Environmental Protection Agency August 19, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Administration and Resource Management, Office of Administration, Security Management Division 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). The EPA Personnel Access and Security System (EPASS) is being created to comply with the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12), which was issued on August 12, 2004 and signed on August 27, 2004. HSPD-12 mandates a government-wide federal standard for ensuring that identification cards issued to government employees and contractors are reliable and secure. EPASS complies with the federal requirements and will enhance security, increase efficiency, reduce identity fraud, and protect personal privacy.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Missouri on May 8, 2012, related to a Missouri Rule titled, ``Certain Coals to be Washed.'' This rule requires specified coals to be washed prior to sale in the St. Louis metropolitan area. This action amends the SIP to update an outdated reference in the rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Missouri addressing the applicable requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110 for the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Lead (Pb). Section 110 requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP to support implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each new or revised NAAQS promulgated by EPA. These SIPs are commonly referred to as ``infrastructure'' SIPs. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern negative declarations for volatile organic compound (VOC) source categories for the PCAPCD. We are proposing to approve these negative declarations under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing minor amendments to its Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations to codify that under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, permit applicants must use ``sufficiently sensitive'' analytical test methods when completing an NPDES permit application and the Director must prescribe that only ``sufficiently sensitive'' methods be used for analyses of pollutants or pollutant parameters under an NPDES permit. The final rule is based on requirements in the CWA and clarifies existing EPA regulations. It also codifies existing EPA guidance on the use of ``sufficiently sensitive'' analytical methods with respect to measurement of mercury and extends the approach outlined in that guidance to the NPDES program more generally. Specifically, EPA is modifying existing NPDES application, compliance monitoring, and analytical methods regulations. The amendments in this rulemaking affect only chemical-specific methods; they do not apply to the Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) methods or their use.