Environmental Protection Agency December 12, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 a proposed cost recovery settlement agreement pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h), with the City of New York (the ``Settling Party'') for the Columbia Smelting and Refining Works Site (``Site'') in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. The Site is a ``facility'' as defined by Section 101(9) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9601(9). The Site is composed of (1) Red Hook Recreation Area Ball Field Numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 (``Ball Fields 5-8''); (2) areas surrounding Ball Fields 5-8 where grass is planted (referred to as ``Planting Strips''); (3) Red Hook Recreation Area Ball Field Number 9 (``Ball Field 9''); (4) the Ball Field 9 Planting Strips; (5) the sidewalks bordering the Ball Fields 5-8 Planting Strips and the Ball Field 9 Planting Strips; and (6) any other areas that have been impacted by the historic operations of the former Columbia Smelting and Refining Works facility. Ball Fields 5-8 and the Ball Fields 5-8 Planting Strips, collectively, comprise approximately 4.17 acres and are located on Block 581, Lot 1 of the Tax Map of Kings County, New York, bordered on the north by Lorraine Street, on the east by Henry Street, on the south by Bay Street, and on the west by Hicks Street. Ball Field 9 and the Ball Field 9 Planting Strips, collectively, comprise approximately 3.4 acres and are bordered on the north by Bay Street, on the east by Soccer Field #2, on the south by Halleck Street, and on the west by a track surrounding Soccer Field #3, located generally in the vicinity of Block 614, Lot 300 and Block 602, Lot 1 of the Tax Map of Kings County, New York. Settling Party is the current owner of the Site. The Settling Party agrees to pay EPA $395,105.40 in reimbursement of past response costs related to the performance of work performed by EPA at the Site. The settlement includes a covenant by EPA not to sue or to take administrative action against the Settling Party pursuant to Section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), with regard to the response costs related to work performed at the Site. 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 the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the proposed settlement 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve, in part, and disapprove in part, the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), on December 11, 2015, to demonstrate that the State meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 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.'' MDEQ certified that the Mississippi SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Mississippi. With the exception of the PSD permitting requirements and the interstate transport provisions, for which EPA is not acting upon, and the state board majority requirements respecting significant portion of income, for which EPA is finalizing disapproval, EPA is finalizing that portions of Mississippi's infrastructure submission, submitted to EPA on December 11, 2015, as satisfying certain required infrastructure elements for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set renewable fuel percentage standards every year. This action establishes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to all motor vehicle gasoline and diesel produced or imported in the year 2017. Relying on statutory authority that is available when projected cellulosic biofuel production volumes are less than the applicable volume specified in the statute, the EPA is setting volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that are below the statutory applicable volumes, but which are nevertheless significantly higher than past requirements. The final rule also establishes the four percentage standards applicable to obligated parties, namely producers and importers of gasoline and diesel, based on the corresponding volume requirements. The final standards are expected to continue driving the market to overcome constraints in renewable fuel distribution infrastructure, which in turn is expected to lead to substantial growth over time in the production and use of renewable fuels. In this action, we are also establishing the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel for 2018.