🌫️EPA Approves South Dakota’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of South Dakota on July 29, 2022 (South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission), as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to CAA.
Learn More🌬️Texas Air Plan Approval
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from the State of Texas demonstrating that the State satisfies the interstate transport requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), also known as the "good neighbor" provision of the CAA, for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The good neighbor provision requires each State's implementation plan to contain adequate provisions prohibiting the interstate transport of air pollution in amounts that will contribute significantly to nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in any other State.
Learn More🌫️Proposed Amendments to Connecticut's Air Pollution Regulations by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve regulatory amendments that revise two previous program approvals from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The revisions include amendments to the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) that revise the Connecticut State Operating Permit Program and amendments to RCSA that revise limitations on potential to emit Clean Air Act (CAA) pollutants. A significant aspect of this action involves revising the definition of "hazardous air pollutant" in the RCSA in response to EPA adding 1- bromopropane to the list of hazardous air pollutants. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Learn More🚗Proposed Rule for Pennsylvania Vehicle Emission Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This SIP revision addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the enactment of a Basic vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for the five counties comprising the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington- Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE Moderate nonattainment area (Philadelphia nonattainment area) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Emission Rule Revision in Mojave Desert Air Quality Management
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from internal combustion engines. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the "Act"). The EPA is also making additional administrative updates to the MDAQMD portion of the California SIP by correcting text in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Learn More🐟Notice on Hatchery Management Plans and Environmental Determination
NMFS has evaluated hatchery and genetic management plans (HGMPs) for 12 hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook, coho, and chum salmon in the Nooksack River basin and Strait of Georgia submitted by the Lummi Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in collaboration with the Nooksack Indian Tribe as co- managers pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans describe hatchery programs operated by the co-managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of an Evaluation and Recommended Determination Document (ERD) in which NMFS, by delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that implementing and enforcing these HGMPs will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery nor modify or destroy critical habitat of Puget Sound Chinook salmon or Puget Sound steelhead. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NMFS also announces the availability of its Finding of No Significant Impact for the hatchery operations under the HGMPs.
Learn More🌱EPA Notice on Pesticide Experimental Use Permit Applications
This notice announces EPA's receipt of an application 102306- EUP-R from Synvect, Inc. 505 Coast Blvd., Suite 210, La Jolla, CA 92037, requesting an experimental use permit (EUP) for the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) protein. The Agency has determined that the permit may be of regional and national significance. Therefore, because of the potential significance, EPA is seeking comments on this application.
Learn More🔥EPA Allows Temporary Incinerator Use During Disaster Recovery
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action to provide for the temporary use of incineration units subject to commercial and industrial solid waste incinerator (CISWI) regulations during disaster recovery. Currently, only other solid waste incinerators (OSWI) are authorized to combust debris from a disaster or emergency on a temporary basis without having to comply with applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) section 129 requirements. We are also authorizing such temporary use for incinerators (including air curtain incinerators (ACI)) subject to CISWI regulations by adding temporary-use provisions that essentially mirror those in the OSWI regulations to existing Federal CISWI rule subparts. The EPA is requesting comments on all aspects of this interim final rule and will consider all comments received after the conclusion of the comment period.
Learn More🚛Proposed Rules for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspections in California
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove or, in the alternative, to fully approve a submission by the State of California to revise its State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to the control of emissions from non-gasoline combustion vehicles over 14,000 pounds. EPA is proposing to disapprove the State's "Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation" to the extent it applies to vehicles registered out-of-state or out-of-country. The EPA has substantial concerns that the State has not provided adequate assurances under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) that implementation of the SIP is not prohibited by Federal law. EPA seeks comment on this and other aspects of this proposed rule. If finalized as a partial approval and partial disapproval, this rule would allow certain aspects of the covered State regulations to go into effect and would not trigger CAA section 179 sanctions because the submittal is not a required submission under CAA section 110(a)(2). If finalized as an approval, this rule would allow all covered State regulations to go into effect.
Learn More🌍EPA Regulations on Hydrofluorocarbons
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing, pursuant to the statutory framework established in the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), the eligibility of six applications to continue to receive priority access to allowances to produce or import hydrofluorocarbons. In this final rule, EPA establishes the framework for how EPA interprets the statutory criteria for assessing whether to renew the eligibility of applications to receive application-specific allowances and sets out determinations to renew or not renew each of the six applications that currently receive application-specific allowances. EPA is also finalizing revisions to the Technology Transitions regulations relevant to the specific applications under review, a procedural process for submitting a petition to designate a new application as eligible for priority access to allowances, the methodology used to allocate allowances to application-specific allowance holders for calendar years 2026 and beyond, and limited revisions to existing regulations. In addition, EPA is authorizing an entity to produce regulated substances for export. Lastly, EPA is finalizing certain regulatory confidentiality determinations for newly reported information.
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