, 2006, and for ozone on March 12, 2008. The EPA is also proposing to find that the Idaho SIP meets the interstate transport requirements of the CAA related to prevention of significant deterioration and visibility for the 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 ozone NAAQS.

EPA is withdrawing a significant new use rule (SNUR) proposed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances generically identified as vinylidene esters, which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) P-12-298 and P-12-299. The Agency is taking this action in response to public comments received on the proposed rule.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of January 29, 2014, concerning the availability of two draft guidance documents for public comment. This document extends the comment period for 30 days, from March 31, 2014 to April 30, 2014. The comment period is being extended to provide additional time for commenters to prepare their responses.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update: regulations governing trade of HCFCs to reflect that HCFC control measures have now taken effect for Parties operating under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol; references to Party ratification status; tariff codes for ozone depleting substances to address changes made in 2012 by the U.S. International Trade Commission; and other minor provisions. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making these conforming edits as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State plan submitted by New York State to implement and enforce the Emission Guidelines (EG) for existing sewage sludge incineration (SSI) units. The State plan is consistent with the EG promulgated by EPA on March 21, 2011. New York's plan establishes emission limits and other requirements for the purpose of reducing toxic air emissions and other air pollutants from SSI units throughout the State. New York submitted its plan to fulfill the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act.

The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Augmented for the Sulfur Oxides Review to review the EPA's Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Dioxide (External Review DraftMarch 2014).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve negative declarations for hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators (HMIWI) for the State of Connecticut and the State of New Hampshire and negative declarations for sewage sludge incinerators (SSI) for the State of Maine and the State of Vermont. EPA is also proposing to approve the withdrawal of a previously-approved State Plan for HMIWI in the State of New Hampshire. Lastly, EPA is proposing technical corrections to Clean Air Act Sections 111(d) and 129 State Plan (Negative Declaration) approvals for Other Solid Waste Incinerators (OSWI) for the State of Rhode Island and the State of Vermont.