Environmental Protection Agency 2021 – 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 South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC or Department), on April 24, 2020. The SIP revision updates the definition of ``Spec. Oil (Specification Oil)'' and makes minor updates to formatting and numbering. EPA is proposing to approve this revision pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and implementing federal regulations.

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: Amitraz, cinnamaldehyde, difenoconazole, farnesol and nerolidol, fenbuconazole, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, metaldehyde, MGK-264, Nosema locustae, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), pyrethrins, tembotrione, topramezone, Ulocladium oudemansii (U3 Strain).

This notice announces the availability of the EPA's preliminary work plans for the following chemicals: allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and Oriental mustard seed. With this document, the EPA is opening the public comment period for registration review for these chemicals.

EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register of June 28, 2021, concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This document extends the comment period for 31 days, from August 27, 2021 to September 27, 2021. An extension of the comment period was requested by some stakeholders to allow interested parties additional time to thoroughly review and analyze the proposed rule's scope and its supporting documents. EPA agrees that a 30-day extension of the comment period is warranted and will respond to comments, including ICR-related comments, in the final rule. Thirty days from August 27, 2021, is September 26, 2021, which is a Sunday; therefore, EPA is extending the comment period to the following Monday, September 27, 2021.

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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a Nevada State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP). On September 27, 2010, the EPA redesignated the Las Vegas Valley area from nonattainment to attainment for the carbon monoxide (CO) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or ``standard'') and approved the State's CO maintenance plan ensuring the area would maintain the NAAQS for ten years through 2020. On June 18, 2019, NDEP submitted to the EPA a second 10-year limited maintenance plan (LMP) for the Las Vegas Valley area for the CO NAAQS. The LMP addresses maintenance of the CO NAAQS for a second 10-year period ending in 2030.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve multiple state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These revisions were submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to establish and require reasonably available control technology (RACT) for fourteen major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/or nitrogen oxides (NOX) pursuant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's conditionally approved RACT regulations. In this rulemaking action, EPA is proposing to approve source-specific (also referred to as ``case-by-case'') RACT determinations for sources at fourteen major sources submitted by PADEP. These RACT evaluations were submitted to meet RACT requirements for the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Missouri on November 10, 2020. This final action will amend the SIP to revise a Missouri regulation which restricts volatile organic compound emissions from lithographic and letterpress printing operations in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Specifically, the State has revised this rule in order to clarify rule applicability, update incorporation by reference information, update test method references, clarify definitions, and remove unnecessary words to improve clarity. Approval of these revisions will ensure consistency between State and federally-approved rules.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's interim registration review decisions for the following chemicals: 10, 10'- oxybisphenoxarsine (OBPA), acetochlor, coumaphos, citric acid, dimethenamid/-p, fenamidone, fenazaquin, halohydantoins, insect viruses, myclobutanil, polixetonium chloride (Busan 77), and propylene oxide (PPO). In addition, it announces the closure of the registration review case for Pseudomonas aureofaciens because the last U.S. registrations for this pesticide have been canceled.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing the limited approval and limited disapproval of a revision to the Yolo- Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvent cleaning and degreasing operations. Under the authority of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), this action simultaneously approves a local rule that regulates these emission sources and directs California to correct rule deficiencies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Missouri on November 12, 2019, revising the 2008 8-hour ozone maintenance plan previously approved by EPA on September 20, 2018, demonstrating continued maintenance of the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), the 1979 1-Hour and 1997 8-Hour ozone standards in the St. Louis area. This revision states that the St. Louis area no longer needs to rely on the Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program, and Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) for continued maintenance throughout the maintenance period for the 2008 8-Hour ozone NAAQS, the 1979 1-Hour ozone NAAQS and 1997 8-Hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is proposing to determine that this revision meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated June 30, 2021, granting a Petition dated January 16, 2018 from the Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club. The Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Sandy Creek Services LLC (Sandy Creek) for its Sandy Creek Energy Station located in McLennan County, Texas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the ``Information Collection Request (ICR) Supporting Statement for The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0229.25, OMB Control No. 2040-0004) 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 March 31, 2022. 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 proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC or Department), on April 24, 2020. The SIP revisions update the State's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) regulations. Specifically, the SIP revisions add and update several definitions for consistency with the Federal regulations, update public participation requirements for PSD, clarify the applicability of ``source impact analysis'' for PSD, add an emissions offset banking provision for NNSR, and make administrative updates, such as typographical corrections and renumbering. Finally, the changes incorporate language that addresses the public notice rule provisions for NNSR, which removes the mandatory requirements to provide public notice in a newspaper and instead allows for electronic notice (``e- notice'') as an alternate noticing option for the State. EPA is proposing to approve these revisions pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and implementing Federal regulations.

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of fludioxonil in or on banana. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC requested this tolerance under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is submitting an information collection request (ICR), Exchange Network Grants Progress Reports (EPA ICR Number 2207.08, OMB Control Number 2025-0006) 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 September 30, 2021. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on February 23, 2021, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A brief 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 taking final action to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and particulate matter (PM) from open burning. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) to include recent changes to the Polk County Board of Health Rules and Regulations in addition to revisions from past submittals. The proposed revisions update definitions and references to the effective dates of Federal rules approved into the State's SIP, prohibit burning of demolished buildings, update references to methods and procedures for performance test/stack test and continuous monitoring systems, and revise permitting exemptions. These proposed revisions will not adversely impact air quality and will ensure consistency between the State and Federally approved rulemakings.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is amending the requirements in Subpart J of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) that govern the use of dispersants, other chemicals and other spill mitigating substances when responding to oil discharges into waters of the United States. Specifically, this action establishes monitoring requirements for dispersant use in response to major oil discharges and/or certain dispersant use situations in the navigable waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone, and the high seas beyond the contiguous zone in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, activities under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, or activities that may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United States, including resources under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (``navigable waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines''). These new monitoring requirements are anticipated to better target dispersant use, thus reducing the risks to the environment. Further, the amendments are intended to ensure that On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) and Regional Response Teams (RRTs) have relevant information to support response decision-making regarding dispersant use.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Landfill Methane Outreach Program'' (EPA ICR No. 1849.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0446) 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 April 30, 2022. 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 taking final action to approve a revision to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Missouri on January 15, 2019, and supplemented by letter on July 11, 2019. Missouri requests that the EPA remove a rule related to control of emissions from the application of deadeners and adhesives in the St. Louis, Missouri area from its SIP. This rescission does not have an adverse effect on air quality and meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA's approval of this rule revision is in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a finding that Arizona has not submitted a required revision to the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the West Pinal County nonattainment area addressing Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for a Moderate area attainment plan, related rules, and other analyses needed to attain the 1987 24-hour particulate matter (PM10) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by December 31, 2018. Under the CAA, Arizona was required to submit a moderate area PM10 attainment plan for West Pinal County no later than January 2, 2014, and the State did so on December 21, 2015. On May 17, 2021, Arizona withdrew its Moderate area attainment plan submission. This finding establishes a deadline for EPA to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address these CAA requirements 24 months from the effective date of this finding. The CAA also provides for the imposition of sanctions if Arizona does not submit the required attainment plan within timeframes specified by the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Drug Testing for Contractor Employees (EPA ICR No. 2183.08, OMB Control No. 2030-0044) 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 September 30, 2021. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on March 8, 2021 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 taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Air Pollution Control Division, via a letter dated January 23, 2020. The SIP revision includes the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) for the Knoxville, Tennessee Area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Knoxville Area'' or ``Area''). The Knoxville Area, as defined in this action, is comprised of Jefferson, Loudon, and Sevier Counties in their entireties, the portion of Cocke County that falls within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a portion of Anderson County that excludes the area surrounding Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Bull Run Fossil Plant. EPA is approving the Knoxville Area LMP because it provides for the maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS within the Knoxville Area through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period. The effect of this action is to make certain commitments related to maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Knoxville Area federally enforceable as part of the Tennessee SIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the size of the EPA designated ocean dredged material disposal site (ODMDS) offshore of Port Everglades, Florida (referred to hereafter as the existing Port Everglades ODMDS), pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). The primary purpose for the site modification is to enlarge the site to provide for the long-term disposal capacity to dump suitable material dredged from the Port Everglades Harbor in ocean waters. The modified site will be subject to monitoring and management to ensure continued protection of the marine environment.