Environmental Protection Agency July 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) submitted a SIP revision on March 19, 2019 seeking to remove from the Pennsylvania SIP an Allegheny County requirement limiting summertime gasoline volatility in Allegheny County to 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). The original purpose of that gasoline requirement was to address nonattainment under the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley ozone nonattainment area (hereafter Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area). EPA acted in December 2018 to remove similar 7.8 psi RVP requirements that applied to the entire Pittsburgh- Beaver Valley Area, as the requirements are no longer needed to address nonattainment in the area and have been supplanted by other emissions control measures. This action serves to remove the separate comparable requirement in the Pennsylvania SIP that applies only to Allegheny County. The approval of this SIP revision is supported by the demonstration prepared by Pennsylvania in support of the earlier SIP revision. That demonstration shows that, pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA), removal of the 7.8 psi RVP requirements from the SIP will not interfere with the area's ability to attain or maintain any NAAQS, nor will it be inconsistent with any other CAA requirements. EPA is approving this revision to remove the ACHD requirements for use of 7.8 psi RVP gasoline in summer months from the Pennsylvania SIP, in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the Strasburg Landfill Superfund Site (Site) located in Newlin and West Bradford Townships, Chester County, Pennsylvania from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP, Southeast Region), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation and maintenance (O&M), monitoring, and Five-Year Reviews, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that the Columbus, Ohio area is attaining the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) and to act in accordance with a request from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) to redesignate the area to attainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The Columbus area includes Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, and Licking Counties. Ohio EPA submitted this request on April 23, 2019. EPA is also proposing to approve, as a revision to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's plan for maintaining the 2015 ozone NAAQS through 2030 in the Columbus area. Finally, EPA finds adequate and is proposing to approve Ohio's 2023 and 2030 volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Columbus area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision provided by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (DAQ), on January 12, 2018. The SIP revision makes changes to the State's combined construction and operating permit program for non-Title V sources. EPA is proposing to approve the revision to the North Carolina SIP because it is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

On July 31, 2018, the State of Georgia, through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), provided a revision to the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve into the SIP a modification to Georgia's Ambient Air Quality Standards regulation. Specifically, the July 31, 2018, SIP revision updates Georgia's air quality standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2) to be consistent with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is proposing to approve the July 31, 2018, SIP revision because the changes are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD or ``District'') portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wood products coating operations and organic solvent degreasing operations. We are approving local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are also approving revisions to a definitions rule. Finally, we are converting the partial conditional approval of the District's reasonably available control technology (RACT) SIPs for the 1997 and 2008 ozone standards, as it applies to VOC emissions from wood products coating operations and organic solvent degreasing operations, to a full approval.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve two State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submissions from the State of Missouri. In these submissions, the State requested that two rules relating to the sales of fuel and coal washing be rescinded from the Missouri SIP. The EPA received both submissions on December 4, 2018, and received supplemental information for both submissions on May 6, 2019. The EPA reviewed the submissions and supplemental information and determined that rescission of these rules from the SIP does not impact the stringency of the SIP or air quality and is proposing to rescind the rules from the Missouri SIP. Approval of the submissions will ensure consistency between state and federally approved rules and is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA announces the availability of documents and dates for the peer review of the draft risk evaluations for Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD) and 1,4-Dioxane, and associated documents. The purpose of the risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk to health or the environment under the conditions of use, including an unreasonable risk to a relevant potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation. EPA is also submitting these same documents to the TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) for peer review and is announcing that there will be a 5-day in-person meeting of the TSCA SACC to consider and review these draft risk evaluations. Preceding the in-person meeting, there will be a 3-hour preparatory virtual meeting for the panel to consider the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions for the peer reviews.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of May 16, 2019, opening a 45-day comment period for a draft revised method for conducting national level threatened and endangered species biological evaluations for pesticides. The May 16, 2019 Notice also announced a June 10, 2019 public meeting for EPA to present the draft revised method and provide an additional opportunity for the public to provide feedback. This document extends the comment period for 45 days, from July 1, 2019 to August 15, 2019. EPA is extending the comment period after receipt and consideration of seven extension requests, to date, citing the following reasons for the requests: The complex and highly technical nature of the revised draft; the need to engage experts familiar with the subject matter; the potential wide-ranging impacts of the revisions and the importance of soliciting feedback from stakeholders who may be affected; and the additional time needed to develop constructive comments. In addition, stakeholders may want to review the recording of the June 10, 2019 public meeting that is now available in the revised method docket (EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0185). EPA responded to a number of clarifying questions about the draft revised method at that public meeting. Therefore, EPA believes that additional time for the public to consider the clarifying information provided at that meeting will further ensure meaningful stakeholder involvement in this process. This extension will facilitate the submission of high quality, useful comments during the public comment period.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This revision includes the second 10-year limited maintenance plan (LMP) for Carbon Monoxide (CO) for the Boston Metropolitan Area, as well as for the cities of Lowell, Springfield, Waltham, and Worcester. This LMP addresses maintenance of the CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for a second 10-year period beyond the original re-designation to attainment. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will meet on the dates and times described below. All meetings are open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to the specific issues being considered by the NEJAC. For additional information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see ``REGISTRATION'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Due to a limited number of telephone lines, attendance will be on a first-come, first served basis. Pre-registration is required.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d) plan submitted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). This plan was submitted to fulfill the requirements of the CAA and in response to EPA's promulgation of Emissions Guidelines and Compliance Times for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The Delaware plan establishes emission limits for existing MSW landfills, and provides for the implementation and enforcement of those limits.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluopyram in or on cranberry; lentil, dry seed; and pea, dry seed. Bayer CropScience requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).