Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), RCRA Subtitle C Reporting Instructions and Forms (EPA ICR Number 0976.19, OMB Control Number 2050-0024) 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 May 30, 2020. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on October 7, 2019 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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.

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.

Public notice is hereby given that the state of Montana has revised its Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program by establishing Administrative Penalty Authority that applies to its drinking water program. The EPA has reviewed Montana's submittal, and determined that the Administrative Penalty Authority is no less stringent than the federal regulations. The EPA is proposing to approve the Administrative Penalty Authority requirements for Montana. This approval action does not extend to public water systems in Indian country. Please see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, Unit B.

Whenever a new or revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is promulgated, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to submit a plan for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the standard, commonly referred to as infrastructure requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions as meeting specific infrastructure requirements for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 2015 ozone NAAQS.

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of the insecticide indoxacarb in or on corn, pop, grain at 0.02 parts per million (ppm) and corn, pop, stover at 15 ppm. FMC Corporation requested this tolerance under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 announces the deletion of the Operable Unit 1 (OU1), Former Export Plant of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site (Site) located in Lincoln County, Montana, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of 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). This partial deletion pertains to OU1. Operable Unit 2 (OU2), Former Screening Plant, was deleted from the NPL on April 10, 2019. Operable Unit 3 (OU3), Former Vermiculite Mine; Operable Unit 4 and Operable Unit 7 (OU4/OU7), Residential/Commercial Properties of Libby and Troy; Operable Unit 5 (OU5), Former Stimson Lumber Mill; Operable Unit 6 (OU6), BNSF Rail Corridor; and Operable Unit 8 (OU8), Highways and Roadways, are not being considered for deletion as part of this proposed action and will remain on the NPL. The EPA and the State of Montana, through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation and maintenance, monitoring and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, the deletion of these parcels does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the release of the Draft Ambient Water Quality Criteria Recommendations for Lakes and Reservoirs of the Conterminous United States: Information Supporting the Development of Numeric Nutrient Criteria for a 60-day comment period for scientific input. These draft national criteria recommendations are models for total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations in lakes and reservoirs to protect three different designated usesaquatic life, recreation, and drinking water source protectionfrom the adverse effects of nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution can degrade the conditions of water bodies worldwide, and in lakes and reservoirs the effects of excess nitrogen and phosphorus may be particularly evident. These draft criteria recommendations are based on stressor-response models, which link nutrient pollution stressors (nitrogen, phosphorus) to responses associated with protection of designated uses. These draft criteria recommendations, when finalized, will replace the EPA's previously recommended ambient nutrient criteria for lakes and reservoirs. Models and associated criteria provided in this document are based on national data. States and authorized tribes can also incorporate local data, when available, into the national models, helping states and authorized tribes to develop numeric nutrient criteria that apply relationships estimated from national data while accounting for unique local conditions. Following closure of this 60-day public comment period, the EPA will consider the comments, revise the draft document, as appropriate, and then publish a final document that will provide recommendations for states and authorized tribes to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. In response to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this proposed action restores the retail sales opportunities that were provided by the original 5-year period for ``Step 1'' wood heaters, hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces that were manufactured or imported before the May 15, 2020, ``Step 2'' compliance date. Upon promulgation, retailers may continue selling Step 1 heaters through November 30, 2020.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Confidentiality Rules (EPA ICR Number 1665.14, OMB Control Number 2020-0003) 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 May 31, 2020. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on January 23, 2020 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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.

EPA is proposing to exempt residues of the antimicrobial pesticide ingredients dipropylene glycol and triethylene glycol from the requirement of a tolerance when used on or applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy-processing equipment, and food- processing equipment and utensils. This rulemaking is proposed on the Agency's own initiative under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to address residues identified as part of the Agency's registration review program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Georgia, through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), on October 18, 2019. This SIP revision makes minor edits to Georgia's rule prescribing permitting requirements. EPA has evaluated Georgia's submittal and preliminarily determined that it meets the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the primary copper smelter in Hayden, Arizona. We are proposing action on a local rule submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) that regulates 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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising its response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Michigan v. EPA, which held that the EPA erred by not considering cost in its determination that regulation under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) is appropriate and necessary. After primarily comparing the cost of compliance relative to the benefits of HAP emission reduction from regulation, the EPA finds that it is not ``appropriate and necessary'' to regulate HAP emissions from coal- and oil-fired EGUs, thereby reversing the Agency's previous conclusion under CAA section 112(n)(1)(A) and correcting flaws in the Agency's prior response to Michigan v. EPA. We further find that finalizing this new response to Michigan v. EPA will not remove the Coal- and Oil-Fired EGU source category from the CAA section 112(c) list of sources that must be regulated under CAA section 112(d) and will not affect the existing CAA section 112(d) emissions standards that regulate HAP emissions from coal- and oil-fired EGUs. The EPA is also finalizing the residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the Coal- and Oil-Fired EGU source category regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP), commonly referred to as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Based on the results of the RTR analyses, the Agency is not promulgating any revisions to the MATS rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests comment on whether the EPA should reconsider its current position that consultation under Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 is not required when the EPA approves a state or tribe's request to assume the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 404 dredged and fill permit program under the CWA. Comments in response to this document will be considered as the EPA reviews this position. If the EPA changes its current position, then the EPA would take the position that the Agency's decision as to whether to approve or disapprove a state's or tribe's request to assume the CWA section 404 permit program involves an exercise of discretion warranting consultation under ESA section 7. Section 7 consultation under the ESA would consequently apply to state and tribal requests to assume the CWA section 404 program and potentially subsequent program revisions, and the EPA would consult on its actions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (hereafter referred to as ``the Services'') under the ESA as appropriate.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1246.14 and OMB Control No. 2070-0072, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a virtual public hearing to be held May 28, 2020, on its proposal for the ``Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule,'' which was signed on April 13, 2020. EPA is proposing to update its existing gasoline, diesel, and other fuels programs to improve overall compliance assurance and maintain environmental performance, while reducing compliance costs for industry and EPA.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of February 3, 2020, concerning the availability of EPA's Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision for several neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam; hereafter referred to as ``neonicotinoids''). The neonicotinoids were opened for a 60-day public comment period that concluded on April 3, 2020. However, a 30-day extension to the public comment period was granted, which concluded on May 4, 2020. This notice re-opens the public comment for an additional 30 days, from May 19, 2020 to June 18, 2020. This action to extend the public comment period is being taken after receiving public comments requesting additional time to review the Neonicotinoids' Proposed Interim Registration Review Decisions and supporting materials citing the quantity and complexity of the Proposed Interim Decisions and supporting documents, as well as difficulty of commenting due to time and resource constraints.

This notice announces the competition for the 2020 Clean Air Excellence Awards Program. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program in February 2000 to recognize outstanding and innovative efforts that support progress in achieving clean air.

On October 1, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated the 2015 ozone NAAQS, revising the standard to 0.070 parts per million. Whenever a new or revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is promulgated, the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) requires each state to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the new standard. This submission is commonly referred to as an infrastructure SIP. In this action we are proposing to approve the State of South Dakota's January 15, 2020 SIP submission that addresses infrastructure requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Additionally, in this action, we are proposing to approve a SIP revision submitted by the State of South Dakota on January 3, 2020 that revises the Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD), Air Pollution Control Program, updating the date of incorporation by reference of federal rules in ARSD chapters pertaining to definitions, ambient air quality, air quality episodes, prevention of significant deterioration (PSD), new source review, performance testing, control of visible emissions, continuous emission monitoring systems, State facilities in Rapid City area, construction permits and regional haze program administrative rules.

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). This action would require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this proposed rule. This action would further require that persons not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until they have submitted a Significant New Use Notice, and EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice under TSCA, and has taken any risk management actions as are required as a result of that determination.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice of the availability of data on emission allowance allocations to certain units under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) trading programs. EPA has completed preliminary calculations for the first round of allocations of allowances from the CSAPR new unit set-asides (NUSAs) for the 2020 control periods and has posted spreadsheets containing the calculations on EPA's website. EPA will consider timely objections to the preliminary calculations (including objections concerning the identification of units eligible for allocations) before determining the final amounts of the first-round allocations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The revision provides Massachusetts' determination, via a negative declaration, that there are no facilities within its borders subject to EPA's 2016 Control Technique Guideline (CTG) for the oil and gas industry. The intended effect of this action is to approve this item into the Massachusetts SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluridone in or on avocados, mandarins, pomegranates, pistachios, and the stone fruit group (crop group 12). SePRO Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

EPA is announcing the rescheduled meeting dates for the 4-day meeting of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) that had been previously scheduled for April to consider and review the draft Risk Evaluation for asbestos and associated documents. This will be a virtual public meeting of the TSCA SACC, with participation by phone and webcast only. As previously announced in April, the public is invited to comment on the draft risk evaluation for asbestos and related documents in advance of and during this peer review virtual meeting. The TSCA SACC will consider these comments during their discussions.