Environmental Protection Agency August 15, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), Implementation of the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone (Renewal) (EPA ICR Number: 2347.05, OMB Control Number: 2060-0695) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described later. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through January 31, 2025. This document allows 60 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve three State implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Delaware to amend Delaware's motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, Statewide. Delaware has made several State regulatory amendments to its prior SIP-approved I/M program regulations, to both improve the program and to harmonize its two State I/M program regulations so that the entire State is subject to similar I/M requirements. These SIP revisions apply to both the federally mandated enhanced I/M program applicable to Kent and New Castle Counties that comprise Delaware's portion of the Philadelphia- Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE ozone nonattainment area, and also to the Sussex County program, where I/M is not federally required but where Delaware has a prior approved, SIP strengthening I/M program (similar in design to a basic I/M program). The amendments to Delaware's I/M programs include: a change in program coverage to expand exemptions for new vehicles to seven years; addition of vehicle on- board diagnostic (OBD) testing requirements in the Sussex County program; expanded vehicle coverage to include vehicles weighing between 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), for those vehicles model year 2008-and-newer; harmonization of I/M test requirements applicable to older vehicles to include curb idle exhaust and gas cap pressure tests for vehicles 1995-and-older (replacing existing two-speed idle tests on those vehicles previously performed in Kent and New Castle Counties); phase-in of increased minimum repair cost thresholds for obtaining a repair waiver in Sussex County; and the addition of a Statewide prohibition on tampering-related repairs in qualifying for an emissions repair waiver. EPA's proposed action is in compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) because these SIP revisions comply with applicable requirements of the CAA and EPA regulations, and because this proposed revision of the SIP will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The intended effect of this action is to update the approved Delaware SIP to maintain consistency between the State-adopted I/M program rules and the federally approved SIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin ("South Coast") ozone nonattainment area failed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard by its June 15, 2024 "Extreme" area attainment date. This proposed determination is based on quality- assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2021 through 2023.