Environmental Protection Agency June 5, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving notice that it is amending the PeoplePlus (EPA-1) system of records to reflect that the Agency is transferring its human resources and payroll processing services to the Department of the Interior's (DOI) Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS).

The purpose of this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) is to solicit broad feedback on the most effective and efficient means of implementing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indian Country Minor New Source Review program for sources in the oil and natural gas production segment of the oil and natural gas sector. In particular, this ANPR discusses potential new source permitting approaches to address emissions from proposed new and modified oil and natural gas production activities. One approach is a general permit, which could serve as a streamlined permitting approach for addressing emissions from new and modified minor sources and minor modifications at major sources under the Indian Country Minor NSR rule. Another approach is a Federal Implementation Plan, which could address emissions from new and modified minor sources and minor modifications at major sources. Other possible approaches include a permit by rule, which is another streamlined permitting approach. The EPA is requesting comments on all available new source permitting approaches and will take this feedback into consideration in developing a notice of proposed rulemaking for this sector under the Indian Country Minor NSR program. In addition, while the focus of this ANPR is on permitting approaches for proposed new oil and natural gas production activities, the EPA believes that managing emissions from existing oil and natural gas sources in Indian country would result in greater consistency with surrounding state requirements. Addressing existing sources may be particularly important given the significant activity associated with the sector in Indian country and the resultant need to protect public health, balanced with tribes' inherent sovereignty and interest in promoting economic development. If the EPA decides to address existing oil and natural gas production sources, then we will be interested in considering comments regarding whether a FIP should be the mechanism used to establish permitting requirements for new and existing sources, especially in areas where surrounding states regulate existing sources.