Environmental Protection Agency 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Nutritional Yeast Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Review (EPA ICR Number 2568.03, OMB Control Number 2060-0719) 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 December 31, 2020. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 12, 2020 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), Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility (EPA ICR Number 1367.13, OMB Control Number 2060-0178) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2020. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 1, 2020 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), Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection (EPA ICR Number 1246.14, OMB Control Number 2070-0072) 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 December 31, 2020. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 20, 2020 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 planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2260.05, OMB Control No. 2090-0029) 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 extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through June 30, 2021. 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) proposes to approve revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Washington on June 2, 2019, through the Washington Department of Ecology. The proposed revision, applicable in Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane Counties, Washington, removes the Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program, which was previously approved into the SIP for use as a component of the State's plans to address on- road sources in nonattainment areas. The SIP revision also includes a demonstration that the requested revision to the vehicle model year coverage will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) or with any other applicable requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). The I/M program will be moved from the active portion of the SIP to the contingency portion of the applicable SIP for each area. The EPA evaluated whether this SIP revision would interfere with the requirements of the CAA. The EPA is proposing to determine that Washington's June 2, 2019 SIP revision is consistent with the applicable portions of the CAA.

This proposed action is taken in response to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's (D.C. Circuit) remand of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Update in Wisconsin v. EPA on September 13, 2019. The CSAPR Update finalized Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) for 22 states to address their interstate pollution-transport obligations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The D.C. Circuit found that the CSAPR Update, which was published on October 26, 2016, as a partial remedy to address upwind states' obligations prior to the 2018 Moderate area attainment date under the 2008 ozone NAAQS, was unlawful to the extent it allowed those states to continue their significant contributions to downwind ozone problems beyond the statutory dates by which downwind states must demonstrate their attainment of the air quality standards. On the same grounds, the D.C. Circuit also vacated the CSAPR Close-Out in New York v. EPA on October 1, 2019. This proposed rule, if finalized, will resolve 21 states' outstanding interstate ozone transport obligations with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking this action under the Clean Air Act section known as the ``good neighbor provision.'' This action proposes to find that for 9 of the 21 states for which the CSAPR Update was found to be only a partial remedy (Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin), their projected nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions in the 2021 ozone season and thereafter do not significantly contribute to a continuing downwind nonattainment and/or maintenance problem, and therefore the states' CSAPR Update FIPs (or the SIPs subsequently approved to replace certain states' CSAPR Update FIPs) fully address their interstate ozone transport obligations with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. This action also proposes to find that for the 12 remaining states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia), their projected 2021 ozone season NOX emissions significantly contribute to downwind states' nonattainment and/or maintenance problems for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA proposes to issue new or amended FIPs for these 12 states to replace their existing CSAPR NOX Ozone Season Group 2 emissions budgets for electricity generating units (EGUs) with revised budgets via a new CSAPR NOX Ozone Season Group 3 Trading Program. EPA is proposing to require implementation of the revised emission budgets beginning with the 2021 ozone season (which runs annually from May 1-September 30). Based on EPA's assessment of remaining air quality issues and additional emission control strategies for EGUs and other emissions sources in other industry sectors (non-EGUs), EPA further proposes that the proposed NOX emission reductions fully eliminate these states' significant contributions to downwind air quality problems for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA also proposes in this action an error correction for its June 2018 approval of Kentucky's good neighbor SIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a Clean Air Act (CAA or the ``Act'') section 111(d) state plan submitted by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR or the ``Department'') on January 3, 2020. This plan was submitted to fulfill the requirements of the CAA and is responsive to the EPA's promulgation of Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for existing municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The South Dakota state plan establishes performance standards and other operating requirements for existing MSW landfills within the State of South Dakota and provides for the implementation and enforcement of those standards and requirements by the Department.

In accordance with the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to redesignate the Southwest Indiana nonattainment area, which consists of a portion of Daviess County and a portion of Pike County (Veale Township in Daviess County and Washington Township in Pike County), to attainment for the 2010 primary, health-based 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is also proposing to approve Indiana's maintenance plan for the Southwest Indiana SO2 nonattainment area. Indiana submitted the request for approval of the Southwest Indiana nonattainment area's redesignation and maintenance plan on October 24, 2018, and supplemental information on August 25, 2020. EPA has previously approved Indiana's attainment plan for the Southwest Indiana area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New Jersey. This revision removes 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 revision is in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This notice announces the availability of EPA's progress report in meeting its performance measures and goals for pesticide reregistration during fiscal year 2018. This progress report also presents the total number of products registered under the ``fast- track'' provisions of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (DAQ), on July 10, 2019. The SIP revision seeks to modify the State's annual emissions reporting regulation by removing the annual emissions reporting requirement for certain non-Title V facilities in geographic areas that have been redesignated to attainment for the 1979 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (``NAAQS'' or ``standards'') and in the areas listed in the rule that have been redesignated to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, with the exception of the geographic areas that have been redesignated to attainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The SIP revision also makes minor changes that do not significantly alter the meaning of the regulation. EPA is proposing to approve this revision pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

EPA is amending significant new use rules (SNURs) issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances, which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and significant new use notices (SNUNs). As a result of EPA's review of SNUNs for these chemical substances and based on new and existing data, EPA is finalizing amendments to these SNURs. Specifically, this action amends the identified SNURs to allow certain new uses reported in the SNUNs without additional notification requirements and modify the significant new use notification requirements based on the actions and determinations for the SNUN submissions.

EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) plans to authorize various contractors to access information which is submitted to us under the Clean Air Act and which may be claimed as, or may be determined to be, confidential business information (CBI). The information is related to the registration of fuels and fuel additives under 40 CFR part 79 and to various compositional and performance standards for reformulated gasoline, conventional gasoline, diesel fuel, detergents, and the renewable fuel standard (RFS) under 40 CFR part 80.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing for public comment a proposed rule under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that would establish national standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily non-military and non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length and above into the waters of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone. The proposed national standards of performance were developed in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and in consultation with interested Governors. The proposed standards, once finalized and implemented through corresponding USCG regulations addressing implementation, compliance, and enforcement, would reduce the discharge of pollutants from vessels and streamline the current patchwork of federal, state, and local vessel discharge requirements. Additionally, EPA is proposing procedures for states to follow if they choose to petition EPA to issue an emergency order, to review any standard of performance, regulation, or policy, to request additional requirements with respect to discharges in the Great Lakes, or to apply to EPA to prohibit one or more types of vessel discharges proposed for regulation in this rulemaking into specified waters to provide greater environmental protection.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a redesignation request and state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of West Virginia related to the 2010 primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or Standard) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) (2010 SO2 NAAQS). Emissions of SO2 in the Marshall, West Virginia Area have been permanently reduced, a maintenance plan has been adopted that includes limits that assure continued attainment and monitored ambient SO2 readings in the nonattainment area are currently well below the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. The effect of this action changes the designation of the Marshall Area from nonattainment to attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

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.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed interim registration review decisions and opens a 60-day public comment period on the proposed interim decisions for the following pesticides: 1,3-dichloropropene, 1-methylcyclopropene; aluminum phosphide; Beauveria bassiana; benzyl benzoate; butoxypolypropylene glycol (BPG); carboxin/oxycarboxin; cyhalothrins; Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA); halohydantoins; inorganic sulfites; irgarol; kaolin; magnesium phosphide; methoprene/kinoprene/hydroprene; myclobutanil; naphthalene acetic acid, salts, ester, and acetamide (NAA); organic esters of phosphoric acid (OEPA); Paecilomyces species; phosphine; propylene oxide (PPO); Streptomyces lydicus strain WYEC 108; triallate; triphenyltin hydroxide (TPTH); and triticonazole. In addition, the human health and ecological risk assessments for benzyl benzoate, butoxypolypropylene glycol, and OEPA are also being published for comment at this time.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed interim registration review decision and opens a 60-day public comment period on the proposed interim decision for paraquat.

EPA is requesting comment on applications from Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (``Volkswagen '') for off-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) credits under EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. ``Off-cycle'' emission reductions can be achieved by employing technologies that result in real-world benefits, but where that benefit is not adequately captured on the test procedures used by manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with emission standards. EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas program acknowledges these benefits by giving automobile manufacturers several options for generating ``off-cycle'' CO2 credits. Under the regulations, a manufacturer may apply for CO2 credits for off-cycle technologies that result in off-cycle benefits. In these cases, a manufacturer must provide EPA with a proposed methodology for determining the real-world off-cycle benefit. Volkswagen has submitted an application that describe methodologies for determining off-cycle credits from technologies described in their application. Pursuant to applicable regulations, EPA is making these off-cycle credit calculation methodologies available for public comment.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of clofentezine in or on hop, dried cones. The Interregional Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested this tolerance under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of diquat in or on pea and bean, dry and shelled, except soybean, subgroup 6C. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky SIP, submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Commonwealth), through the Energy and Environment Cabinet (Cabinet) on September 5, 2019. The revision was submitted by the Cabinet on behalf of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD) and makes changes to the definition of ``Volatile Organic Compound'' (VOC). EPA is approving the changes amending the definition of VOC because the Commonwealth has demonstrated that the changes are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

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.