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

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 19 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The chemical substances are subject to Orders issued by EPA pursuant to section 5(e) of TSCA. This action would require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these 19 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by these rules 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. In addition to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, EPA is issuing the action as a direct final rule elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

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: ``PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1446.12 and OMB Control No. 2070-0112, 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 (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. Maryland's SIP revision, the Regional Haze Five-Year Progress Report, addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) provisions that require the State to submit periodic reports addressing reasonable progress goals (RPGs) established for regional haze and to make a determination of the adequacy of the State's existing regional haze SIP. Maryland's progress report notes that the State has implemented the measures that are specified in the regional haze SIP which were due to be in place by the date of the progress report. The progress report also notes that visibility in federal Class I areas that may have been affected by emissions from Maryland is improving and that these Class I areas have already met the applicable RPGs for 2018. EPA is proposing approval of Maryland's progress report and its determination that the State's regional haze SIP is adequate to meet these RPGs for the first implementation period, which extends through 2018, and requires no substantive revision. This action is being taken under the CAA.

On October 17, 2017, the EPA published a final rule partially approving the 2009 Texas Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission and promulgated a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for Texas to address certain outstanding Clean Air Act (CAA) regional haze requirements. Because the EPA believes that certain aspects of the final rule could benefit from additional public input, we are proposing to affirm our October 2017 SIP approval and FIP promulgation and to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on relevant aspects, as well as other specified related issues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to delete various local rules from the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were approved in error. These rules include general nuisance provisions, certain federal performance requirements, hearing board procedures, variance provisions, and local fee provisions. The EPA has determined that the continued presence of these rules in the SIP is potentially confusing and thus problematic for affected sources, the state, local agencies, and the EPA. The intended effect of this proposal is to delete these rules to make the SIP consistent with the Clean Air Act. The EPA is also proposing to make certain other corrections to address errors made in previous actions taken by the EPA on California SIP revisions.