Environmental Protection Agency July 14, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed interim registration review and opens a 60-day public comment period on the proposed interim decisions. It also opens the docket for Bacillus thuringiensis. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, that the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve in part and disapprove in part portions of the April 23, 2013, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), for inclusion into the Alabama SIP. This proposal pertains to the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. ADEM certified that the Alabama SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Alabama. With the exception of provisions respecting state boards, which EPA is proposing to disapprove, and interstate transport, which EPA is not proposing any action at this time, EPA is proposing to determine that portions of Alabama's infrastructure SIP submission provided to EPA on April 23, 2013, satisfy the required infrastructure elements for the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on March 13, 2014, to demonstrate that the State meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2010 nitrogen dioxide (NO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP submission. TDEC certified that the Tennessee SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2010 NO2 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Tennessee. With the exception of provisions pertaining to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting, and interstate transport provisions pertaining to the contribution to nonattainment or interference with maintenance, and visibility in other states, for which EPA is proposing no action through this rulemaking, EPA is proposing to find that Tennessee's infrastructure SIP submission, provided to EPA on March 13, 2014, satisfies the required infrastructure elements for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's (NCDEQ) Division of Air Quality (DAQ) on December 11, 2015, that incorporates amendments to the state rules reflecting the 2012 national ambient air quality standards for fine particulate matter. EPA is approving this SIP revision because the State has demonstrated that it is consistent with the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to determine that the Atlanta, Georgia, 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Moderate Nonattainment Area (``Atlanta Area'' or the ``Area'') has attained the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This final determination is based upon complete, quality- assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the Area has monitored attainment of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2013-2015 monitoring period. The requirement for this Area to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, contingency measures, and other planning state implementation plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is suspended until EPA redesignates the Area to attainment, approves a redesignation substitute, or determines that the Area has violated the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This final attainment determination does not constitute a redesignation to attainment. The Atlanta Area will remain in nonattainment status for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS until such time as the State requests a redesignation to attainment and EPA determines that the Atlanta Area meets the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) requirements for redesignation, including an approved maintenance plan.