Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to extend the compliance date applicable to certain entities subject to the regulation of methylene chloride recently promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Specifically, EPA is proposing to extend by 18 months the Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) and the associated recordkeeping compliance dates for laboratories that are not owned or operated by agencies or Federal contractors acting on behalf of the Federal government. Under this proposal, all laboratories, whether federal or not, would have the same compliance dates, which would be aligned with current compliance dates for Federal agencies and Federal contractors. EPA is proposing to extend the compliance dates for associated laboratory activities detailed in this proposal to avoid disruption of important functions such as the use of environmental monitoring methods needed for cleanup sites and wastewater treatment, as well as activities associated with university laboratories. The use of environmental monitoring methods, a common function of non-federal laboratories, is important to EPA's mission to ensure that the air is safe to breathe, water is safe for drinking or recreating, and disposal activities protect the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Pesticide Active Ingredient Production (EPA ICR Number 1807.11, OMB Control Number 2060- 0370) 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, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on August 6, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Contractor Conflicts of Interest" (EPA ICR No. 1550-12, OMB Control No. 2023-0023) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through June 30, 2025. 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.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Vermont on July 1, 2024, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule for the program's second implementation period. Vermont's SIP submission addresses the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action on the authorization of changes to Mississippi's hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. These changes were outlined in an April 2, 2024 application to the EPA. We have determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed for final authorization.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action on the authorization of changes to Alabama's hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. These changes were outlined in a July 11, 2024, application to the EPA. We have determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed for final authorization.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and Texas SO2 Trading Programs (EPA ICR Number 2391.06, OMB Control Number 2060-0667) 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, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on September 5, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Hazardous Remediation Waste Management Requirements (HWIR) Contaminated Media (EPA ICR Number 1775.10, OMB Control Number 2050-0161) 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, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on October 7, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

Notice is hereby given that the State of California revised its approved State primacy program under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) by adopting regulations that effectuate the Federal Public Water System (PWS) Definition. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that California's revision request meets the applicable SDWA program revision requirements and the regulations adopted by California are no less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations. Therefore, EPA approves this revision to California's approved State primacy program. However, this determination on California's request for approval of a program revision shall take effect in accordance with the procedures described below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document after the opportunity to request a public hearing.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action to adjust the Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Update "budget" for nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions from Indiana electricity generating units (EGUs) during the May-September "ozone season" for 2024 and subsequent years. Relatedly, EPA is also adjusting the default unit-level allocations of emission allowances to Indiana EGUs for 2024 and subsequent years in accordance with the adjustments to the state emissions budget. When originally establishing state emissions budgets and default unit-level allocations for 2024 and subsequent years in the Revised CSAPR Update rulemaking, EPA relied in part on announcements from EGU owners regarding their plans to retire certain EGUs before the 2024 ozone season. The purpose of the adjustments being made in this action is to account for the subsequent decisions by some EGU owners to defer or cancel the previously announced retirement plans.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of a revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on July 9, 2021. The revision includes updates to the Texas Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) permitting programs to incorporate Federal New Source Review (NSR) regulations for Project Emissions Accounting (PEA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Michigan on December 20, 2022, and supplemented on February 21, 2023, December 14, 2023, and April 2, 2024, which amends a SIP submission previously submitted to EPA on May 31, 2016, and June 30, 2016, for attaining the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area. This action follows a prior action which found that Michigan had satisfied emission inventory and new source review (NSR) requirements for this area but had not met requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the elements that EPA is approving here. This action also follows the promulgation of the 2022 Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) has received a complete Underground Injection Control (UIC) primacy application from the State of Arizona requesting primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for Class I-VI injection wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1422. The EPA's approval of the State's UIC program primacy application would allow the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to authorize underground injection for all underground injection wells regulated under the Federal SDWA and ensure compliance with UIC program requirements. The EPA proposes to issue a final rule approving Arizona's application to implement the UIC program for Class I-VI injection wells located within the State, except those on Indian lands. The EPA proposes amendments to reflect this proposed approval of Arizona's UIC program primacy application.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to approve North Dakota Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) partial permit program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). After reviewing the CCR permit program application submitted by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), EPA has preliminarily determined that North Dakota's CCR permit program meets the standard for partial approval under RCRA. If approved, North Dakota's CCR permit program will operate in lieu of the Federal CCR program with the exception of the specific provisions noted below. EPA is seeking comment on this proposal during a 60-day public comment period and will be holding a hybrid in-person and virtual public hearing on EPA's preliminary approval of North Dakota's partial CCR permit program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") hereby provides notice of two proposed settlement agreements: the First Modification to Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Settlement Agreement for Removal Action ("Blaylock Modified BFPPA") between EPA and Blaylock LLC ("Blaylock"); and the Prospective Purchaser Settlement Agreement for CERCLA Response Actions ("Greenfield PPA") between EPA and prospective purchaser Greenfield Environmental Mohawk Tannery Trust LLC, in its representative capacity as Trustee of the Mohawk Tannery Site Environmental Response Trust ("Greenfield"). The two settlement agreements concern the Mohawk Tannery Site in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Blaylock Modified PPA and the Greenfield PPA are entered into pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended ("CERCLA," also known as the Superfund law), and the authority of the Attorney General of the United States to compromise and settle claims of the United States. The proposed Blaylock Modified BFPPA is between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and bona fide prospective purchaser Blaylock Holdings, LLC. The proposed Blaylock Modified BFPPA requires that Blaylock conduct work under EPA oversight in exchange for a covenant not to sue pursuant to sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607(a) for existing contamination at the Mohawk Tannery Site. The Blaylock Modified BFPPA provides pre- authorized mixed funding for the work. Under the Greenfield PPA, Greenfield has an agreement to assume long-term ownership duties and to perform post-removal site controls in connection with approximately 4 acres of property (the "Containment Parcel") located in Nashua, New Hampshire, which is a part of the Mohawk Tannery Site as set forth in the Blaylock Modified BFPPA, EPA Region 1 CERCLA Docket No. 01-2024- 0056 pertaining to the Site and the Containment Parcel, which is a portion of the Site. Blaylock and Greenfield consent to and will not contest the authority of the United States to enter into the Blaylock Modified BFPPA and the Greenfield PPA, or to implement or enforce their respective terms. Blaylock and Greenfield recognize that these settlement agreements have been negotiated in good faith and that the Blaylock Modified BFPPA and Greenfield PPA are entered into without the admission or adjudication of any issue of fact or law.

This action announces the availability of the EPA's response to a petition received on February 11, 2025, from the Clean Air Council, Communities for a Better Environment, and Natural Resources Defense Council (petitioners). The petition requests that EPA establish a TSCA rule prohibiting the use of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in domestic oil refining to eliminate unreasonable risks to public health and the environment. After careful consideration, EPA has denied the TSCA petition for the reasons set forth in this notice.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) submission submitted by the State of South Dakota on July 29, 2022 (South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission), under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission addresses the requirement that states revise their long-term strategies every implementation period to make reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) "TSCA Section 5 Premanufacture Review of New Chemical Substances and Significant New Use Rules for New and Existing Chemical Substances (EPA ICR No. 1188.16 and OMB Control No. 2070-0038)." This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through December 31, 2025. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 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 approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on December 20, 2023. The revision modifies the State's air quality regulations as incorporated into the SIP by changing the definition of "volatile organic compounds" (VOC) to be consistent with federal regulations. The revision also addresses typographical errors and increases clarity and consistency with EPA's definitions and Alabama's Legislative Services Agency requirements.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Pesticide Data Call-Ins (DCIs) (EPA ICR No. 2288.07 and OMB Control No. 2070-0174). This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through December 31, 2025. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 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) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Plating and Polishing Area Sources (EPA ICR Number 2294.07, OMB Control Number 2060-0623) 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, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on August 6, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Louisiana's State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted to EPA on April 2, 2025, for the Evangeline Parish 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area. EPA is proposing approval of the following Clean Air Act (CAA) SIP elements: The attainment demonstration for the SO2 NAAQS, which includes an Agreed Order on Consent (AOC) for the Cabot Corporation's Ville Platte Plant (Cabot) facility; the reasonable further progress (RFP) plan; the reasonably available control measures (RACM) and reasonably available control technology (RACT) demonstration; the emission inventories; and the contingency measures. The State has demonstrated that its current Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) program covers this NAAQS; therefore, no revision to the SIP is required for the NNSR element.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) related to the control of emissions during petroleum liquid storage, loading and transfer in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The revisions to this rule include adding incorporations by reference to other state rules, adding definitions specific to the rule, revising unnecessarily restrictive or duplicative language, and making administrative wording changes. These revisions do not impact the stringency of the SIP or have an adverse effect on air quality. The EPA's proposed approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

In the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is proposing approval of portions of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the State of Colorado dated June 26, 2023, May 23, 2024, and April 2, 2025. The submissions relate to Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 7 (Reg. 7) and Regulation Number 25 (Reg. 25) and address Colorado's SIP obligations for the contingency measures Serious ozone nonattainment area requirement for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In this action, the EPA is making an interim final determination based on that proposed approval. The effect of this interim final determination is that the imposition of sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's November 7, 2023 disapproval are now deferred. Although this action is effective upon publication, the EPA will take comment on this interim final determination.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) on November 4, 2024. The SIP revisions consist of revised Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules implementing the Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Budget Program. The revised rules include non-substantive updates to rule language and updates to referenced material.