Environmental Protection Agency April 7, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Additional Air Quality Designations and Technical Amendment To Correct Inadvertent Error in Air Quality Designations for the 2012 Primary Annual Fine Particle (PM2.5
Document Number: 2015-07948
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-04-07
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing air quality designations in the United States (U.S.) for the 2012 primary annual fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five areas in Georgia and neighboring counties in Alabama and South Carolina. The EPA is also changing the initial designation of one area in Ohio, two areas in Pennsylvania, one area shared between Indiana and Kentucky, and one area shared between Kentucky and Ohio for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. These states have recently submitted complete, quality-assured, and certified air quality data for 2014, and based on that data the EPA is finalizing appropriate initial designations for these areas. Lastly, the EPA is making one minor technical amendment to correct an inadvertent error in the initial designation for a county in Pennsylvania with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Idaho
Document Number: 2015-07821
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-04-07
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to partially approve the May 22, 2014, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from Idaho to revise the SIP to update the incorporation by reference of Federal air quality regulations into the SIP. The EPA is also taking final action to partially disapprove Idaho's incorporation by reference of certain provisions of the Federal prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting rules that have been vacated by a Federal Court. As a result of this action, the Idaho SIP is updated to incorporate by reference certain Federal regulations as of July 1, 2013.
Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category
Document Number: 2015-07819
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-04-07
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA proposes a Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation that would better protect human health and the environment and protect the operational integrity of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) by establishing pretreatment standards that would prevent the discharge of pollutants in wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to POTWs. Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction wastewater can be generated in large quantities and contains constituents that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. Because they are not typical of POTW influent wastewater, some UOG extraction wastewater constituents can be discharged, untreated, from the POTW to the receiving stream; can disrupt the operation of the POTW (e.g., by inhibiting biological treatment); can accumulate in biosolids (sewage sludge), limiting their use; and can facilitate the formation of harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs). Based on the information collected by EPA, the requirements in this proposal reflect current industry practices for unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities, therefore, EPA does not project the proposed rule will impose any costs or lead to pollutant removals, but will ensure that such current industry best practice is maintained over time.
Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5
Document Number: 2015-07765
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-04-07
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to reclassify the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Moderate nonattainment area, including areas of Indian country within it, as a Serious nonattainment area for the 1997 PM2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on EPA's determination that the area cannot practicably attain these NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of April 5, 2015 and in response to a request from the SJV Air Pollution Control District that we reclassify the area. As a consequence of this reclassification, California must submit a Serious area plan including a demonstration that the plan provides for attainment of the 1997 annual and 24-hour PM2.5 standards in the SJV area by the applicable attainment date, which is no later than December 31, 2015, or by the most expeditious alternative date practicable, in accordance with the requirements of part D of title I of the Clean Air Act.
Notice of Availability of Draft Scientific Assessment for Public Comment
Document Number: 2015-07629
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-04-07
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing this document on behalf of the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) to announce the availability of the Draft Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment for a sixty-day public review. Comments will be carefully reviewed by the relevant chapter author teams. Following revision and further review, a revised draft will undergo final federal interagency clearance.
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