Environmental Protection Agency April 8, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request from the State of California to reclassify the San Diego County ozone nonattainment area from ``Serious'' to ``Severe'' for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and from ``Moderate'' to ``Severe'' for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Following consultation with tribes, the EPA is also proposing to reclassify in the same manner as state land, reservation areas of Indian country and any other area of Indian country within it where the EPA or a tribe has demonstrated that the tribe has jurisdiction located within the boundaries of the San Diego County ozone nonattainment area. Upon final reclassification of the San Diego County ozone nonattainment area as a Severe area for the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS, the applicable attainment dates would be as expeditious as practicable but no later than July 20, 2027, for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, and August 3, 2033, for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. With respect to Severe state implementation plan (SIP) element submittal dates that have passed, the EPA is proposing to establish a deadline of no later than 12 months from the effective date of reclassification for submittal of revisions to the San Diego County portion of the California SIP to meet additional requirements for Severe ozone nonattainment areas to the extent that such revisions have not already been submitted.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting public comments and suggestions about the petition process for exemptions regarding pesticides from registration and other requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), where the pesticides are determined to be of a character unnecessary to be subject to regulation under FIFRA. The Agency is considering streamlining the petition process and revisions to how the Agency evaluates the potential minimum risk active and inert substances, factors used in classes of exemptions, state implementation of the minimum risk program and the need for any future exemptions or modifications to current exemptions. EPA is also requesting comment on whether the Agency should consider amending existing exemptions or adding new classes of pesticidal substances for exemption, such as peat when used in septic filtration systems.

The Environmental Protection (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the site-specific Research, Development and Demonstration rule for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), Salt River Landfill Research, Development, and Demonstration Project in order to increase the maximum term for the site-specific rule from 12 to 21 years. EPA is also revising the site- specific rule to reflect a change in the division title for U.S. EPA Region 9, from the Waste Management Division to the Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division.