Environmental Protection Agency November 6, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d)/129 State Plan revision submitted by the State of Maryland for the purpose of updating municipal waste combustor (MWC) references to opacity monitor quality assurance and quality compliance requirements in Regulations .07 and .08 under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.11.08. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving Maryland's State Plan revision submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

EPA is holding two meetings to discuss implementation activities under the Toxic Substances Control Act as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (TSCA). The first meeting is to update and engage with the public on the Agency's progress in implementing changes to the New Chemicals Review Program as a result of the 2016 amendments to TSCA, including discussion of EPA's draft New Chemicals Decision-Making Framework. EPA will describe its review process for new chemical substances under the amended statute and interested parties will have the opportunity to provide input and to ask questions. The Agency plans to utilize the feedback it receives from the public meeting and comments received to improve policy and processes relating to the review of new chemicals under TSCA. The second meeting will focus on possible approaches for identifying potential candidate chemical substances for EPA's prioritization process under TSCA. As amended, TSCA required that EPA establish processes for prioritizing and evaluating risks from existing chemical substances. EPA will describe and take comment on a number of possible approaches that could guide the Agency in the identification of potential candidate chemical substances for prioritization.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of formaldehyde, polymer with 1,3- benzenediol, 2-methyloxirane and oxirane, ethers with polyethylene glycol mono-Me ether (CAS Reg. No. 1998118-31-2) when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Eco Verde Technologies Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of formaldehyde, polymer with 1,3-benzenediol, 2-methyloxirane and oxirane, ethers with polyethylene glycol mono-Me ether on food or feed commodities.