Environmental Protection Agency April 27, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``Certification of Pesticide Applicators Renewal'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 0155.13 and OMB Control No. 2070-0029, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2018. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1774.07, OMB Control No. 2060-0350) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. EPA is announcing its intent to renew this ICR with no substantive changes. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through July 31, 2018. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, is proposing to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits for Hydroelectric Facilities discharging to waters within the State of Idaho (Permit No. IDG360000). As proposed, the hydroelectric general permit would protect surface waters from discharges of oil, grease and alterations to pH from facility and equipment outfalls and minimize the impacts of the cooling water intake structures to fish and aquatic organisms.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations, and EPA's regulations for implementing NEPA, EPA has prepared a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to analyze the potential environmental impacts related to the issuance of credit assistance under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The PEA evaluates the potential adverse and beneficial environmental impacts of water infrastructure projects eligible for WIFIA credit assistance in compliance with NEPA. Projects receiving WIFIA credit assistance must also comply with applicable federal laws and regulations and Executive Orders (E.O.) and other state and local environmental reviews. Based on the environmental impact analysis in the PEA, EPA has made a preliminary determination that no significant environmental impacts are anticipated from the issuance of WIFIA credit assistance. This notice initiates the 30-day review period and invites comments from Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and the public regarding EPA's preliminary determination.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of South Dakota on October 4, 2017, related to South Dakota's Air Pollution Control Program. The October 4, 2017 submittal updates certain dates of incorporation by reference and reorganizes and revises certain rules. In this rulemaking, we are proposing action on all portions of the October 4, 2017 submittal, except for those portions of the submittal which do not belong in the SIP. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Texas to the EPA on August 23, 2017, that pertain to regulations to control air pollution from visible emissions and particulate matter.

The Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to authorize States to operate their hazardous waste management programs in lieu of the Federal program. EPA uses the regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs'' to provide notice of the authorization status of State programs and to incorporate by reference those provisions of the State regulations that will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement. This rule does not incorporate by reference the New York hazardous waste statutes. The rule codifies in the regulations the prior approval of New York's hazardous waste management program and incorporates by reference authorized provisions of the State's regulations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing this document to dispel confusion and provide regulatory certainty for stakeholders affected by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy program final rule issued on July 20, 2015, and the decision of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in the case of Mexichem Fluor, Inc. v. EPA. The 2015 Rule changed the listings for certain hydrofluorocarbons in various end-uses in the aerosols, refrigeration and air conditioning, and foam blowing sectors. It also changed the listings for certain hydrochlorofluorocarbons being phased out of production under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and section 605 of the Clean Air Act. The court vacated the 2015 Rule ``to the extent it requires manufacturers to replace HFCs with a substitute substance'' and remanded the rule to EPA for further proceedings. This document provides guidance to stakeholders that, based on the court's partial vacatur, in the near- term EPA will not apply the HFC listings in the 2015 Rule, pending a rulemaking. This document also provides the Agency's plan to begin a notice-and-comment rulemaking process to address the remand of the 2015 Rule. The Agency is also providing notice of a stakeholder meeting as part of the rulemaking process.