Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 notices 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 April 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Pesticide Programs is inviting nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). The PPDC is chartered to provide policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA on a wide variety of pesticide regulatory developments and reform initiatives, evolving public policy, and program implementation issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from pesticide use. To maintain the representation outlined by the charter, nominees will be selected to represent: Environmental/public interest and animal rights groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide industry and trade associations; pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; federal/ state/local and tribal governments; academia; and public health organizations. Vacancies are expected to be filled by December 2021. Sources in addition to this Federal Register notice may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

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

In accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of requests by the registrants to voluntarily cancel their registrations of certain products containing the pesticides atrazine and simazine, and/or to amend their atrazine, simazine, or malathion product registrations to terminate or delete one or more uses. The requests would delete atrazine use in or on roadsides; Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land; conifers, including Christmas tree plantings; timber and forestry; and miscanthus and other perennial bioenergy crops. The requests would delete simazine use in or on shelterbelts and all forestry uses except for Christmas tree plantings. The requests would delete malathion use as a mosquito larvicide and in or on cull piles (including the terms cull dumps, fruit dumps, and cull fruit and vegetable dumps). The requests are limited to the product registrations specified in this notice and would not terminate all of the atrazine, simazine, or malathion products registered for use in the United States. EPA intends to grant these requests at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments within the comment period that would merit its further review of the requests, or unless the registrants withdraw their requests. If these requests are granted, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted after the registrations have been cancelled/uses deleted only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's (MCAQD) Rule 510 as part of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). These rule revisions concern revisions to the maximum levels of ambient air pollution for the protection of public health and welfare. We are proposing to approve this rule to regulate these emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

EPA has received applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on these applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve several revisions to the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP). First, EPA is proposing to approve amendments to the Illinois SIP that incorporate by reference EPA's current national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone, particulate matter, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur oxides. Second, EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Illinois SIP that incorporate by reference current Federal Reference Methods (FRMs) for monitoring carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur oxides. Third, EPA is proposing to approve an amendment to the Illinois SIP that reflects a recent update to EPA's List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods. Lastly, EPA is also proposing to approve minor revisions and corrections to the Illinois SIP.

Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received adverse comments, the agency is withdrawing the direct final rule for State of Michigan Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II Program; Primacy Approval, published on March 19, 2021.

The Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are announcing for public comment the availability of a draft revision document, entitled the ``Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual'' (MARSSIM). MARSSIM provides information on planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting environmental radiological surveys of surface soil and building surfaces for demonstrating compliance with regulations. MARSSIM, when finalized as Revision 2, will be a multi-agency consensus document. The agencies are seeking public comment in order to receive feedback from the widest range of interested parties and to ensure that all information relevant to developing the document is received. The agencies will review public comments received on the draft MARSSIM Revision 2 as well as comments from a concurrent, independent, scientific peer review. The Agencies will review comments received during the public comment period and make revisions to the document as appropriate.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL11 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. LAM International Corporation 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 Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL11 under FFDCA when used in accordance with this exemption.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying until December 16, 2021, the effective date of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2021. EPA is also delaying the January 16, 2024 compliance date established in the LCRR to October 16, 2024. The delay in the effective date is consistent with presidential directives issued on January 20, 2021, to the heads of Federal agencies to review certain regulations, including the LCRR. The delay will allow sufficient time for EPA to complete its review of the rule in accordance with those directives and conduct important consultations with affected parties. The delay in the compliance date of the LCRR ensures that any delay in the effective date will not reduce the time provided for drinking water systems and primacy states to take actions needed to assure compliance with the LCRR.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to Michigan's State Implementation Plan (SIP). The submittal, by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on December 18, 2020, incorporates administrative changes to Michigan's Air Pollution Control Rules, Part 9, ``Emissions Limitations and ProhibitionsMiscellaneous''. This revision supports Michigan's effort to consolidate all of the approved adoption by reference rules into Part 9.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revision is amending the Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) by updating the definition of volatile organic material (VOM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to exclude (Z) -1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene. This revision is consistent with an EPA rulemaking in 2018, which exempted this compound from the Federal definition of VOC on the basis that the compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. EPA proposed to approve this action on February 11, 2021 and received no adverse comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision fulfills Maryland's emissions statement requirement for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from Kansas and Nebraska addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) interstate transport SIP requirements for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These submissions address the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions prohibiting air emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. The EPA is proposing to approve portions of these infrastructure SIPs for the aforementioned states as containing adequate provisions to ensure that air emissions in the states will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS in any other state.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting Nevada final authorization for changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Agency published a Proposed Rule on April 5, 2021, and sought public comment. No comments were received on the proposed revisions. No further opportunity for comment will be provided.

EPA is announcing the availability of an electronic option for submitting the export notifications that are required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). As an alternative to the hardcopy approach, which is still available, EPA is also now accepting the required export notifications electronically using EPA's electronic document submission system, the Central Data Exchange (CDX). Use of CDX to prepare and submit the required export notifications to EPA will help streamline and reduce the administrative costs and burdens associated with submitting paper-based export notifications for both the submitters and the Agency.

This final action revises or affirms the initial air quality designations for 14 counties associated with seven 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 designations and/or boundaries of 13 counties associated with six nonattainment areas in four states (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin) and is affirming the April 30, 2018, designation of one county associated with a nonattainment area in Michigan. The EPA is addressing the two additional remanded counties associated with two nonattainment areas in a separate Federal Register document.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reversing recent changes to the organization and function of the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) that altered the appeals process and procedures for Agency decisions that the EAB considers. In addition, the Administrator reaffirms that the Board is intended to function as an impartial body that is independent of all EPA components, except the immediate Office of the Administrator, and reaffirms the EAB's ability to carry out the Administrator's delegated authority to adjudicate disputes and issue final Agency decisions.

The State of Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA has reviewed Arkansas' application and has determined that these changes appear to satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization and is proposing to authorize the State's changes. The EPA is seeking public comment prior to taking final action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Air Pollution Control Division, via a letter dated January 23, 2020. The SIP revision includes the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) for the Knoxville, Tennessee Area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Knoxville Area'' or ``Area''). The Knoxville Area, as defined in this proposed action, is comprised of Jefferson, Loudon, and Sevier Counties in their entireties, the portion of Cocke County that falls within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a portion of Anderson County that excludes the area surrounding TVA Bull Run Fossil Plant. EPA is proposing to approve the Knoxville Area LMP because it provides for the maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS within the Knoxville Area through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period. The effect of this action would be to make certain commitments related to maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Knoxville Area federally enforceable as part of the Tennessee SIP.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires each State Implementation Plan (SIP) to contain adequate provisions prohibiting emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. The States of Maine and New Hampshire each made submissions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address these requirements for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is proposing to approve the submissions for each state as meeting the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency published a notice of settlement on April 9, 2021, FRL 10020-84-Region 4, concerning the JCC Environmental Superfund Site located in Picayune, Mississippi. The settlement addresses recovery of CERCLA costs for a cleanup action performed by the EPA at the Site. The settling parties listed with the settlement on the Agency's website was incomplete. The complete listing of parties is now available via the below web address. The agency will be extending the comment period 30 days after the date of this publication.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The revision consists of amendments to a federally enforceable state operating permit (FESOP) which was previously incorporated into the Virginia SIP in order to implement reasonably available control technology (RACT) for nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from Steel Dynamics, Inc. (hereafter ``SDI,'' formerly Roanoke Electric Steel). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval on a revision to the North Dakota State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Dakota on November 11, 2016 and supplemented on March 15, 2021, that addresses amendments to the regional haze provisions of the North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC). These revisions were submitted to remove certain regional haze requirements related to Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) in the first planning period. EPA is also finalizing approval on a revision to the North Dakota SIP submitted on August 3, 2020, that addresses additional amendments to the regional haze provisions of the NDAC. The 2020 SIP revision was submitted to update the incorporation by reference date for regional haze definitions, add emission reduction requirements to make reasonable progress during the second and subsequent regional haze planning periods, and revise the regional haze monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements to be applicable under the second and subsequent planning period. EPA is taking this action pursuant to section 110 and Part C of the Clean Air Act (CAA).