Environmental Protection Agency 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft human health and ecological risk assessments for the registration review of chlorfenapyr, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, maleic hydrazide, sulfentrazone, and tebuthiuron and opens a public comment period on these documents. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. As part of the registration review process, the Agency has completed draft human health and ecological risk assessments, including an endangered species assessment, for all uses of the previously listed pesticide chemicals. After reviewing comments received during the public comment period, EPA will issue revised risk assessments, explain any changes to the draft risk assessments, and respond to comments and may request public input on risk mitigation before completing proposed registration review decisions for the previously listed pesticide chemicals. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2014. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a series of teleconference meetings of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC). The NEEAC was created by Congress to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on matters related to activities, functions and policies of EPA under the National Environmental Education Act (the Act). 20 U.S.C. 5508(b). The purpose of these teleconference(s) is to discuss specific topics of relevance for consideration by the council in order to provide advice and insights to the Agency on environmental education.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Application for Reference and Equivalent Method Determination (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0559.12, OMB Control No. 2080-0005) 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 October 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.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to codify in the regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs'', Oklahoma's authorized hazardous waste program. The EPA will incorporate by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) those provisions of the State regulations that are authorized and that the EPA will enforce under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, commonly referred to as the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District [SJVUAPCD] portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern basic enforcement authorities under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to EPA on March 12, 2014, for parallel processing. The submittal modifies Wisconsin's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program to identify precursors for particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), includes the significant emissions rates for PM2.5 and revises its definitions of PM2.5 emissions and emissions of particulate matter of less than 10 micrometers (PM10). WDNR requested these revisions to address disapprovals of two submissions meant to address requirements of the 2008 Implementation of New Source Review (NSR) Program for PM2.5 and to address a partial disapproval, under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), of what is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. EPA is proposing approval of Wisconsin's March 12, 2014, SIP revision because the Agency has made the preliminary determination that this SIP revision is in accordance with the CAA and applicable EPA regulations regarding PSD.

EPA Region 5 is publishing a direct final Notice of Deletion of Operable Unit 2 (OU2) of the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP) Superfund Site (Site), located in Fridley, Minnesota, from the National Priorities List (NPL). 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). This direct final partial deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Minnesota, through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA at the OU, identified herein, other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. EPA divided the NIROP Site into three portions, known as OUs, for ease of addressing its contaminant issues. This partial deletion pertains to OU2, which includes all the unsaturated soils within the legal boundaries of the NIROP Superfund Site exclusive of unsaturated soils underlying the former Plating Shop Area (see Site Map in the SEMS ID 446572 document listed in the Deletion Docket for OU2). The following areas will remain on the NPL and are not being considered for deletion as part of this action: OU1 and OU3. OU1 includes the contaminated groundwater within and originating from the NIROP Superfund Site. OU3 includes all the unsaturated soils underlying the former Plating Shop Area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the portions of a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR) on February 3, 2010, that incorporate changes to the state rules reflecting the 2006 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). EPA approved the remaining portions of North Carolina's February 3, 2010, SIP revision in a previous rulemaking.

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or ``the Agency'') is conforming the listing of trustee designations for natural resources in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) in accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13626, ``Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration,'' issued on September 10, 2012. E.O. 13626 designated the Administrator of EPA and the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act as additional trustees for Natural Resource Damage Assessment and restoration solely in connection with injury to, destruction of, loss of, or loss of use of natural resources, including their supporting ecosystems, resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The Administrator's and Secretary's trusteeship became effective immediately pursuant to the President's designation. This action is being taken pursuant to a directive in the Executive Order to revise Subpart G of the NCP to reflect the additional designations for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This action applies to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill only, and does not affect any prior or subsequent designations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to partially approve and partially disapprove State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of South Dakota on June 14, 2010, June 20, 2011, and July 29, 2013. All three SIP submittals revise the portion of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) that pertain to the issuance of South Dakota air quality permits. In addition, the June 14, 2010 submittal revises certain definitions and dates of incorporation by reference. The June 14, 2010 submittal contains new, amended and renumbered rules; the June 20, 2011 submittal contains new rules; and the July 29, 2013 submittal contains amended rules. In this rulemaking, we are taking final action on all portions of the June 14, 2010 submittal, except for those portions of the submittal which do not belong in the SIP. We are also taking final action on portions of the June 20, 2011 submittal that were not acted on in our April 18, 2014 rulemaking regarding greenhouse gases and the State's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. We are taking final action on portions of the July 29, 2013 submittal that supersede portions of the two previous submittals; the remainder of the July 29, 2013 submittal will be acted on at a later date. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is re-opening the comment period for the external peer review draft aquatic life ambient water quality criterion for selenium announced in a previous notice entitled ``External Peer Review Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criterion for SeleniumFreshwater 2014.'' In response to stakeholder requests, the EPA is extending the period of time in which the Agency will accept scientific views for an additional 30 days.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility (Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 1367.11, OMB Control No. 2060-0178) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through July 31, 2014. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (79 FR 3199) on January 17, 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 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.

EPA has submitted the following 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.): Correction of Misreported Chemical Substances on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substances Inventory (EPA ICR No. 1741.07, OMB Control No. 2070-0145). EPA did not receive any comments in response to the previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal Register on November 29, 2013 (78 FR 71603). With this submission, EPA is providing an additional 30 days for public comments. 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.

EPA has submitted the following 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.): Request for Contractor Access to TSCA Confidential Business Information (CBI) (EPA ICR No. 1250.10, OMB Control No. 2070-0075). EPA did not receive any comments in response to the previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal Register on November 29, 2013 (78 FR 71603). With this submission, EPA is providing an additional 30 days for public comments. 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 taking final action to approve the portions of revisions to the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), on September 15, 2008, and August 30, 2010, that incorporate changes to the state rules reflecting the 2006 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). EPA approved the remaining portions of Georgia's September 15, 2008, and August 30, 2010, SIP revisions in a previous rulemaking.

On June 27, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed action on particulate matter rule revisions that Ohio submitted on June 4, 2003. While EPA subsequently took final action with respect to provisions that it proposed to approve, EPA has not taken final action with respect to provisions relating to opacity limitations that EPA proposed to disapprove on June 27, 2005. EPA is evaluating the public comments received in response to the proposed disapproval published on June 27, 2005. EPA believes that events subsequent to the publication of the proposed disapproval and the associated comment period have not altered the criteria for evaluating Ohio's rule revisions relating to opacity and have not otherwise influenced whether the rule revisions should be disapproved, as proposed. Nevertheless, given the passage of time, EPA is soliciting supplemental comment specifically with respect to whether events subsequent to the prior comment period should alter EPA's proposed disapproval of Ohio's June 4, 2003, submission with respect to SIP opacity limitations. EPA is not soliciting comments on Ohio's submission or EPA's proposed June 27, 2005, action on that submission, except to the extent that events subsequent to the original comment period are relevant to EPA's evaluation of the submission and EPA's proposed action. This is not a re-opening of the original comment period, but the opening of a supplemental comment period, as described further below.

EPA has submitted the following 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.): Experimental Use Permits (EUPs) for Pesticides (EPA ICR No. 0276.15, OMB Control No. 2070-0040). EPA did not receive any comments in response to the previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal Register on September 25, 2013 (78 FR 59014). With this submission, EPA is providing an additional 30 days for public comments. 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.

An Exposure Modeling Public Meeting will be held on October 28, 2014. This Notice announces the location and time for the meeting and sets forth the tentative agenda topics.

Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, EPA is withdrawing the April 30, 2014, direct final rule approving a revision to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan. EPA will address the comment in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed rulemaking action, also published on April 30, 2014. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2260.05, OMB Control No. 2090-0029) 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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are extending the comment period for the proposed rule ``Definition of `Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act'' published on April 21, 2014 (79 FR 22188). The agencies are extending the comment period in response to stakeholder requests for an extension.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the portion of the December 27, 2013, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from Oregon relating to 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 finds that the Oregon SIP meets the CAA infrastructure requirements for the 2008 Pb NAAQS.