Environmental Protection Agency 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the State of Georgia is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Georgia has adopted drinking water regulations for the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions, Public Notification Rule, Radionuclides Rule, Arsenic and Clarifications to Compliance and New Source Contaminants Monitoring Rule, Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Ground Water Rule, Lead and Copper Rule Short-Term Regulatory Revisions and Clarifications, and Revised Total Coliform Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that Georgia's regulations are no less stringent than these Federal rules and the revisions otherwise meet applicable Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Therefore, the EPA intends to approve these revisions to the State of Georgia's Public Water System Supervision Program.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2349.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0702) 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, 2023. 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 is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Production, Import, Export, Recycling, Destruction, Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone- Depleting Substances'' (EPA ICR No. 1432.38, OMB Control No. 2060-0170) 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, 2023. 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.

This regulation amends the existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain K61 in or on all raw agricultural commodities when used as a fungicide for the treatment of seeds, cuttings, transplants, and plants of agricultural crops in accordance with good agricultural practices by removing the fungicidal use stipulation and clarifying that the exemption covers use in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Danstar Ferment Ag/LALLEMAND PLANT CARE, submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting that EPA amend the existing tolerance exemption for Streptomyces sp. strain K61. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain K61 under FFDCA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of 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 Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting to address changes to the Federal new source review (NSR) regulations in recent years. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

This notice announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized programs to allow electronic reporting.

This notice announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ) request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized programs to allow electronic reporting.

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), on November 4, 2016. This revision was submitted by South Carolina in response to a finding of substantial inadequacy and SIP call published by EPA on June 12, 2015, of provisions in the South Carolina SIP related to excess emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) events. EPA is proposing approval of the SIP revision and proposing to determine that the revision corrects the deficiencies identified in the June 12, 2015, SIP call. EPA is also proposing to approve portions of multiple SIP revisions previously submitted by SC DHEC on October 1, 2007, July 18, 2011, August 8, 2014, and August 12, 2015, as they relate to the provisions identified in the June 12, 2015, SIP call.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires EPA to publish in the Federal Register a statement of its findings after its review of certain TSCA submissions when EPA makes a finding that a new chemical substance or significant new use is not likely to present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. Such statements apply to premanufacture notices (PMNs), microbial commercial activity notices (MCANs), and significant new use notices (SNUNs) submitted to EPA under TSCA. This document presents statements of findings made by EPA on such submissions during the period from May 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of two revised rules and an approval of a rule recission to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from marine and pleasure craft coating operations and the coating of metals. The EPA previously proposed to fully approve these SIP revisions on the grounds that they satisfied the relevant requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). After the comment periods, the EPA identified a deficiency in the submittals that warrants a limited disapproval. Therefore, we are withdrawing our previously proposed approvals of these SIP revisions as they pertain to these rules, published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2021, and August 24, 2021, and now propose a limited approval and limited disapproval for these revisions into the California SIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is redesignating the Oakridge, Oregon nonattainment area to attainment for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The EPA is also approving a maintenance plan for the area that demonstrates continued compliance with the PM2.5 NAAQS through the year 2035, which Oregon submitted along with the redesignation request for inclusion into the Oregon State Implementation Plan (SIP). Additionally, the EPA finds adequate and is approving the PM2.5 motor vehicle emission budgets for the area. Finally, the EPA is approving additional control measures, because incorporation of these measures will strengthen the Oregon SIP and ensure PM2.5 emissions reductions in the Oakridge area. The EPA is taking these actions pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

On September 23, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC or State agency) requested to change its delegation mechanism from ``adopt-by-reference'' to ``automatic'' for delegation of New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) under our regulations. The purpose of the State agency request for approval of the ``automatic'' delegation mechanism is to facilitate consistency with the State agency's ``automatic'' delegation mechanism for implementation and enforcement of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants rules. With this NSPS delegation mechanism in place, once a new or revised rule is promulgated by EPA, delegation of authority from EPA to the State agency will become effective on the date the rule is promulgated. No further State requests for delegation will be necessary. Likewise, no further Federal Register notices will be published. EPA reserves the right to implement the federal NSPS directly and continues to retain concurrent enforcement authority. EPA is providing notice that it approved SCDHEC's request on January 17, 2022.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County, Maryland sulfur dioxide (SO2) nonattainment area has attained the 2010 primary SO2 national ambient air quality standard (2010 SO2 NAAQS). In designated nonattainment areas where air quality data demonstrate that the NAAQS have been attained, EPA interprets certain requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as no longer applicable for so long as air quality continues to meet the standard. Under this Clean Data Policy, EPA may issue a determination of attainment, known as a clean data determination (CDD), that a nonattainment area is attaining the relevant NAAQS. If finalized, this proposed CDD would suspend the obligation to submit certain attainment planning requirements for the nonattainment area for as long as the area continues to attain the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. EPA is also simultaneously proposing to approve certain elements of the attainment plan contained in Maryland's state implementation plan (SIP) revision for the Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County SO2 nonattainment area (referred to hereafter as the Anne Arundel-Baltimore County Area, or simply the Area), submitted to EPA on January 31, 2020. The requirement to submit the elements that EPA is proposing to approve would not be suspended under this proposed CDD, as set forth in EPA's Clean Data Policy, because EPA considers them to be independent of attaining the NAAQS under the CAA. Finally, EPA is approving as SIP strengthening measures certain emission limit requirements on large SO2 emission sources that were submitted as part of Maryland's attainment plan for the nonattainment area. This determination of attainment and approval of certain elements and emissions limitations into the SIP does not redesignate the Area to attainment or constitute a full approval of the submitted attainment plan or of a maintenance plan. This action is being taken under the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the deadline by which existing certification plans for the certification of restricted use pesticide (RUP) applicators may remain valid until either EPA has approved revised certification plans that conform to the updated federal standards or they expire, whichever is earlier, to November 4, 2023. Federal, state, territory, and tribal certifying authorities with existing certification plans are required to complete revisions to their existing plans conforming with the updated federal standards for RUP applicator certification, and the regulations establish the deadline by which the existing plans will expire unless the revised plans are approved by the Agency. EPA is extending this deadline to allow additional time for any remaining proposed certification plan modifications pending approval to continue being reviewed and approved by EPA without interruption to federal, state, territory, and tribal certification programs or to those who are certified to use RUPs under those programs.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's revised proposed interim registration review decision and opens a 60-day public comment period on the revised proposed interim decision for 1,3- dichloropropene (1,3-D).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising its prior action that erroneously fully approved a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA), through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), to EPA on October 11, 2017, and supplemented on February 5, 2020. The SIP revision provided a plan for attainment of the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Indiana, Pennsylvania SO2 nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``Indiana, PA NAA'' or ``Indiana Area''). The attainment plan submission included a base year emissions inventory, an analysis of the reasonably available control technology (RACT) and reasonably available control measure (RACM) requirements, enforceable emission limitations and control measures, a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, a modeling demonstration of SO2 attainment, and contingency measures for the Indiana Area. EPA is revising its prior action and is partially approving and partially disapproving the SIP. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Notice of Intent to delete one site and partially delete two sites from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the state, through its designated state agency, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operations and maintenance of the remedy, monitoring and five-year reviews, where applicable, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make seven additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve rules submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) as a revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP). The submitted rules incorporate the 2015 primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. In addition, WDNR included several updates to ensure implementation of the ozone NAAQS, in areas currently or formerly designated as nonattainment for any ozone standard, in a manner consistent with Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving three State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision requests, submitted by Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. All three States submitted the SIP revision requests in 2016 in response to a finding of substantial inadequacy and a SIP call published on June 12, 2015, for specific provisions in each State's SIP related to excess emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) events. EPA is determining that each submission corrects the State's respective SIP deficiencies as identified in the June 12, 2015, SIP call. EPA proposed to approve this action on May 5, 2022, and received no adverse comments.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving identified portions of two revisions to the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Oklahoma designee on May 15, 2020, and February 9, 2021. This action addresses revisions to the Oklahoma SIP pertaining to the general SIP definitions under Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) Title 252, Chapter 100, Subchapter 1, Section 1-3, and revisions to the Oklahoma SIP to update the incorporation by reference of Federal requirements under OAC Title 252, Chapter 100, Subchapter 2, and Appendix Q.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) received on June 10, 2021. The submission revises Missouri's regulation on construction permit exemptions. These revisions update incorporations by reference, remove unnecessary words, and make minor clarifications and grammatical changes. These revisions do not impact the stringency of the SIP or have an adverse effect on air quality. The EPA's approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve changes to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Air Quality (DAQ), through a letter dated April 13, 2021. This SIP revision includes changes to a subset of NCDEQ's regulations regarding emission control standards. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the ``FINAL SIP Revision: Nogales PM2.5 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request (2006 Fine Particulate NAAQS)'' (``Nogales Maintenance Plan'' or ``Plan'') as a revision to the state implementation plan (SIP) for the State of Arizona. The Nogales Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, an emissions inventory consistent with attainment, a maintenance demonstration, contingency provisions, and a motor vehicle emissions budget for the ten-year maintenance period. The EPA is also approving the State of Arizona's request to redesignate the Nogales planning area (``Nogales area'') from nonattainment to attainment for the 2006 24-hour national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5). The EPA is finalizing these actions because this SIP revision meets the applicable Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for maintenance plans and because the State has met the requirements under the Act for redesignation of a nonattainment area to attainment with respect to the Nogales area.