Environmental Protection Agency May 22, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 solicited public comments on May 15, 2017 about a possible further delay of the effective date of the January 4, 2017 revisions to the Certification of Pesticide Applicators rule until May 22, 2018. With this action, EPA is making an interim extension of the effective date until June 5, 2017 in order to consider and respond to public comments received in regard to the proposed May 22, 2018 extension.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing a direct final rule published on March 23, 2017 because relevant adverse comments were received. The rule pertained to EPA approval of Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and changing the Stage II gasoline vapor recovery rule. In a separate subsequent final rulemaking EPA will address the comments received.