Environmental Protection Agency 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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), through a letter dated February 26, 2020. Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve the removal of Tennessee's inspection and maintenance (I/M) program requirements for Hamilton County from the federally approved SIP. EPA is proposing to approve the removal of the I/M program requirements for Hamilton County from the federally approved SIP because removing the requirements is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and applicable regulations.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP). The EPA is proposing to approve the plan for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standard) through 2032 in the Beaumont-Port Arthur (BPA) area.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry14Ab-1 protein (hereafter referred to as Cry14Ab-1) in or on soybean when used as a Plant-Incorporated Protectant (PIP). BASF Corporation submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Cry14Ab-1.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Collection of Information on Anaerobic Digestion Facilities Processing Wasted Food to Support EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program and Sustainable Management of Food Efforts (Revision)'' (EPA ICR No. 2533.04, OMB Control No. 2050-0217) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed renewal of a previous ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2020. 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.

EPA will hold a virtual Environmental Modeling Public Meeting (EMPM) on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, with participation by phone and webcast only. This Notice announces the meeting and provides information on its theme. The EMPM provides a public forum for EPA and its stakeholders to discuss current issues related to modeling pesticide fate, transport, exposure, and ecotoxicity for pesticide risk assessments in a regulatory context.

Due to the receipt of adverse comments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the April 6, 2020 direct final rule approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New Hampshire. New Hampshire's SIP revision provided a negative declaration for EPA's 2016 Control Technique Guideline for the oil and gas industry. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), TSCA Existing Chemical Risk Evaluation and ManagementGeneric ICR for Interviews and Focus Groups (EPA ICR Number 2584.01 and OMB Control Number 2070-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on August 5, 2019 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the document issued in the Federal Register on April 10, 2020, entitled ``Notice of Recent Specifications Review and Request for Information on WaterSense Program.'' In response to stakeholder requests, the EPA is extending the comment period an additional 45 days from June 9, 2020 to July 24, 2020. Please note changes for public visitors to the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room in the Public Participation section of this document.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New Jersey. This proposed revision requests to remove from the SIP the recordkeeping, emission reporting, photochemical dispersion modeling, and inventory requirements for t-butyl acetate (TBAC) as a volatile organic compound (VOC). The proposed revision is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Vermont that addresses the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act)including the interstate transport provisionsfor the 2015 ozone 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, including provisions prohibiting emissions that will have certain adverse air- quality effects in other states, are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. EPA is also approving the State of Vermont Executive Order (E.O.) 19-17, Executive Code of Ethics, which Vermont submitted with its infrastructure submission for the 2015 ozone NAAQS to be added to the SIP. Because E.O. 19-17 supersedes and replaces E.O. 09-11, EPA is also removing E.O. 09-11 from the Vermont SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Louisiana's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the State. EPA has determined that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed for program approval. This action also codifies EPA's approval of Louisiana's state program and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State regulations that we have determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving elements of two State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittals from Louisiana for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The submittals address how the existing SIP provides for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the 2015 ozone NAAQS (infrastructure SIP or i-SIP). The i-SIP ensures that the Louisiana SIP is adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA for this NAAQS.

This action finalizes the residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the Engine Test Cells/Stands source category regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). In addition, we are taking final action on amendments to the Engine Test Cells/Stands NESHAP addressing periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM). These final amendments also include provisions regarding electronic reporting, as well as clarifying and technical corrections. These final amendments will result in improved compliance and implementation of the rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action on a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Arizona on behalf of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act'') requirements for the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the Phoenix-Mesa (``Phoenix'') ozone nonattainment area (NAA). The EPA is finalizing approval of the portions of the ``MAG 2017 Eight-Hour Ozone Moderate Area Plan for the Maricopa Nonattainment Area (December 2016)'' (``MAG 2017 Ozone Plan'' or ``Plan'') that address the requirements for emissions inventories, a demonstration of attainment by the applicable attainment date, reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP), motor vehicle emission budgets for transportation conformity, vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, new source review (NSR) rules, and offsets. The EPA is finalizing a disapproval of the portion of the MAG 2017 Ozone Plan that addresses the requirements for contingency measures for failure to attain or to make RFP. However, based on a separate finding that the Phoenix 2008 ozone NAA (``Phoenix NAA'') attained the 2008 ozone standards by the applicable attainment date, we previously determined that the requirement for the State to submit a SIP revision addressing attainment contingency measures no longer applies for the Phoenix NAA. We are also finalizing our determination that the requirement for the State to submit a SIP revision addressing RFP contingency measures no longer applies for the Phoenix NAA. Finally, we are finalizing approval of the portions of a SIP revision, the ``MAG 2014 Eight-Hour Ozone PlanSubmittal of Marginal Area Requirements for the Maricopa Nonattainment Area (June 2014)'' (``MAG 2014 Ozone Plan''), on which we previously deferred action.

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 04/01/ 2020 to 04/30/2020.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing approval of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Missouri on February 5, 2019. Missouri requests that EPA revise its approved plan which restricts emission of lead from specific lead smelter-refinery installations. The revisions remove emission restrictions for a facility that is no longer operating, update a reference to the Federal National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for secondary lead smelters, and update incorporation by reference to testing methods. Minor editorial revisions have also been made for clarity. The EPA's proposed approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting Florida final authorization for changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Agency published a Proposed Rule on February 25, 2020, and provided for public comment. No comments were received during the comment period on this Proposed Rule. No further opportunity for comment will be provided.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) and the Operating Permits Program. The revisions include updating definitions, regulatory references, correcting the State's mailing address, requiring facilities to submit electronic emissions inventory information under the State's title V permitting program, and updating references for the most recent federally approved minimum specifications and quality assurance procedures for performance evaluations of continuous monitoring systems. Approval of these revisions will not impact air quality and will ensure consistency between the State and Federally approved rules.

EPA has received applications to register new uses for pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on these applications.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the Office of Mission Support (OMS) gives notice that it proposes to create a new system of records for the Personnel Security System (PSS) 2.0. OMS is replacing the current PSS (1.0), which is a module of the Office of Administrative Services Information System (OASIS, EPA-41), with a new stand-alone system, PSS 2.0, outside of the OASIS portal. All exemptions and provisions included in the SORN for PSS 1.0 under the OASIS portal will transfer to the new SORN for PSS 2.0.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD or District) and the Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). For the SJVUAPCD, these revisions concern a rule intended to track information related to emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) from commercial charbroilers, and an administrative rule for the registration of certain emission units historically exempted from the SJVUAPCD's permit requirements. We are proposing to approve into the California SIP amendments to a SJVUAPCD local rule, which require owners and operators of commercial underfired charbroilers to submit a one-time information report and which subject certain underfired charbroilers to registration and weekly recordkeeping requirements. We are also proposing to approve a SJVUAPCD rule addressing registration requirements for these and certain other emission units. For the FRAQMD, these revisions concern a negative declaration for the Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry. We are proposing to approve the negative declaration into the California SIP. We are taking comments on this proposal to approve the two SJVUAPCD rules and the FRAQMD negative declaration. We plan to follow with a final action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to modify the boundaries of the existing EPA-designated Humboldt Open Ocean Disposal Site (referred to hereafter as HOODS) offshore of Humboldt Bay, California, pursuant to Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, as amended (MPRSA). The primary purpose for the site modification is to enlarge the site to serve the long-term need for disposal of permitted, suitable material dredged from Humboldt Harbor and vicinity, in order to provide for continued safe navigation in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay. The modified site will be subject to monitoring and management to ensure continued protection of the marine environment.

EPA is extending the comment period for a notice issued in the Federal Register of January 27, 2020, announcing the availability of the preliminary lists of manufacturers (including importers) of 20 chemical substances that have been designated as a High-Priority Substance for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and for which fees will be charged. The original comment period and window for self-identification was previously extended by 60-days, and this document provides an additional extension, from May 27, 2020 to June 15, 2020.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Subcommittee to review the initial progress on implementation of the FY 19-22 SHC Strategic Research Action Plan (StRAP).