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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing its action to codify into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) the delegation of authority to implement and enforce the Federal Plan Requirements for Sewage Sludge Incineration Units Constructed on or before October 14, 2010 (SSI Federal Plan) to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES). The SSI Federal Plan addresses the implementation and enforcement of the emission guidelines applicable to existing SSI units located in areas not covered by an approved and currently effective state plan. The SSI Federal Plan imposes emission limits and other control requirements for existing affected SSI facilities which will reduce designated pollutants. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to establish no new requirements under Clean Water Act (CWA), section 311. This section directs the President to issue regulations to prevent discharges of oil and hazardous substances from onshore and offshore facilities, and to contain such discharges. On July 21, 2015, EPA was sued for failing to comply with the alleged duty to issue regulations to prevent and contain CWA hazardous substance discharges. On February 16, 2016, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a Consent Decree between EPA and the litigants that required EPA to sign a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to the issuance of hazardous substance regulations, and take final action after notice and comment on said notice. Based on an analysis of the frequency and impacts of reported CWA HS discharges and the existing framework of EPA regulatory requirements, the Agency is not proposing additional regulatory requirements at this time. This proposed action is intended to comply with the Consent Decree and to provide an opportunity for public notice and comment on EPA's proposed approach to satisfy the CWA requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve changes to the South Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) to revise definitions and a regulation for open burning. EPA is approving portions of SIP revisions submitted by the State of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) on the following dates: July 18, 2011, June 17, 2013, April 10, 2014, August 8, 2014, and July 27, 2016. These actions are being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to redesignate the Missouri portion of the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL nonattainment area (``St. Louis area'' or ``area'') to attainment for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). MDNR submitted this request on September 12, 2016, with a supplemental submission on February 16, 2018, to include a revised motor vehicle emissions budget. EPA is proposing this action because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). As part of this action, EPA is also proposing to approve, as a revision to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 2008 8- hour ozone NAAQS through 2030. Finally, EPA finds adequate and is proposing to approve, as a SIP revision, the State's 2030 volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Missouri portion of the St. Louis area. EPA addressed the Illinois portion of the St. Louis area in a separate rulemaking action on March 1, 2018. 83 FR 8756.