Environmental Protection Agency February 13, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The LGAC is chartered to provide advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental issues affecting local governments. This notice solicits nominations to fill up to twelve (12) vacancies for one or two year terms. To maintain the representation outlined by the charter, nominees will be selected to represent: Large cities; moderate-sized cities; small communities; and townships (under 10,000); county-elected officials-urban, suburban and rural; city- elected and appointed officials; state-elected and appointed officials; and tribal-elected and appointed officials. Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by April 2015. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

On August 5, 2014, The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) requested an Alternative Means of Emission Limitation (AMEL) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) in order to operate pressure-assisted multi-point ground flares at its Propane Dehydrogenation Plant and its Light Hydrocarbons Plant at its Texas Operations site located in Freeport, Texas. On October 21, 2014, ExxonMobil Chemical Company (ExxonMobil) requested an AMEL under the CAA for its pressure-assisted multi-point ground flares at its' Olefins Plant in Baytown, Texas, and its' Plastics Plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas. In this document, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting comment on all aspects of the AMEL requests and the resulting alternative operating conditions that are necessary to achieve a reduction in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) at least equivalent to the reduction in emissions required by various standards in 40 CFR parts 60, 61 and 63 that apply to emission sources controlled by these pressure-assisted multi-point ground flares. These standards point to the operating requirements for flares in the General Provisions to parts 60 and 63, respectively, to comply with the emission reduction requirements. Because pressure-assisted multi-point ground flares cannot meet the velocity requirements in these General Provisions, Dow and ExxonMobil are seeking an AMEL.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Pesticide Programs is announcing a public webinar for the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) on February 25, 2015. The purpose of this webinar is to provide the PPDC with brief updates on several key topics, and to set-up discussion topics for the next in-person meeting to be held May 14-15, 2015. The PPDC provides advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on issues associated with pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and science issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides. The webinar is free, open to the public, and no advance registration is required.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State of Alabama's November 14, 2014, State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, submitted through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), in support of the State's request that EPA change the Federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for Jefferson and Shelby Counties (hereinafter referred to as the ``Birmingham Area'' or ``Area''). Alabama's November 14, 2014, SIP revision evaluates whether changing the Federal RVP requirements in this Area would interfere with the Area's ability to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Specifically, Alabama's SIP revision concludes that relaxing the Federal RVP requirement from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each year in the Area would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) or with any other CAA requirement. EPA has preliminarily determined that Alabama's November 14, 2014, SIP revision is consistent with the applicable provisions of the CAA.