Environmental Protection Agency September 1, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of requests by registrants to voluntarily cancel certain pesticide registrations. EPA intends to grant these requests at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments within the comment period that would merit its further review of the requests, or unless the registrants withdraw their requests. If these requests are granted, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted after the registrations have been cancelled only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a series of virtual meetings of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Committee (EC) to review the draft reports of the Homeland Security (HS) and Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) subcommittees and discuss Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools and Asbestos Model Accreditation Plans'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1365.12 and OMB Control No. 2070-0091, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2022. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to take action on portions of four state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California to address Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for the 2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') and for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PM2.5 nonattainment area. Specifically, the EPA proposes to approve all but the contingency measure element of the submitted Moderate area plan for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, as updated by the submitted Serious area plan and related Valley State SIP Strategy, as meeting all applicable Moderate area plan requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS and to approve 2022 motor vehicle emissions budgets for use in transportation conformity analyses for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA proposes to disapprove the contingency measure element with respect to the ``Moderate'' area requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA also proposes to reclassify the SJV PM2.5 nonattainment area, including 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, as a ``Serious'' nonattainment area for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the EPA's determination that the area cannot practicably attain the standard by the applicable Moderate area attainment date of December 31, 2021. Upon final reclassification of the SJV as a Serious area for this NAAQS, California would be required to submit a Serious area plan for the area that includes a demonstration of attainment by the applicable Serious area attainment date, which is no later than December 31, 2025, or by the most expeditious alternative date practicable. However, we note that California has already submitted such Serious area plan that the EPA will address in a separate rulemaking. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to disapprove the contingency measure element in the Serious area plan for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.