Environmental Protection Agency March 16, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``2015 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (Reinstatement)'' (EPA ICR No. 2234.04, OMB Control No. 2040-0274) 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 request to reinstate a previously discontinued collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (79 FR 65209) on November 3, 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 in this notice, including the ICR's 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 document announces the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) responses to Agency clearance requests in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 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 OMB control numbers for EPA regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to Indiana's minor new source review (NSR) construction permit rule. The rule applies to construction of new units or modifications of existing units at sources subject to title V and Federally enforceable state operating permit requirements. This rule replaces the previous state implementation plan (SIP) minor source construction permit rule for Indiana.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern particulate matter (PM) emissions from particulate matter air pollution control devices and residential wood burning. We are proposing to approve these local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to revise the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters and to add a new subpart: Standards of Performance for New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. Today's rule is authorized by section 111(b) and section 114 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA is not finalizing, at this time, the proposed Standards of Performance for New Residential Masonry Heaters in order to allow additional time for the Masonry Heater Association to finish their efforts to develop revised test methods, an emissions calculation program and an alternative dimensioning standard. This final rule achieves several objectives for new residential wood heaters, including applying updated emission limits that reflect the current best systems of emission reduction; eliminating exemptions over a broad suite of residential wood combustion devices; strengthening test methods as appropriate; and streamlining the certification process. Residential wood smoke emissions are a significant national air pollution problem and human health issue. These emissions occur in many neighborhoods across the country, including minority and low-income neighborhoods, and impact people in their homes. To the extent that children and other sensitive populations are particularly susceptible to asthma, and that minority populations and low-income populations are more vulnerable, this rule will significantly reduce the pollutants that adversely affect their health. On an economic basis, the public benefits of this rule vastly outweigh the costs, with every dollar in additional cost producing more than $100 in public benefit. This final action does not include any requirements for heaters solely fired by gas, oil or coal. In addition, it does not include any new requirements associated with appliances that are already in use. The EPA continues to strongly encourage state, local, tribal, industry and consumer efforts to change out (replace) older heaters with newer, cleaner, more efficient heaters. Additional information is on the EPA Burn Wise Web site at www.epa.gov/burnwise. Also, we encourage state, local, and tribal authorities to develop site-specific installation and operating requirements to help ensure healthy air for all.