⚠️EPA Proposes TRI Regulations Affecting PFAS Compliance for Businesses
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) adds certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) automatically to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) beginning January 1 of the year following specific triggering events. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to make conforming edits to the TRI regulation to explicitly include PFAS that are added to the TRI chemical list automatically pursuant to the NDAA in the regulation's definition of "toxic chemical." This edit confirms that the TRI supplier notification provision requires covered suppliers to notify customers receiving a mixture or other trade name product containing a TRI-listed chemical with the first shipment of each calendar year, with such a requirement beginning on January 1 of the applicable year; thus, supplier notifications are required as of January 1 for any NDAA-added PFAS.
Learn More📜EPA Extends Comment Period on 6PPD Regulatory Investigation
In the Federal Register of November 19, 2024, EPA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking soliciting public comment on and any additional information relevant to 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). 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 the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With this document, EPA is extending the comment period by 60 days, from January 21, 2025, to March 24, 2025.
Learn More🌍EPA Revises Federal Implementation Plan for Sulfur Dioxide in Montana
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) applicable to sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) emissions from four sources located in Billings and Laurel, Montana. Specifically, the EPA is revising a portion of the FIP promulgated by the EPA in 2008 (2008 Billings/Laurel SO<INF>2</INF> FIP) by removing a provision which contained an affirmative defense for exceedances of flare emission limits during malfunctions, startups, and shutdowns. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🌍New SIP Deadlines and Compliance Requirements Under Ozone Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing deadlines for submission of state implementation plan (SIP) revisions and implementation of the relevant control requirements that will apply for nonattainment areas reclassified as Moderate, Serious, and Severe under the current and any future ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as a result of either failing to attain the standard by the applicable classification attainment date or the EPA granting a voluntary reclassification request. This final rule articulates the implementation requirements and timeframes that will apply for all such areas once reclassified. The EPA is also finalizing regulatory revisions to codify its existing interpretation that following reclassification, a state is no longer required to submit SIP revisions addressing certain, but not all, requirements related to the prior classification level for an ozone nonattainment area.
Learn More🌍Updated EPA Regulations on Aerosol Coatings and VOCs Compliance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments to the National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings. This action revises national emission standards for the aerosol coatings (aerosol spray paints) category under the Clean Air Act (CAA), which requires control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from certain categories of consumer and commercial products for purposes of reducing VOC emissions contributing to ozone formation and ozone nonattainment. The regulation employs a relative reactivity-based approach to control aerosol coating products' contribution to ozone formation by encouraging the use of less reactive VOC ingredients in formulations. In this final rule, the EPA is updating coating category product-weighted reactivity (PWR) limits, adding new compounds and reactivity factors, updating existing reactivity factors, revising the rule's default reactivity factor, amending thresholds for VOC regulated by the rule, amending reporting requirements, updating test methods to reflect more recent versions, adding a new compliance date, and making clarifying edits.
Learn More🌍New EPA Updates to Alaska Air Quality Regulations Announced
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the materials that are incorporated by reference (IBR) into the Alaska State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations affected by this update have been previously submitted by the State of Alaska 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 tables that identify the materials incorporated by reference into the Alaska SIP. This update affects the materials that are available for public inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration and the EPA Regional Office.
Learn More♻️Updated EPA Regulations on Coal Combustion Residuals Management
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is taking direct final action to correct errors and clarify several provisions published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024. This May 8, 2024 rule (Legacy Final Rule) established regulatory requirements for legacy coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and CCR management units, among other things, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Learn More🛴New Regulations for Powered Micromobility in National Parks
The National Park Service proposes a management framework for the use of powered micromobility devices within the National Park System. The proposed rule would define powered micromobility devices separately from motor vehicles, traditional bicycles, electric bicycles, and human powered coasting devices, and create rules for where and how they may be used in units of the National Park System. Examples of powered micromobility devices include electric scooters (e- scooters), hoverboards, and Segways.
Learn More🌍EPA Updates Ozone Measurement Calibration Requirements for 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2023, that became effective on November 13, 2023. The final rule updated the current ozone absorption cross-section to the recommended consensus- based value of 1.1329x10<SUP>-17</SUP> cm\2\ molecule<SUP>-1</SUP> or 304.39 atm<SUP>-1</SUP> cm<SUP>-1</SUP>. After publication, the EPA became aware of an error in the preamble text regarding the date for State, local, and Tribal monitoring agencies to complete implementation of the new ozone cross-section value, as well as a lack of clarity as to which entities the 2025 and 2026 implementation dates apply. With this action, the EPA is updating the final rule preamble and regulatory text to clarify the applicable implementation dates and the specific entities to which they apply. These corrections do not include any substantive changes to the final rule.
Learn More💧EPA Approves Alternative Test Methods for Drinking Water Compliance
This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make two additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.
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