Environmental Protection Agency December 13, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is finalizing the Health and Safety Reporting Rule under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) to require manufacturers (including importers) of the sixteen chemical substances identified in this rulemaking to submit copies and lists of certain unpublished health and safety studies to EPA. Health and safety studies sought by this action will inform EPA actions in carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to TSCA, including prioritization, risk evaluation, and risk management.

All 10 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions are proposing for public comment the 2026 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, also referred to as the "2026 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)" or the "proposed permit." The proposed permit once finalized will replace the EPA's existing MSGP that expires on February 28, 2026. The EPA proposes to issue this permit for five (5) years. Once finalized, this permit will be available in areas where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority. The EPA solicits comment on all aspects of the proposed general permit and seeks public comment on specific requests for information as described in of this document. The public is encouraged to read the proposed permit fact sheet to better understand the proposed permit requirements. The proposed permit and fact sheet can be found at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-industrial-ac tivities.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Streptomyces sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) protein (hereafter DGT-28 EPSPS protein), in or on the food and feed commodities of corn: corn, field; corn, sweet; and corn, pop, when used as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP) inert ingredient. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., (Pioneer) submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of DGT-28 EPSPS protein.

EPA has authorized its contractor SRC, Inc. of North Syracuse, NY to access information which has been submitted to EPA under all sections of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be Confidential Business Information (CBI).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the Standards of Performance for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary combustion turbines and stationary gas turbines based on a review of available control technologies for limiting emissions of criteria air pollutants. This review of the new source performance standards (NSPS) is required by the Clean Air Act (CAA). As a result of this review, the EPA is proposing to establish size-based subcategories for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary combustion turbines that also recognize distinctions between those that operate at varying loads or capacity factors and those firing natural gas or non-natural gas fuels. In general, the EPA is proposing that combustion controls with the addition of post-combustion selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for limiting nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from this source category, with certain, limited exceptions. Based on the application of this BSER and other updates in technical information, the EPA is proposing to lower the NOX standards of performance for most of the stationary combustion turbines included in this source category. In addition, for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary combustion turbines that fire or co-fire hydrogen, the EPA is proposing to ensure that those sources are subject to the same level of control for NOX emissions as sources firing natural gas or non-natural gas fuels, depending on the percentage of hydrogen fuel being utilized. The EPA is proposing to maintain the current standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, because after reviewing the current SO2 standards, we propose to find that the use of low-sulfur fuels remains the BSER. Finally, the Agency is proposing amendments to address specific technical and editorial issues to clarify the existing regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Sulfuric Acid Plants (EPA ICR Number 1057.16, OMB Control Number 2060-0041) 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 December 31, 2024. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 18, 2023 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a narrow modification to its 2022 CGP to expand the list of areas eligible for coverage to include construction projects in Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction. This modification is necessary because the EPA is the permitting authority in Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction, and when the CGP was issued on February 17, 2022, the permit did not specifically provide eligibility for all of these areas. The proposed modification would also clarify the CGP requirements that apply to projects that discharge to receiving waters within Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction. The EPA seeks comment only on the proposed permit revisions and the accompanying fact sheet. The fact sheet and proposed permit modification can be found at https:// www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activiti es.