Environmental Protection Agency August 1, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving three State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Vermont. These revisions primarily amend several aspects of Vermont's new source review permitting regulations. The permitting revisions are part of Vermont's major and minor stationary source preconstruction permitting programs, and are intended to align Vermont's regulations with the federal new source review regulations. The revisions also contain amendments to other Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements, including updating the State's ambient air quality standards and certain emissions limits for sources of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This SIP revision amends two regulations to clarify testing and sampling methods for stationary sources of particulate matter (PM) and adds the requirement to measure and report filterable and condensable PM. EPA is approving this revision in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the North Carolina SIP, submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) on March 24, 2016, and the portions of a revision to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on December 9, 2015, addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) interstate transport (prongs 1 and 2) infrastructure SIP requirements for the 2010 1-hour 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, commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP.'' Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve North Carolina's March 24, 2016, SIP submission and the portions of Alabama's December 9, 2015, SIP submission addressing interstate transport requirements for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing plans to hold a public ``listening session'' on September 14, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois to obtain information from the public to help inform development of a new regulation establishing public notification requirements for combined sewer overflow discharges in the Great Lakes. This rulemaking is in response to new requirements included with the 2016 appropriations. EPA is requesting input from the public regarding potential approaches for these new public notification requirements for combined sewer overflow discharges in the Great Lakes through participation in the public listening session and by submitting information in writing at the listening sessions or to the agency directly through email, fax, or mail. The agency is undertaking this outreach to help it shape a future regulatory proposal intended to provide the affected public with information that will help better protect public health.

On March 22, 2011, and May 3, 2012, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ), submitted revisions to the Kentucky State Implementation Plan (SIP) on behalf of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District). At this time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve several portions of the submissions that modify the District's air quality regulations as incorporated into the SIP. The revisions to the regulatory portion of the SIP that EPA is proposing to approve pertain to changes to the District's air quality standards for lead (Pb), particulate matter (both PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to reflect the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), definitional changes, and regulatory consolidation. EPA is proposing to approve these portions of the SIP revisions because the Commonwealth has demonstrated that these changes are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). EPA will act on the other portions of KDAQ's March 22, 2011, and May 3, 2012, submittals in a separate action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Modoc County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern MCAPCD's administrative and procedural requirements to obtain preconstruction permits that regulate emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are approving local rules under the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and carbon monoxide emissions from stationary gas turbines, boilers, steam generators, and process heaters. We are proposing to approve local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to fully approve revisions to the State of Maine's State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to the regulation of fine particulate matter (that is, particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometer, generally referred to as ``PM2.5'') within the context of Maine's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. EPA is also taking direct final action on other minor changes to Maine's PSD program. Actions related to this direct final rulemaking are being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision pertains to Maryland's adoption of the requirements in EPA's control technique guidelines (CTG) for fiberglass boat manufacturing materials. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This proposed revision would add 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) ethane (also known as HFE-347pcf2; CAS number 406-78-0) to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition of VOC on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making this same amendment as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted to EPA by the State of Missouri on August 5, 2014, documenting that the State's existing plan is making adequate progress to achieve visibility goals by 2018. The Missouri SIP revision addressed the Regional Haze Rule (RHR) requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) to submit a report describing progress in achieving reasonable progress goals (RPGs) to improve visibility in Federally designated areas in nearby states that may be affected by emissions from sources in Missouri. EPA is taking final action to approve Missouri's determination that the existing Regional Haze (RH) SIP is adequate to meet the visibility goals and requires no substantive revision at this time.