Environmental Protection Agency September 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia's state implementation plan (SIP). The revision is in response to EPA's February 3, 2017 Findings of Failure to Submit for various requirements relating to the 2008 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision is specific to nonattainment new source review (NNSR) requirements. EPA is approving this revision in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving certain changes to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action relates to changes in Wisconsin's construction permit rules as well as the change in the definition for ``emergency electric generators'' in NR 400. This request for the revision of the SIP was submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) on May 16, 2017.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Chartered SAB to: Conduct two quality reviews of the draft SAB Review of EPA's Draft Toxicological Review of Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether and Draft Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol; and the draft SAB review of the EPA's Framework for Assessing Biogenic CO2 Emissions from Stationary Sources (2014); and receive updates on current SAB projects and future topics from the EPA.

On October 14, 2016, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) submitted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission for the 2012 Fine Particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the Cleveland nonattainment area. EPA proposed to approve the state's submittal on June 4, 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Landfill Methane Outreach Program'' (EPA ICR No. 1849.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0446) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through May 31, 2019. 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.

Notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative cost settlement for recovery of response costs concerning the Former Lawrence Metals Site, located in Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with the Settling Party, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The proposed settlement requires the Settling Party pay EPA $200,000 to settle EPA's past response costs, which amount to approximately $8,235,772. In exchange, EPA will provide the Settling Party with a covenant not to sue for past costs. The settlement has been approved by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement for recovery of response costs. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to this cost recovery settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the Environmental Protection AgencyRegion I, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109-3912.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces an upcoming meeting for the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC). The EPA established the CAAAC on November 19, 1990, to provide independent advice and counsel to EPA on policy issues associated with implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1990. The Committee advises EPA on economic, environmental, technical, scientific and enforcement policy issues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Ambient Air Quality Surveillance'' (EPA ICR No. 0940.28, OMB Control No. 2060-0084), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2019. 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) will host a public meeting to obtain input on its Study of Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management. In May 2018, EPA initiated a study to evaluate approaches to managing both conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction wastewaters generated at onshore facilities. EPA's study will address questions such as how existing federal approaches to produced water management under the Clean Water Act can interact more effectively with state and tribal regulations, what requirements or policy updates are needed, and whether support exists for potential federal regulations that may allow for broader discharge of treated produced water to surface waters. A key component of the study is to engage with stakeholders to solicit information from their individual perspectives on topics surrounding produced water management. This spring and summer, EPA met with various stakeholders across the country. This public meeting is the next step in EPA's outreach. During this meeting, EPA will report on what it has learned to date and provide stakeholders the opportunity to provide additional input. For more information on the meeting and the study, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

This notice announces the competition for the 2019 Clean Air Excellence Awards Program. EPA established the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program in February 2000 to recognize outstanding and innovative efforts that support progress in achieving clean air.