Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to make a clean data determination (CDD) for the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin ("South Coast") air quality planning area in California based on our determination that the area is attaining the 2006 fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). If we finalize this CDD, certain Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that apply to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD or "District") will be suspended for so long as the area continues to meet the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA is also proposing to approve a revision to California's state implementation plan (SIP) consisting of the 2018 base year emissions inventory for the South Coast PM2.5 nonattainment area, submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on December 29, 2020. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving Wisconsin's additions and amendments to chapters NR 400, NR 428, and NR 484 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Adm. Code). These changes clarify existing requirements and ensure clear and consistent implementation of Wisconsin's control requirements for emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOX). EPA proposed to approve this action on July 17, 2024, and received no comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated October 9, 2024, denying a petition dated July 9, 2024, from Sierra Club. The petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to Warrick Newco LLC for its aluminum production plant located in Newburgh, Warrick County, Indiana.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted an information collection request (ICR), TSCA Mercury Inventory Reporting, (EPA ICR Number 2567.05, OMB Control Number 2070-0207) 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 February 28, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 2, 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), RCRA Section 3007 Survey for Drum Reconditioning Facilities (EPA ICR Number 2800.01, OMB Control Number 2050-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 24, 2024, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 90- day public comment period on the newly developed document Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts. The framework document is available at https://www.epa.gov/cumulative- impacts and in the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2024-0360). The Framework is intended to provide Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs with a foundation for developing approaches to incorporate analysis and consideration of cumulative impacts into their work, with the goal of achieving results that improve health and quality of life in America's communities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), dated August 11, 2022 ("Haze Plan" or "2022 Plan"), as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the regional haze program's second planning period. Georgia's SIP submission addresses the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies (LTS) for making reasonable progress toward the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas (hereinafter referred to as "Class I areas"). The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second planning period of the regional haze program. EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a correction to a direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, which will be effective on December 2, 2024. In the direct final rule, the EPA is approving revisions to the State of North Carolina's Underground Storage Tank Program under subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In addition, the direct final rule codifies the EPA's approval and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that the EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval. This document corrects inadvertent errors introduced in preparing the amendatory regulatory text for publication. These corrections do not include any substantive changes to the direct final rule.

Tennessee has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. The EPA has reviewed Tennessee's application and has determined, subject to public comment, that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization. Therefore, in the "Rules and Regulations" section of this Federal Register, we are authorizing Tennessee for these changes as a final action without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the EPA gives notice of a public meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). The NAC and GAC provide advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NAC and GAC members represent academia, business/industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and Tribal governments. The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice to the EPA Administrator on the 2026-2030 Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Strategic Plan, and other matters related to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances, it is possible that EPA may announce this meeting with less than 15 calendar days' notice.

The Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 is providing notice of the availability of EPA's Final Designation of stormwater discharges from certain commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) sites in the Alamitos Bay/Los Cerritos Channel Watershed and the Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles/ Long Beach Inner Harbor Watershed in Los Angeles County, California for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin or WDNR) on July 30, 2021, along with subsequent information discussed herein, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Wisconsin's SIP submission and the subsequent information 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. EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is finalizing revisions to the regulations for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)), two of the five persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals addressed in final rules issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in January 2021. After receiving additional comments, the Agency has determined that revisions to the decaBDE and PIP (3:1) regulations are necessary to address implementation issues and to further reduce the potential for exposures to decaBDE and PIP (3:1) for humans and the environment to the extent practicable.

In granting a petition filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by Earthjustice on behalf of the Yurok Tribe, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) committed to pursuing an action to solicit and collect information from the public on the potential risks associated with N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p- phenylenediamine (6PPD) (CASRN 793-24-8, DTXSID 9025114) and its transformation product, 6PPD-quinone (CASRN 2754428-18-5, DTXSID 301034849). With this document, EPA is soliciting that information, along with information about potential alternatives and regulatory options to help inform the Agency's consideration of potential future regulatory actions under TSCA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the materials that are incorporated by reference (IBR) into the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations affected by this update have been previously submitted by Idaho and approved by the EPA. In this final rule, the EPA is also notifying the public of corrections and clarifying changes in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) tables that identify the materials incorporated by reference into the Idaho SIP. This update affects the materials that are available for public inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the EPA Regional Office.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Connecticut. On May 9, 2023, and supplemented on February 21, 2024, the State submitted a Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for New Haven and Fairfield Counties (New Haven-Fairfield). This revision 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. Additionally, EPA finds the LMP to be adequate since it meets the appropriate transportation conformity requirements. The intended effect of this action is to approve Connecticut's LMP for the 2006 24- hour PM2.5 NAAQS for the New Haven- Fairfield maintenance area into the Connecticut SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

In the Federal Register of February 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) announced it had determined that pesticide products marketed in flexible packaging (e.g., pouches) 20 fluid ounces or less in size with labeling either directly recommending residential use or reasonably interpreted to permit residential use are subject to the Child Resistant Packaging (CRP) mitigation measures, regardless of acute toxicity requirements, based on the visual similarity of the packaging design to children's food products. With this document, the Agency is clarifying that the flexible packaging intended to be addressed by the determination is the packaging known as flexible spouted pouches, also known as a spouted pouch, spouted pouch and cap, or fitment pouch. The determination does not apply to non- spouted flexible packaging such as the flexible packaging of household cleaning wipes and pet spot on pipettes or applicators.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (the Board or EFAB). The Board provides advice to EPA on ways to lower the costs of, and increase investments in, environmental and public health protection. Appointments will be made by the Administrator and will be announced in June 2025. EPA may also consider nominations received through this solicitation in the event of unanticipated vacancies on the Board.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA). In 2021, the EPA approved a comprehensive update to the SRCAA general air quality regulations in the SIP, which include new source review permitting requirements as well as other general requirements for sources regulated under SRCAA's jurisdiction. In this action, the EPA proposes to approve additional updates to the SRCAA general air quality regulations promulgated since our comprehensive approval in 2021.

The Director of the Water Division, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRegion 1 (EPA), is providing a Notice of Availability for the Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) New Hampshire Medium Wastewater Treatment Facility General Permit (NH Medium WWTF GP) for discharges to certain Class B waters of the State of New Hampshire. This Draft NPDES NH Medium WWTF GP ("Draft General Permit") establishes effluent limitations and requirements, effluent and ambient monitoring requirements, reporting requirements, and standard conditions for 21 eligible facilities that are currently covered by individual NPDES permits (see Attachment E of the Draft General Permit for a list of eligible WWTFs). The Draft General Permit is available on EPA Region 1's website at https:// www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/region-1-draft-new-hampshire-medium - wastewater-treatment-facility-general-permit. The Fact Sheet for the Draft General Permit sets forth principal facts and the significant factual, legal, methodological, and policy questions considered in the development of the Draft General Permit and is also available at this website.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to enter into individual settlements with six parties concerning the Bennett Landfill Fire Site located in Chester, South Carolina. The proposed settlements address recovery of CERCLA costs for a cleanup that was performed at the Site and costs incurred by EPA.

As part of EPA's high-priority efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure, and in accordance with a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2021 opinion, EPA is finalizing its proposal to lower the dust-lead hazard standards to any reportable level as analyzed by a laboratory recognized by EPA's National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP). EPA's lead-based paint (LBP) regulations do not compel property owners or occupants to evaluate their property for LBP hazards or to take control actions, but if a LBP activity such as an abatement is performed, then EPA's regulations set requirements for doing so. EPA is also finalizing changes to lower the post-abatement dust-lead clearance levels to 5 micrograms per square foot ([micro]g/ft\2\), 40 [micro]g/ft\2\, and 100 [micro]g/ft\2\ for floors, window sills and troughs respectively, the current levels in New York City. Due to feedback from public comments, EPA is also finalizing changes to the nomenclature to adopt the terms dust-lead reportable levels (DLRL) and dust-lead action levels (DLAL). Given the decoupling of the action levels from the reportable levels, EPA is finalizing revisions to the definition of abatement so that the recommendation for action based on dust-lead applies when dust-lead loadings are at or above the action levels, rather than the hazard standards, as has been the case historically. The dust-lead hazard standards will be described as DLRL moving forward (i.e., after publication of this final rule) and the dust-lead clearance levels will be described as DLAL. Additionally, EPA is finalizing several other amendments, including revising the definition of target housing to conform with the statute.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

On or about November 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available to the public an update on two aspects of the approach for the quantitative human exposure and health risk analyses, Update on Two Aspects of the Analytical Approach (Update). This Update provides additional detail regarding aspects of the analysis plans described in Volume 3 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards (IRP). The national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (Pb) are set to protect the public health and the public welfare from Pb in ambient air. Volume 3 of the IRP is the planning document for quantitative analyses to be considered in the policy assessment (PA), including human exposure and health risk analyses.