Environmental Protection Agency 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This proposed revision would add 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. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making this same amendment 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) Region 4 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the Coleman-Evans Wood Preserving Superfund Site (Site) located in Whitehouse, Florida, 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 State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), 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 approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The revision 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. The maintenance plan ensures maintenance of the CO national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Pittsburgh Area for a second 10-year period after redesignation of the Area from nonattainment to attainment, through year 2022. EPA is approving these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This action finalizes the residual risk and technology review conducted for nine source categories regulated under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins; Pesticide Active Ingredient Production; and Polyether Polyols Production. Today's action promulgates amendments concerning the following: Residual risk reviews; technology reviews; emissions during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction; standards for previously unregulated hazardous air pollutant emission sources; revisions to require monitoring of pressure relief devices that release to the atmosphere; and electronic reporting of performance test results. This action also lifts the stay of requirements for process contact cooling towers at existing sources in one Group IV Polymers and Resins subcategory, issued on February 23, 2001. The revisions to the final rules maintain the level of environmental protection or emissions control on sources regulated by these rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the February 14, 2012, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from Idaho demonstrating that the SIP meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for lead (Pb) on October 15, 2008. The CAA requires that each state, after a new or revised NAAQS is promulgated, review their SIP to ensure that it meets the infrastructure requirements necessary to implement the new or revised NAAQS. The EPA is proposing to find that the Idaho SIP meets the CAA infrastructure requirements for the 2008 Pb NAAQS.

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve, as a revision of the Arizona State Implementation Plan, the State's plan for maintaining the 1997 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone averaged over eight hours (8- hour ozone standard) in the Phoenix-Mesa nonattainment area for ten years beyond redesignation, and the related motor vehicle emission budgets, because they meet the applicable requirements for such plans and budgets. EPA is also proposing to approve a request from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to redesignate the Phoenix- Mesa nonattainment area to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act.

EPA is announcing the availability of several draft guidance documents for public comment. These documents detail EPA's approach in developing a pesticide volatilization screening methodology for human health. Once final, these guidance documents will be posted on EPA's Web site, to promote consistent risk assessment practices and provide transparency for pesticide registrants and other interested stakeholders.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this direct final rule 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; commodity codes for ozone depleting substances to address changes made in 2012 by the U.S. International Trade Commission; and other minor provisions. We are making these revisions to ensure that EPA regulations are consistent with the United States obligations under Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act, to ensure that companies importing ozone-depleting substances refer to accurate commodity codes, and to streamline and clarify regulatory content.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This revision will establish an updated ten-year carbon monoxide (CO) maintenance plan for the New York portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (NYCMA) CO area which includes the following seven counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond and Westchester. In addition, EPA proposes to approve a revision to the CO motor vehicle emissions budgets for New York and revisions to the 2007 Attainment/Base Year emissions inventory. The New York portion of the NYCMA CO area was redesignated to attainment of the CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) on April 19, 2002 and maintenance plans were also approved at that time. By this action, EPA is proposing to approve the second maintenance plan for this area because it provides for continued attainment for an additional ten years of the CO NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two meetings of the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee Augmented for the Review of the Draft Trimethylbenzenes Assessment (CAAC-TMB Panel). A public teleconference will be held to discuss the charge questions, to learn about the development of the agency's draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Trimethylbenzenes (August 2013 Revised External Review Draft), and to learn about the Health and Environment Research Online (HERO) database prior to a face-to-face meeting that will be held in Arlington, VA. The purpose of the face-to-face meeting is to receive a briefing on the EPA's enhancements to the IRIS Program, including the process for developing IRIS assessments, and to conduct a peer review of the Agency's draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Trimethylbenzenes (August 2013 Revised External Review Draft).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two meetings of the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee Augmented for the Review of the Draft Ammonia Assessment (CAAC-Ammonia Panel). A public teleconference will be held to discuss the charge questions, to learn about the development of the agency's draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Ammonia (August 2013 Revised External Review Draft), and to learn about the Health and Environment Research Online (HERO) database prior to a face-to-face meeting that will be held in Arlington, VA. The purpose of the face-to-face meeting is to receive a briefing on the EPA's enhancements to the IRIS Program, including the process for developing IRIS assessments, and to conduct a peer review of the Agency's draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Ammonia (August 2013 Revised External Review Draft).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving 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 approving the withdrawal of a previously-approved State Plan for HMIWI in the State of New Hampshire. Lastly, EPA is making 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.

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requesting a determination by the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for coastal waters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program (40 CFR part 82, subpart G) (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1596.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0226) 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.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to the U.S. Representative to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The National and Governmental Advisory Committees advise the EPA Administrator in her capacity as the U.S. Representative to the CEC Council. The committees are authorized under Articles 17 and 18 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Public Law 103-182, and as directed by Executive Order 12915, entitled ``Federal Implementation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.'' The NAC is composed of 15 members representing academia, environmental non-governmental organizations, and private industry. The GAC consists of 14 members representing state, local, and Tribal governments. The committees are responsible for providing advice to the U.S. Representative on a wide range of strategic, scientific, technological, regulatory, and economic issues related to implementation and further elaboration of the NAAEC. The purpose of the meeting is to provide advice on issues related to the 20th Anniversary of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation and discuss other trade and environment issues. The meeting will also include a public comment session. The agenda and meeting materials will be available at https:// www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OA-2014-0112. General information about NAC and GAC can be found at https://www.epa.gov/ ofacmo/nacgac-page.htm.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Alternative Affirmative Defense Requirements for Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel'' (EPA ICR No. 2364.04, OMB Control No. 2060-0639) 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 March 31, 2014. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (78 FR 78953) on December 27, 2013 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, 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.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of heat-killed Burkholderia spp. strain A396 cells and spent fermentation media in or on all food commodities when applied as a biological insecticide to agricultural crops and used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., submitted a petition to the EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of heat-killed Burkholderia spp. strain A396 cells and spent fermentation media under FFDCA.

On April 18, 2008, and September 23, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received state implementation plan (SIP) submissions from the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), regarding the infrastructure elements for the 1997 annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively. On October 31, 2012, EPA received a SIP submission from FDEP regarding the infrastructure elements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Additionally, on October 22, 2013, FDEP supplemented the three aforementioned infrastructure SIP submissions. EPA is proposing to approve the elements of these infrastructure SIP submissions, as supplemented on October 22, 2013, as they relate to the protection of visibility in other states.

The EPA has submitted this information collection request (ICR) 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 for the renewal of an ICR that is currently approved through March 31, 2014. EPA received no comments in response to the public review opportunity issued on July 17, 2013 (78 FR 42774). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A brief description of the ICR is given below, 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.

This notice announces EPA's order for the amendments to terminate uses, voluntarily requested by the registrants and accepted by the Agency, of products containing methiocarb, lambda-cyhalothrin and prodiamine, pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This cancellation order follows a November 29, 2013 Federal Register Notice of Receipt of Requests from the registrants listed in Table 2 of Unit II. to voluntarily amend to terminate uses of these product registrations. These are not the last products containing these pesticides registered for use in the United States. In the November 29, 2013 notice, EPA indicated that it would issue an order implementing the amendments to terminate uses, 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 did not receive any comments on the notice. Further, the registrants did not withdraw their requests. Accordingly, EPA hereby issues in this notice a cancellation order granting the requested amendments to terminate uses. 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. In addition, for pertinent information relating to the permethrin product name Farnam Purge Plus Insecticide as published in the November 29, 2013 notice, see Unit II. of this notice.

EPA is announcing that notifications of substantial risk under section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and voluntary For Your Information (FYI) submissions may now be filed electronically using EPA's electronic document submission system, the Central Data Exchange (CDX). Use of this electronic reporting option will streamline and reduce the administrative costs and burdens of submitting paper- based notifications of substantial risks and FYI submissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Science Advisor announces a public meeting of the Human Studies Review Board to advise the Agency on the EPA ethical and scientific reviews of research with human subjects.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a request by Indiana to revise the 1997 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) maintenance air quality state implementation plan (SIP) for the Evansville/Southwestern Indiana Area to replace onroad emissions inventories and motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) with inventories and budgets developed using EPA's Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) emissions model. Indiana submitted the SIP revision request for the Evansville Area on July 2, 2013.

Pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Payson portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on January 23, 2012. This revision consists of the second ten-year maintenance plan for the Payson air quality planning area for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10). EPA is proposing to approve this plan based on the conclusion that the plan adequately provides for continued maintenance of the PM10 NAAQS in the Payson area through 2022. EPA is proposing this action pursuant to those provisions of the CAA that obligate the Agency to take action on submittals of revisions to SIPs. The effect of this action would be to make the State's continuing commitments with respect to maintenance of the PM10 NAAQS in the Payson area federally enforceable for another ten years.

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Land Disposal Restrictions (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1442.22, OMB Control No. 2050-0085) 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 March 31, 2014. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (78 FR 74127) on December 10, 2013 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, 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.