Environmental Protection Agency August 31, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of three state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act'') requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the San Joaquin Valley, California ozone nonattainment area. First, the EPA is proposing to approve the portions of the 2016 Ozone Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard (``2016 Ozone Plan'') that address the requirements to demonstrate attainment by the applicable attainment date and implementation of reasonably available control measures, among other requirements. Second, the EPA is proposing to approve the portions of the Revised Proposed 2016 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (``2016 State Strategy'') related to the ozone control strategy for San Joaquin Valley for the 2008 ozone standards, including a specific aggregate emissions reduction commitment. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to approve an air district rule addressing the emission statement requirement for ozone nonattainment areas. The EPA is not taking action at this time on the portions of the San Joaquin Valley 2016 Ozone Plan that address the requirements for a reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs), a base year emissions inventory, and contingency measures for failure to attain or to meet reasonable further progress milestones. We intend to address these remaining elements in a forthcoming proposal.

EPA has received applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on these applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Aircraft EnginesSupplemental Information Related to Exhaust Emissions (EPA ICR Number 2427.04, OMB Control Number 2060-0680) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2018. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on October 16th, 2017 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Sulfuric Acid Plants (EPA ICR No. 1057.14, OMB Control No. 2060-0041), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2018. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register, on June 29, 2017 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) interstate transport SIP requirements for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). These submissions address the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions prohibiting air emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. The EPA is approving portions of these infrastructure SIPs for the aforementioned states as containing adequate provisions to ensure that air emissions in the states will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS in any other state.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submission from Maryland addressing the infrastructure requirements of section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard). 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. EPA is approving Maryland's submittal addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with the requirements of section 110 of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing three distinct actions, including Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Electric Utility Generating Units (EGUs). First, EPA is proposing to replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP) with revised emissions guidelines (the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule) that inform the development, submittal, and implementation of state plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from certain EGUs. In the proposed emissions guidelines, consistent with the interpretation described in the proposed repeal of the CPP, the Agency is proposing to determine that heat rate improvement (HRI) measures are the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for existing coal-fired EGUs. Second, EPA is proposing new regulations that provide direction to both EPA and the states on the implementation of emission guidelines. The new proposed implementing regulations would apply to this action and any future emission guideline issued under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Third, the Agency is proposing revisions to the New Source Review (NSR) program that will help prevent NSR from being a barrier to the implementation of efficiency projects at EGUs.