Environmental Protection Agency August 1, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This regulation amends the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of titanium dioxide (CAS Reg. No. 13463-67-7) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops to allow for use as a carrier. SciReg. Inc., on behalf of Bayer CropScience Biologics GmbH, submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of titanium dioxide resulting from this use.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from Connecticut regarding the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and a SIP submission addressing interstate transport requirements of the CAA for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, we are approving one statute included in the SIP for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. The EPA is also approving revisions to the SIP submitted by Connecticut on October 18, 2017, satisfying Connecticut's earlier commitment to adopt and submit provisions that meet certain requirements of the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program. In addition, we are converting the June 3, 2016 conditional approval to full approval for elements of Connecticut's infrastructure SIP regarding PSD requirements to treat nitrogen oxides (NOX) as a precursor to ozone and to establish a minor source baseline date for PM2.5 emissions for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5, 1997 and 2008 ozone, 2008 lead, 2010 nitrogen dioxide, and 2010 sulfur dioxide NAAQS. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is removing regulatory provisions associated with the administrative reporting exemption under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, and under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986. These revisions implement the vacatur of the CERCLA and EPCRA administrative reporting exemption regulations ordered by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit). This rule also incorporates CERCLA revisions enacted by the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act.

EPA is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 145 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The chemical substances are subject to consent orders issued by EPA pursuant to section 5(e) of TSCA. This action requires persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these 145 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the intended use within the applicable review period. Persons may not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and has taken such actions as are required with that determination.