Environmental Protection Agency 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Georgia through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) on July 2, 2020, and November 4, 2021. Both submittals address the emissions statements requirements for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Atlanta Area''). These requirements apply to all ozone nonattainment areas. The Atlanta Area is comprised of seven counties in and around metropolitan Atlanta (Bartow, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry). This action is being proposed pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Primary Copper Smelters (EPA ICR No. 1850.09, OMB Control No. 2060-0476), 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 November 30, 2021. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register on February 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 neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator's October 16, 2017, Directive Promoting Transparency and Public Participation in Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements, notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree to address several claims in a lawsuit filed by Sierra Club, Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and plaintiff-intervenor, the Spokane Tribe of Indians (``Plaintiffs'') in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. On October 21, 2011, the Plaintiffs Sierra Club and Center for Environmental Law and Policy filed a complaint alleging, among other things, that EPA failed to perform duties mandated by the Clean Water Act (``CWA'') with respect to Total Maximum Daily Loads (``TMDLs'') for segments of the Spokane River and adjacent water bodies that were listed as impaired due to polychlorinated biphenyls (``PCBs''). EPA seeks public input on the proposed consent decree prior to its final decision-making to settle the litigation.

This rule codifies in the regulations the prior approval of Louisiana's hazardous waste management program and incorporates by reference authorized provisions of the State's statutes and regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs'' to provide notice of the authorization status of State programs and to incorporate by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that are authorized and that EPA will enforce under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA previously provided notices and opportunity for comments on the Agency's decisions to authorize the State of Louisiana program and the EPA is not now reopening the decisions, nor requesting comments, on the Louisiana authorizations as previously published in the Federal Register documents specified in Section I.C of this final rule document.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public meeting of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) to be conducted via remote/virtual participation only. The EPA renewed the CAAAC charter on November 19, 2020, to provide independent advice and counsel to EPA on economic, environmental, technical, scientific and enforcement policy issues associated with implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1990.

Notice is hereby given that the State of California revised its approved State primacy program under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) by adopting statutory provisions that effectuate the federal Administrative Penalty Authority (APA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that California's revision request meets the applicable SDWA program revision requirements and the statutes adopted by California are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations and that the State's request for a program revision meets applicable SDWA primacy requirements. Therefore, EPA approves this revision to California's approved state primacy program. However, this determination on California's request for approval of a program revision shall take effect in accordance with the procedures described below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice after the opportunity to request a public hearing.

This final action revises the initial air quality designations for two counties associated with two nonattainment areas for the 2015 primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. In a July 10, 2020, decision, the District of Columbia Circuit Court remanded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency), but did not vacate, the April 30, 2018, designations for 16 counties associated with nine nonattainment areas located in seven states. In response, the EPA has re-evaluated the designations for the remanded counties by applying a uniform, nationwide analytical approach and interpretation of the designation provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA) in considering the specific facts and circumstances of the areas using only data and information available at the time of the original designations. In this final action, the EPA is revising the boundaries of two nonattainment areas, affecting the designation status of two counties in two separate states (Colorado and Texas). The EPA addressed the 14 additional remanded counties in a previous Federal Register document.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), Office of Mission Support (OMS) is giving notice that it proposes to modify a system of records pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974. The Federal Retirement Benefits Calculator is being modified to update the categories of records in the system, collect leave data and change the name of the system to Federal Human Resource Navigator (FedHR Navigator). The purpose of the FedHR Navigator system is to integrate employees benefits and retirement information into one central database. The application allows EPA employees to access personnel and benefits related information that will be used by EPA employees to calculate their retirement benefits. All exemptions and provisions included in the previously published Federal Retirement Benefits Calculator system of record notice will transfer to the modified system of record notice for FedHR Navigator.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The revision updates Allegheny County's portion of the Pennsylvania SIP, which includes regulations concerning sulfur content in fuel oil. This revision pertains to the reduction of the maximum allowable sulfur content limit for Number 2 (No. 2) and lighter commercial fuel oil, generally sold and used for residential and commercial furnaces and oil heat burners for home or space heating, water heating or both, from the current limit of 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action on all or portions of four state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California (``State'') 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 is approving 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 supplement to the State strategy, as meeting all applicable Moderate area plan requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, the EPA is approving 2022 motor vehicle emissions budgets for use in transportation conformity analyses for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA is disapproving the contingency measure element with respect to the Moderate area requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA is also reclassifying 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. As a consequence of this reclassification, California is 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, which the EPA will address in a separate rulemaking. Lastly, the EPA is disapproving the contingency measure element in the Serious area plan for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Mecklenburg County portion of the North Carolina SIP, hereinafter referred to as the Mecklenburg County Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The revision was submitted through the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), on behalf of Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control (MCAQ), via a letter dated April 24, 2020, which was received by EPA on June 19, 2020. This SIP revision includes changes to Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance (MCAPCO) rules incorporated into the LIP regarding performance testing for stationary sources of air pollution. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Georgia through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) on July 2, 2020, to address the base year emissions inventory requirements for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Atlanta Area''). These requirements apply to all ozone nonattainment areas. This action is being proposed pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding natural gas processing (NGP) facilities (also known as natural gas liquid extraction facilities) to the scope of the industrial sectors covered by the reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), commonly known as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Adding these facilities will meaningfully increase the information available to the public on releases and other waste management of listed chemicals from the NGP sector and further the purposes of EPCRA.

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.

In light of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska's recent decision to remand and vacate the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s 2019 decision to withdraw the Proposed Determination to Restrict the Use of an Area and a Disposal Site; Pebble Deposit Area, Southwest Alaska pursuant to the Clean Water Act (CWA), EPA Region 10 is providing notice that EPA has good cause to extend the time requirement to allow the EPA Region 10 Regional Administrator to consider available information, including information that has become available since EPA issued the 2014 Proposed Determination in order to determine appropriate next steps in the review process.

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.

On June 11, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to approve a revision to the State of Arkansas hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and provided for a thirty-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on July 12, 2021, and EPA did not receive any comments. EPA confirms that the program revisions to the State of Arkansas hazardous waste program satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization. No further opportunity for comment will be provided.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), via a letter dated July 2, 2020. The revision removes rules prohibiting tampering with motor vehicle air pollution control equipment and rules concerning visible emissions from motor vehicles. EPA is proposing to remove the tampering rules and visible emissions rules from the SIP pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and applicable regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), EPA's ENERGY STAR Product Labeling (EPA ICR Number 2078.08, OMB Control Number 2060-0528) 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 January 31, 2022. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 26, 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 proposing to approve submitted revisions to the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) regulations designed to control particulate matter from residential wood heaters, such as woodstoves and fireplaces. The updated YRCAA regulations set fine particulate matter trigger levels for impaired air quality burn bans, consistent with statutory changes enacted by the Washington State Legislature. The submission also contains updates to improve the clarity of the language and align with the statewide solid fuel burning device regulations already applicable in YRCAA's jurisdiction. We are proposing to approve these changes because they meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and strengthen the Washington SIP.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposes to enter into a settlement with Horton Iron and Metal Company concerning the Horton Iron and Metal Superfund Site located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The proposed settlement addresses recovery of CERCLA costs for a cleanup that will be performed at the Site and costs incurred by EPA.

This action announces the availability of EPA's response to a petition received on August 16, 2021, from William D. Bush. The petition requests that EPA determine that the ``chemical mixtures contained within cosmetics present an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment,'' and issue a rule or order under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ``eliminate the hazardous chemicals used in mixtures [in cosmetics].'' After careful consideration, EPA has denied the petition for the reasons set forth in this document.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Mecklenburg County portion of the North Carolina SIP, hereinafter referred to as the Mecklenburg Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The revision was submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Division Air Quality (NCDAQ), on behalf of Mecklenburg County Air Quality via a letter dated April 24, 2020, and was received by EPA on June 19, 2020. The revision updates several Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance (MCAPCO) ambient air quality rules incorporated into the LIP and adds one new rule for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). EPA is approving these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Mecklenburg County portion of the North Carolina SIP, hereinafter referred to as the Mecklenburg County Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The revision was submitted through the North Carolina Division Air Quality (NCDAQ), on behalf of Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ), via a letter dated April 24, 2020, and was received by EPA on June 19, 2020. The revision updates several Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance (MCAPCO) rules incorporated into the LIP, including updating and revising certain definitions. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The chemical substances received ``not likely to present an unreasonable risk'' determinations pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the use, under the conditions of use for that chemical substance, within the applicable review period. Persons may not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and has taken such actions as are required by that determination.