Environmental Protection Agency 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action requests information related to hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from sources in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas transmission and storage segments of the oil and natural gas sector. In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities and the Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Facilities major source categories. This action requests additional data and information that was not available at that time. In particular, we are requesting data on storage vessels without potential flash emissions (PFE) and data on HAP emissions from regulated small glycol dehydrators. With regard to the small glycol dehydrators we are particularly interested in data regarding any emissions of HAP other than benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), information on available control options for any such HAP and information regarding a potential compliance demonstration issue with respect to the 2012 standards for small glycol dehydration units, as they apply to units with very low emissions.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92- 463, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Committee will host a public meeting convening on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, and adjourning Thursday, December 10, 2015. The primary discussion will focus on the draft reports from the BOSC subcommittee meetings which addressed the research and future direction for the Office of Research and Development's (ORD) National Research Programs: Air, Climate and Energy, Chemical Safety for Sustainability, Homeland Security, Human Health Risk Assessment, Safe and Sustainable Water Resources, Sustainable and Healthy Communities. The Committee will also deliberate on two ORD Cross-Cutting Research Roadmaps: Environmental Justice and Climate Change. There will be a public comment period from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on December 8, 2015. For information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see the Registration and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections below. Due to a limited number of telephone lines, attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre- registration is required. Registration for participating via teleconference closes Friday, December 4, 2015. Registration to participate in person closes Monday, November 30, 2015. The deadline to sign up to speak during the public comment period or to submit written public comment is Friday, December 4, 2015.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a teleconference of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). This teleconference is open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to the specific issues being considered by the FRRCC.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

This regulation amends an existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Aureobasidium pullulans strains DSM 14940 and DSM 14941 to include residues of Aureobasidium pullulans strains DSM 14940 and DSM 14941 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Bio-ferm GmbH submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an amendment of the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance that includes food commodities that are treated post-harvest. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Aureobasidium pullulans strains DSM 14940 and DSM 14941 under FFDCA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maine. This revision removes State Regulation Chapter 141 Conformity of General Federal Actions from the SIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period for the draft document titled, ``External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur OxidesHealth Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-15/066). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the primary (health-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). The Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for the EPA's decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA intends to develop a separate ISA as part of an independent review for the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). This draft document is not final as described in EPA's information quality guidelines, and it does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, Agency policy or views. When revising the document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the 60-day comment period in response to this notice.

The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO)/State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG), Full Committee will hold a 2-day meeting, beginning on December 7, 2015, and ending December 8, 2015. This notice announces the location and times for the meeting and sets forth topics that may be included in the agenda. This notice also announces the discontinuation of SFIREG meeting announcements via the Federal Register. Future meeting announcements will be made at the following Web site: www2.epa.gov/ pesticides.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding 1- bromopropane to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990. 1-Bromopropane has been classified by the National Toxicology Program in their 13th Report on Carcinogens as ``reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.'' The EPA has determined that 1-bromopropane meets the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(B) criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota that are intended to demonstrate that the SIP for each respective state meets certain interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act or CAA) for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These submissions address the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions prohibiting air emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. The EPA is proposing to approve these SIPs for all four states as containing adequate provisions to ensure that air emissions in the states do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in any other state.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of September 25, 2015, opening a comment period on draft human health and ecological risk assessments for certain organophosphate pesticides listed in the Table in this document, along with additional chemicals. This document extends the comment period by 45 days for just those chemicals listed in the Table in this document, i.e., from November 24, 2015 to January 8, 2016. This comment period is being extended in response to comments received by the Agency.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to certain sections within the regulations that govern the exclusion of event-affected air quality data from regulatory decisions. The EPA is also providing a notice of availability of a draft version of the non-binding guidance document titled Draft Guidance on the Preparation of Exceptional Events Demonstrations for Wildfire Events that May Influence Ozone Concentrations.

EPA is revoking certain tolerances for the fungicides spiroxamine and triflumizole, the herbicides carfentrazone-ethyl and quizalofop ethyl; the insecticides amitraz, oxamyl, propetamphos, and spinosad; the plant growth regulators ethephon and mepiquat; and the tolerance on rice straw for multiple active ingredients. Also, EPA is modifying certain tolerances for the fungicides mancozeb, thiram, and triflumizole. In addition, EPA is establishing new tolerances for the fungicide mancozeb. Also, in accordance with current Agency practice, EPA is making minor revisions to the tolerance expressions for mepiquat and thiram. In addition, EPA is restoring the listings of tolerances on bulb onion and pear for methomyl residues to remedy inadvertent drafting errors and cover existing registrations. EPA is deferring a decision on the malathion tolerances at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). This revision caps emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) from large non-electric generating units (non-EGUs) to meet the requirements of EPA's NOX SIP Call. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This regulation establishes a tolerances for residues of flutriafol in or on hop, dried cones. Cheminova A/S, c/o Cheminova, Inc. requested this tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Additionally, tolerances are being removed that were inadvertently returned from an earlier Final rule.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it has adopted amendments to its In-Use Diesel-Fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) and TRU Generator Sets and Facilities Where TRUs Operate (together ``2011 TRU Amendments'') regulation. By letter dated March 2, 2015, CARB asked that EPA authorize these amendments pursuant to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act. CARB seeks confirmation that certain 2011 TRU Amendments are within the scope of prior authorizations issued by EPA, or, in the alternative, that such amendments merit full authorization. CARB also seeks a full authorization for other 2011 TRU Amendments. This notice announces that EPA has tentatively scheduled a public hearing to consider California's authorization request for the 2011 TRU Amendments and that EPA is now accepting written comment on the request.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with Benton Clean Air Agency (BCAA) on August 25, 2015. In the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015, the EPA approved numerous revisions to Ecology's general air quality regulations. However, our approval of the updated Ecology regulations applied only to geographic areas where Ecology, and not a local air authority, has jurisdiction, and statewide to source categories over which Ecology has sole jurisdiction. This final approval allows BCAA to rely primarily on Ecology's general air quality regulations for sources within BCAA's jurisdiction, including implementation of the minor new source review and nonattainment new source review permitting programs. This final action also approves of a small set of BCAA regulatory provisions that replace or supplement parts of Ecology's general air quality regulations.

On September 18, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a draft Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) document titled, ``Release of Draft Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry.'' The EPA is extending the comment period on the notice of availability of the draft CTG document that was scheduled to close on November 17, 2015. The EPA has received several letters from trade and business organizations, states and tribes requesting additional time to review and comment on the notice of availability of the draft CTG document.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving Michigan's State Plan to control air pollutants from ``Sewage Sludge Incinerators'' (SSI). The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) submitted the State Plan on September 21, 2015. The State Plan is consistent with the Emission Guidelines (EGs) promulgated by EPA on March 21, 2011. This approval means that EPA finds that the State Plan meets applicable Clean Air Act (Act) requirements for subject SSI units. Once effective, this approval also makes the State Plan Federally enforceable. EPA is also notifying the public that we have received from Michigan a negative declaration for Small Municipal Waste Combustors (SMWC). The MDEQ submitted its negative declaration on July 27, 2015. MDEQ notified EPA in its negative declaration letter that there are no SMWC units subject to the requirements of the Act currently operating in Michigan.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality related to the removal of ``Stage II'' vapor recovery equipment at gasoline dispensing facilities in the Phoenix-Mesa area. Specifically, the EPA is approving a SIP revision that eliminates the requirement to install and operate such equipment at new gasoline dispensing facilities, and that provides for the phased removal of such equipment at existing gasoline dispensing facilities from October 2016 through September 2018. The EPA has previously determined that onboard refueling vapor recovery is in widespread use nationally and waived the stage II vapor recovery requirement. The EPA is approving this SIP revision because the resultant short-term incremental increase in emissions would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards or any other requirement of the Clean Air Act and because it would avoid longer-term increases in emissions due to the incompatibilities between onboard refueling vapor recovery equipment on motor vehicles and the predominant type of stage II vapor recovery equipment installed at existing gasoline dispensing facilities in the Phoenix-Mesa area.

EPA is amending the significant new use rules (SNURs) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for five chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). This action amends the SNURs to allow certain uses without requiring a significant new use notice (SNUN), and extends SNUN requirements to certain additional uses. EPA is amending these SNURs based on review of new data for each chemical substance. This action requires persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification would provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs.

In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA''), Region II, of two separate proposed cost recovery settlement agreements pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h), with Honeywell International Inc. and RR Donnelley and Sons Company (the ``Settling Parties''), respectively, for the Power City Superfund Site (``Site''), located in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York. Honeywell International Inc. agrees to pay EPA $825,000 and RR Donnelley and Sons Company agrees to pay $103,200, plus interest, respectively, in reimbursement of their respective shares of EPA's past response costs paid at or in connection with the Site. Each settlement includes a covenant by EPA not to sue or to take administrative action against each respective Settling Party pursuant to Section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), with regard to the response costs related to the work at the Site enumerated in each settlement agreement. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, EPA will receive written comments relating to the settlement. EPA will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to either or both settlements if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that one or both of the proposed settlements is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, New York 10007-1866.

The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EDT). The Subcommittee will discuss small community issues related to environmental issues which effect small communities. These issues include: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) remand issue, decentralized wastewater treatment, capacity building and other environmental issues effecting small, rural and disadvantaged communities. This is an open meeting. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Subcommittee meeting will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view on issues pertaining to small communities. The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. (EDT). The Committee meeting will focus on reviewing recommendations of the LGAC's subcommittee and workgroups. These issues include: MS4 remand issue, toxic algal blooms and other water issues, including decentralized wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical proposed rule, waste generator proposed rule, brownfields, capacity building and sustainability, Animas River toxic spill issues, and Plan EJ 2020. These are open meetings, and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 11:15 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, and the Committee will hear comments from the public between 1:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Subcommittee or the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for appearances requires it.