Environmental Protection Agency November 25, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has submitted updated regulations for receiving delegation of EPA authority for implementation and enforcement of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for all sources (both part 70 and non-part 70 sources). These regulations apply to certain NESHAPs promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 40 CFR part 63, as amended between April 13, 2004 and April 24, 2013. The delegation of authority under this action does not apply to sources located in Indian Country. EPA is taking direct final action to approve the delegation of certain NESHAPs to TCEQ.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Title IV of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002: Drinking Water Security and Safety'' (EPA ICR No. 2103.05, OMB Control No. 2040-0253) 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.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through November 30, 2014. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on July 16, 2014, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is provided in this request, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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 approving the State of West Virginia's request to redesignate to attainment the West Virginia portion of the Martinsburg-Hagerstown, WV-MD nonattainment area (the Martinsburg Area or Area) for the 1997 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA is also approving as a revision to the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) the associated maintenance plan to show maintenance of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Area. As part of this action, EPA is making a determination that the Martinsburg Area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) mobile vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for Berkeley County, West Virginia for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS which EPA is approving for transportation conformity purposes. Furthermore, EPA is approving, as a revision to the West Virginia SIP, the 2007 base year emissions inventory for the Area for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. The revisions incorporate by reference (IBR) the requirements of the Federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program into the Maryland SIP. Additionally, the revisions will allow Maryland's PSD program to automatically update with any revisions to the Federal regulations. 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.