Environmental Protection Agency July 9, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will host a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, July 17, 2014, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The primary topics of discussion will be (1) recommendations for EPA's environmental justice policy on Tribes and Indigenous peoples, (2) a follow-up discussion about additional recommendations about ensuring environmental justice in goods movement, and (3) updates from NEJAC workgroups. There will be a public comment period from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to the topics of the meeting. For additional information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see the ``Registration'' and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections below. Due to a limited number of telephone lines, attendance will be on a first-come, first served basis. Pre-registration is required. Registration for the teleconference meeting closes at Noon Eastern Time on Monday, July 14, 2014. The deadline to sign up to speak during the public comment period, or to submit written public comments, is also Noon, Monday, July 14, 2014.

The Environmental Protection Agency is providing notice of the process for submitting applications for critical use exemptions for 2017. Critical use exemptions are exceptions to the phaseout of production and import of methyl bromide, a controlled class I ozone- depleting substance. Critical use exemptions must be authorized by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and must be in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Applications received in accordance with this notice will be considered as the basis for submitting potential nominations for critical use exemptions to future Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Critical use exemptions allow production and import only in the year for which the Parties authorize them. All entities interested in obtaining a critical use exemption must provide EPA with technical and economic information to support a ``critical use'' claim by the deadline specified in this notice even if they have applied for an exemption in previous years.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action proposes to list a number of flammable refrigerants as acceptable substitutes, subject to use conditions, for ozone-depleting substances in several end-uses: Household refrigerators and freezers, stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers, very low temperature refrigeration, non- mechanical heat transfer, vending machines, and room air conditioning units. This action also proposes to exempt from Clean Air Act Section 608's prohibition on venting, release, or disposal the hydrocarbon refrigerant substitutes that we are proposing to list in this action as acceptable subject to use conditions in specific end-uses. We are proposing this exemption on the basis of current evidence that their venting, release, or disposal would not pose a threat to the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland for the purpose of incorporating by reference the most recent amendments to California's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program. The Clean Air Act (CAA) contains authority by which other states may adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards that are identical to California's standards. Maryland has adopted by reference California's light and medium-duty vehicle emissions and fuel standards, and consistent with California, submits amendments to these standards as revisions to the State's SIP. In this SIP revision, Maryland is updating its Low Emissions Vehicle Program regulation to adopt by reference California's Advanced Clean Car Program. 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.

EPA is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 43 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). Six of these chemical substances are subject to TSCA section 5(e) consent orders issued by EPA. This action requires persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 43 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification will provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs.