Environmental Protection Agency May 25, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On April 30, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled, ``Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science.'' The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule, which was scheduled to close on May 30, 2018, until August 16, 2018. The EPA is also announcing a public hearing to be held for the proposed rule. The hearing will be held on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. The EPA is making these changes in response to public requests for an extension of the comment period and for a public hearing.

EPA is proposing to approve a request submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) on May 16, 2017, to revise the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP). The submission includes amendments to the Wisconsin Administrative Code updating the definition of ``volatile organic compound (VOC)'' to add eight compounds to the list of exempted compounds. These revisions are based on EPA rulemakings in 2012, 2013, and 2014, which added these compounds to the list of chemical compounds that are excluded from the Federal definition of VOC because, in their intended used, they make negligible contributions to tropospheric ozone formation. In addition, WDNR is also requesting to withdraw several previously approved provisions of the Wisconsin Administrative Code from the SIP concerning the State's Stage II vapor recovery (Stage II) program that terminated in 2012. EPA approved the removal of the Stage II program as a component of the Wisconsin SIP in 2013, including the approval of a demonstration under section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that addressed emissions impacts associated with the removal of the program.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Rhode Island. These revisions include regulations to update the enhanced motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in Rhode Island. The revised program includes a test and repair network consisting of on-board diagnostic (OBD2) testing for model year 1996 and newer vehicles and tailpipe exhaust test, using a dynamometer, for model year 1995 and older vehicles. The intended effect of this action is to approve the revised program into the Rhode Island SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing action on the ozone attainment portion of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Connecticut to meet the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The EPA is proposing to approve Connecticut's demonstration of attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT moderate 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter, the NY-NJ-CT area or the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area). In addition, the EPA is proposing to approve Connecticut's reasonably available control measures (RACM) analysis. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.