Environmental Protection Agency May 26, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct final rule to address administrative and minor non-substantive changes in four clauses. The direct final rule updates ``Monthly Progress Reports'', ``Working Files'', ``Final Reports'', and ``Management Consulting Services''. EPA does not anticipate any adverse comments.

On February 20, 2015, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted a request to the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) to make a determination under the Clean Air Act that the Cleveland and Delta nonattainment areas have attained the 2008 lead (Pb) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In this action, EPA is proposing to determine that the Cleveland and Delta nonattainment areas (areas) have attained the 2008 Pb NAAQS. These determinations of attainment are based upon complete, quality-assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2012-2014 design period showing that the areas have monitored attainment of the 2008 Pb NAAQS. Additionally, as a result of this proposed determination, EPA is proposing to suspend the requirements for the areas to submit attainment demonstrations, together with reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, and contingency measures for failure to meet RFP and attainment deadlines for as long as the areas continue to attain the 2008 Pb NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the Baltimore, Maryland Serious Nonattainment Area (Baltimore Area) has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data that shows the Baltimore Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2012- 2014 monitoring period. EPA is finding the Baltimore Area to be in attainment in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval of four State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for the State of West Virginia on June 29, 2010, July 8, 2011, July 6, 2012, and July 1, 2014 with the exception of certain revisions related to ethanol production facilities on which the EPA is taking no action at this time. These revisions pertain to West Virginia's nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program, notably provisions for preconstruction permitting requirements for major sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and NSR reform. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the removal of general conformity regulations from the Ohio state implementation plan (SIP) under the Clean Air Act. These regulations are no longer necessary since the establishment of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users transportation act removed the requirement for states to maintain general conformity regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Virginia (Virginia) State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions remove the Stage II vapor recovery program (Stage II) from the attainment plans for the Virginia portion of the Washington, DC-MD-VA 1990 1-Hour and 1997 8-Hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Nonattainment Areas (Northern Virginia Areas), as well as from the maintenance plan for the Fredericksburg 1997 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS Maintenance Area (Fredericksburg Area). These revisions also include an analysis that addresses the impact of removal of Stage II from the attainment and maintenance plans. The analysis submitted by the Commonwealth satisfies the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule and the Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared in support of this rulemaking action. A copy of the TSD is available, upon request, from the EPA Regional Office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.