Environmental Protection Agency March 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In June 2019, EPA Region 10 reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for offshore seafood processors operating in federal waters off the coast of Alaska. The permit, which became effective on July 17, 2019, authorizes discharges of seafood processing waste from vessels that: Discharge at least 3 nautical miles (NM) or greater from the Alaska shore; and, which engage in the processing of fresh, frozen, canned, smoked, salted or pickled seafood, the processing of mince, or the processing of meal, paste and other secondary by-products. On March 30, 2020, the Freezer Longline Coalition (FLC) requested that EPA modify the permit to allow for a currently-prohibited seasonal discharge (between June 10 and December 31, the fleet's ``B Season'') within 1 NM of wintering critical habitat (Unit 5) for the spectacled eider. According to the FLC, the requested modification is a result of changing fish migration patterns and ice coverage in the Bering Sea, and is ``necessary to ensure the continued commercial viability of its members.'' While requested by FLC, a permit modification would apply to all vessels covered under the Permit. EPA has tentatively decided to modify the permit to allow for discharge within 1 NM of Unit 5 during the fleet's B season. All other conditions of the permit will remain unchanged. EPA is only accepting comments on the modified authorization for vessels to seasonally discharge within 1 NM of spectacled eider wintering critical habitat (Part III.B.7 of the modified general permit). Only the conditions subject to modification are reopened for public comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) 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 construction and operation permitting regulations by making minor changes that do not significantly alter the meaning of the regulations. EPA is approving this revision pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Air Quality, on July 10, 2019. This SIP revision seeks to modify the State's permitting program public participation procedures by adding two types of minor source permits to the list of permits that must undergo public participation and by making minor edits. EPA is approving this revision pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ), on December 9, 2019. The SIP revision updates the description and attainment status designations of geographic areas within the Commonwealth for several National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards). The updates are being made to conform Kentucky's attainment status tables with the federal attainment status designations for these areas. EPA is approving Kentucky's SIP revision because it is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Wisconsin's request for withdrawal of the previously approved Large Municipal Waste Combustors (LMWC) Negative Declaration. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) submitted its LMWC Negative Declaration withdrawal on September 25, 2020, certifying that the State of Wisconsin has only one LMWC unit currently operating and requesting that the Federal plan continue to apply to the single source in the state.