Environmental Protection Agency September 27, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the limited maintenance plan (LMP) for the 2006 PM2.5 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for New Haven and Fairfield Counties, which comprise the Connecticut portion of the New York-N. New Jersey-Long Island (NY- NJ-CT) 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance area. This LMP was submitted on May 9, 2023, and supplemented on February 21, 2024, by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The plan addresses the second 10-year maintenance period for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers, known as PM2.5. EPA is proposing approval of Connecticut's LMP submission because it provides for the maintenance of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period. In addition, EPA is initiating the process to find the Connecticut PM2.5 LMP adequate for transportation conformity purposes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act (EPA ICR Number 2446.04 and OMB Control Number 2070- 0185), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2024. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on January 17, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

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 rulemaking to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the conditions of use for that chemical substance. In addition, the manufacture or processing for the significant new use may not commence until EPA has conducted a review of the required notification, made an appropriate determination regarding that notification, and taken such actions as required by that determination.

On July 25, 2024, the State of Washington (WA) submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate to attainment a portion of Whatcom County immediately surrounding the now permanently closed aluminum smelter, Intalco Aluminum LLC, which the EPA designated nonattainment for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Washington also submitted a request for the EPA to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the area. In response to this submittal, the EPA is proposing to take the following actions: determine that the Whatcom County (partial) SO2 nonattainment area (NAA) is attaining the 2010 SO2 primary NAAQS; approve Washington's plan for maintaining attainment of the 2010 SO2 primary NAAQS in the area; and redesignate the Whatcom County (partial) SO2 NAA to attainment for the 2010 1-hour primary SO2 NAAQS.