Environmental Protection Agency 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA's Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will hold a public meeting on August 21-22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The EFAB is an EPA advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice and recommendations to EPA on creative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and activities. The purpose of this meeting is to hear from informed speakers on environmental finance issues and EPA priorities; to discuss activities, progress, and preliminary recommendations with regards to current EFAB work projects; and to consider requests for assistance from EPA program offices. Environmental finance discussions and presentations are expected on, but not limited to, the following topics: alternative project delivery pre-development practices; pre-disaster resiliency investment and finance; water system regionalization financing strategies; water quality restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; Rural Alaska Waste Backhaul Service Program; and Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center activities. The meeting is open to the public; however, seating is limited and attendees must be processed through security. All members of the public who wish to attend the meeting must register, in advance, no later than Friday, August 3, 2018.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of scientific experts from a diverse range of disciplines to be considered for appointment to the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) and four SAB committees described in this document. Appointments will be announced by the Administrator and are anticipated to be filled by the start of Fiscal Year 2019 (October 2018).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), on October 24, 2017, and a portion of a December 9, 2015, infrastructure SIP submission. The October 24, 2017 submission addresses the general Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) conflict of interest requirements applicable to Alabama state boards or agency personnel with respect to the approval of permits or enforcement orders. This submission also specifically addresses requirements for implementation of the following national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS): 1997, 2006, and 2012 Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2008 Lead, 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA. Whenever EPA promulgates a new or revised NAAQS, the CAA requires the state to make a new SIP submission establishing that the existing SIP meets the various applicable requirements, or revising the SIP to meet those requirements. This type of SIP submission is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. In this action, EPA is approving the October 24, 2017, submission with respect to: The CAA conflict of interest requirements; and the related conflict of interest infrastructure SIP requirements for the 1997, 2006, and 2012 PM2.5, 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2008 Lead, 2010 NO2, and 2010 SO2 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is approving a portion of ADEM's December 9, 2015, infrastructure SIP submission (as supplemented by the October 24, 2017 submission) related to the conflict of interest requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. This action removes EPA's obligation to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address these CAA state board requirements for Alabama.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for Oklahoma submitted by the State of Oklahoma designee with a letter dated February 14, 2017. The submittal covers updates to the Oklahoma SIP, as contained in annual SIP updates for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, and incorporates the latest changes to EPA regulations. This action will address the revisions submitted to the Oklahoma SIP pertaining to incorporation by reference of federal requirements and emission inventory reporting requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 30- day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Assessment Plan for naphthalene. This document communicates information on the scoping needs identified by EPA program and regional offices and the IRIS Program's initial problem formulation activities. Specifically, the assessment plan outlines the objectives for each assessment and the type of evidence considered most pertinent to address the scoping needs. EPA is releasing this draft IRIS Assessment Plan for public comment at least 30 days in advance of a public science webinar planned on August 23, 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Colorado on May 26, 2017, addressing regional haze. The revisions include source-specific revisions to the nitrogen oxides (NOX) best available retrofit technology (BART) determination for Craig Station Unit 1 and to the NOX reasonable progress determination for the Nucla Station. Both Craig Station Unit 1 and Nucla Station are owned in part and operated by Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State). The EPA is taking this action pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of Oklahoma's State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal, that addresses a CAA requirement that SIPs account for potential interstate transport of air pollution that significantly contributes to nonattainment or interferes with maintenance of the 2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in other states. EPA finds that emissions from Oklahoma sources do not contribute significantly to nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance by, any other state with regard to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the District of Columbia (the District) that pertains to the good neighbor and interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA's good neighbor provision requires EPA and states to address the interstate transport of air pollution that affects the ability of other states \1\ to attain and maintain the NAAQS. Specifically, the good neighbor provision requires each state in its SIP to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in another state. The District has submitted a SIP revision that addresses the good neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In this action, EPA is proposing to approve the District's SIP as having adequate provisions to meet the requirements of the good neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA.

On June 13, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed an advance notice of proposed rulemaking titled, ``Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Costs and Benefits in Rulemaking Process.'' The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule, which was scheduled to close on July 13, 2018, until August 13, 2018. The EPA is making this change in response to public requests for an extension of the comment period.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the information collection request (ICR) Facility Ground-Water Monitoring Requirements (Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 0959.16, OMB Control No. 2050-0033) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 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 October 31, 2018. 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) is planning to submit the information collection request (ICR), Hazardous Waste Generator Standards (Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 0820.14, OMB Control No. 2050-0035) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 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 October 31, 2018. 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) is approving two state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These revisions pertain to base year emission inventories for the Lebanon County and Delaware County nonattainment areas for the 2012 annual fine particulate national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to submit a comprehensive, accurate and current inventory of actual emissions from all sources of direct and secondary ambient fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) for all PM2.5 nonattainment areas. EPA is approving these revisions in accordance with the requirements under Title I of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD or ``District'') portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns the District's negative declarations for several volatile organic compound (VOC) source categories included in its Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) State Implementation Plan Analysis. We are approving these negative declarations under the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act'').

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to extend the period during which certain electronic reports required by the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) may be submitted as portable document format (PDF) files using the Emissions Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS) Client Tool. This action will extend the end date of that period from June 30, 2018, to July 1, 2020. This extension is necessary because the electronic reporting system that owners or operators of affected MATS sources will be required to use when PDF filing is no longer allowed will not be available by June 30, 2018. This extension does not alter the responsibility of owners or operators of affected MATS sources to comply with the applicable MATS and report their compliance information to the appropriate authority. In addition, this extension ensures that the compliance information can be submitted in a timely manner and made available to the public. Finally, this rule is effective on July 1, 2018, to provide the regulated community a continuous and viable vehicle to submit compliance reports.

Addressing childhood lead exposure is a priority for EPA. As part of EPA's efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure, EPA evaluated the current dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS) and the definition of lead-based paint (LBP). Based on this evaluation, EPA is proposing to lower the DLHS from 40 [mu]g/ft\2\ and 250 [mu]g/ft\2\ to 10 [mu]g/ ft\2\ and 100 [mu]g/ft\2\ on floors and window sills, respectively. EPA is proposing no changes to the current definition of LBP due to insufficient information to support such a change.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), to EPA on May 12, 2017, for attaining the 2010 1- hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for the Sullivan County SO2 nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``Sullivan County Area'' or ``Area''). The Sullivan County Area is comprised of a portion of Sullivan County in Tennessee surrounding the Eastman Chemical Company (hereafter referred to as ``Eastman''). This plan (herein called a ``nonattainment plan or SIP'' or ``attainment plan or SIP'') includes Tennessee's attainment demonstration and other elements required under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). In addition to an attainment demonstration, the plan addresses the requirement for meeting reasonable further progress (RFP) toward attainment of the NAAQS, reasonably available control measures and reasonably available control technology (RACM/RACT), base-year and projection-year emissions inventories, enforceable emissions limitations and control measures, and contingency measures. EPA proposes to conclude that Tennessee has appropriately demonstrated that the plan's provisions provide for attainment of the 2010 1-hour primary SO2 NAAQS in the Sullivan County Area and that the plan meets the other applicable requirements under the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from Vermont that addresses the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act)including the interstate transport provisionsfor the 2012 fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (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. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) minor New Source Review (NSR) program submitted on July 26, 2010, and March 24, 2017, including supplemental information provided on November 30, 2015, May 26, 2016, July 5, 2017, July 27, 2017, and March 16, 2018. Specifically, we are proposing to approve revisions that revise the minor NSR permitting thresholds and de minimis levels, as well as, additional non- substantive revisions contained in those submittals. This final action is consistent with the requirements of section 110 of the CAA.

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Washington State Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide lambda- cyhalothrin (CAS No. 91465-08-6) to treat up to 7,000 acres of asparagus to control the European asparagus aphid. The applicant proposes a use which is supported by the Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) program and has been requested in 5 or more previous years, and a petition for tolerance has not yet been submitted to the Agency. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

EPA is required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, to make information publicly available and to publish information in the Federal Register pertaining to submissions under TSCA section 5, including notice of receipt of a Premanufacture notice (PMN), Significant New Use Notice (SNUN) or Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN), including an amended notice or test information; an exemption application (Biotech exemption); an application for a test marketing exemption (TME), both pending and/or concluded; a notice of commencement (NOC) of manufacture (including import) for new chemical substances; and a periodic status report on new chemical substances that are currently under EPA review or have recently concluded review. This document covers the period from March 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR)NESHAP for Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 2277.04, OMB Control Number 2060-0608to 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 June 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 has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Contractor Conflicts of Interest'' (EPA ICR No. 1550.11, OMB Control No. 2030-0023) 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 June 30, 2018. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 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) is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Iowa for the purpose of incorporating an amendment to the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) for Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), Muscatine, Iowa. The revision amends the ACO to change the date for completion of performance testing to allow the state more time to complete processing air construction permit applications submitted by GPC and specify testing requirements as appropriate in the final permits. This revision will not impact the schedule for installation and operation of control equipment, will not alter any other compliance dates, and will not adversely affect air quality in Muscatine, Iowa. The state held a 30-day comment period, during which no comments were received.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Nebraska on November 14, 2011. Nebraska is adding a new chapter titled ``Visibility Protection'' which provides Nebraska authority to implement Federal regulations relating to Regional Haze and Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). The new chapter incorporates EPA's Guidelines for BART Determinations under the Regional Haze Rule. The revision to the SIP meets the visibility component of the Clean Air Act (CAA).