Environmental Protection Agency May 15, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document corrects an omission in the rule language of a final rule pertaining to changes and amendments to Maryland regulations for continuous opacity monitoring (COM or COMs) and continuous emissions monitoring (CEM or CEMs) and to an amendment adding requirements for quality assurance and quality control as they pertain to COMs. EPA approved these revisions to the COMs and CEMs requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Texas for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The SIP revision being proposed for approval describes how CAA requirements for vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M), nonattainment new source review (NNSR) and emission statements are met in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area (HGB area) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to make a ministerial correction to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to accurately reflect approved SIP revisions that pertain to Texas I/M provisions.

On January 4, 2017, EPA published a final rule revising the regulation concerning the certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides (RUPs). The original effective date of March 6, 2017 was extended to March 21, 2017 by rule issued January 26, 2017, and subsequently extended to May 22, 2017 by rule issued March 20, 2017. In accordance with the Presidential directives as expressed in the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' and the principles identified in the April 25, 2017 Executive Order ``Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America,'' EPA is proposing to further delay the effective date of the January 4, 2017 revisions to the Certification of Pesticide Applicators rule until May 22, 2018.