⚡DOE Revises NEPA Procedures
This interim final rule substantially revises Department of Energy's (DOE) regulations containing its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures, which were promulgated to supplement now-rescinded Council on Environmental Quality regulations. Mindful that the Supreme Court recently clarified NEPA is a "purely procedural statute," DOE will henceforth maintain the remainder of its procedures in a procedural guidance document separate from the Code of Federal Regulations (DOE NEPA implementing procedures). Thus, DOE is revising 10 CFR part 1021 to contain only administrative and routine actions excepted from NEPA review in appendix A, its existing categorical exclusions in appendix B, related requirements, and a provision for emergency circumstances. DOE is revising appendix A in 10 CFR part 1021 to align with DOE's new NEPA implementing procedures that it is publishing separate from the Code of Federal Regulations. Appendix A in 10 CFR part 1021 (formerly categorical exclusions) are now administrative and routine actions that do not require NEPA review. DOE is also revising 10 CFR part 205, subpart W, to remove the NEPA procedures from its Presidential permit regulations.
Learn More🏭EPA Revises Compliance Deadline for Aerosol Coatings Emission Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action to revise the compliance deadline in recent amendments to the National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 183(e). Specifically, the EPA is revising the compliance date for requirements amended in January 17, 2025, from July 17, 2025, to January 17, 2027. The EPA seeks comments on this targeted revision to the compliance date and will respond and update this interim final action as appropriate.
Learn More♻️Final OSWI Emission Standards and Compliance Guidelines by EPA
This action finalizes the periodic review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the emissions standards and other requirements for Other Solid Waste Incineration (OSWI) units in the OSWI New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG). The EPA is finalizing applicability-related and definitional changes; changes to OSWI subcategories and the standards for the new subcategories; changes to the startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) provisions; and changes to testing, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. We are also making other miscellaneous technical and editorial changes to the regulatory text.
Learn More📋Technical Amendment to OMB Approvals Under Paperwork Reduction Act
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this technical amendment updates the table that lists the control numbers issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the PRA for information collection activities contained in certain EPA regulations that are promulgated in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This technical amendment adds or amends the OMB Control Numbers for existing approved collection activities and removes the OMB Control Numbers that have expired and/or have been discontinued.
Learn More🌬️EPA Proposes Revisions to Missouri Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) related to Definitions and Common Reference Tables used in Missouri rules. EPA has also previously approved this rule as part of the air planning and permitting program. Some of the definitions are associated with those programs, even though many of the definitions pertain only to the SIP. 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).
Learn More🌬️EPA Air Plan Approval
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the regulatory materials that are incorporated by reference into the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP). The EPA is also notifying the public of corrections and clarifying changes in the Code of Federal Regulations tables that identify the regulatory 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 and the EPA Region 10 Office.
Learn More🌫️Proposed Missouri Rule for Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Compliance
The EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Missouri. Missouri requests that EPA approve replacing the previous statewide sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) rule in the SIP with the latest version of a newer SO<INF>2</INF> rule (10 CSR 10-6.261). This action would result in a number of changes to the SIP, including removing outdated requirements as a result of facilities that have historically closed or switched from coal to lower sulfur fuels, as well as those that have become subject to more stringent SO<INF>2</INF> requirements elsewhere in the Missouri SIP. Other revisions include reinstating SO<INF>2</INF> emission limits for the Ameren-Labadie and Evergy-Hawthorn power plants that had been previously removed. The revisions do not impact the stringency of the SIP, nor do they impact the state's ability to attain or maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In conjunction with proposing approval of revisions to the Missouri SIP, the EPA is proposing to approve Missouri's negative declaration of sources subject to sulfuric acid production requirements submitted by the MoDNR to the EPA on May 4, 2022.
Learn More🐻New Regs for Polar Bear Protection Affecting Oil and Gas Operations
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are revising a portion of our regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act pertaining to incidental take of marine mammals. These regulations, codified at 50 CFR part 18, subpart J, authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take by harassment of small numbers of polar bears from the Southern Beaufort Sea stock and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas industry activities in the Beaufort Sea (Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf) and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. Such take may result from oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transportation activities occurring through August 5, 2026. The revisions made by this final rule authorize incidental Level A harassment of polar bears in addition to the incidental Level B harassment of polar bears and Pacific walruses already authorized. No lethal take is authorized under this rule.
Learn More🌱Tolerance Exemptions for Pepino Mosaic Virus by EPA
This regulation establishes exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Pepino mosaic virus, strain LP, isolate VX1 and Pepino mosaic virus, strain CH2, isolate VC1 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Valto BV submitted a petition to the EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting these exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Pepino mosaic virus, strain LP, isolate VX1 and Pepino mosaic virus, strain CH2, isolate VC1 under FFDCA when used in accordance with these exemptions.
Learn More🌍Implications of New Air Quality Regulations for San Joaquin Valley
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the "2023 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the Revoked 1-Hour Ozone Standard" ("San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan" or "Plan") as a revision to the state implementation plan (SIP) for the State of California. The San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, an emissions inventory consistent with attainment and contingency provisions. The EPA is also proposing to find that the State of California's request to redesignate the San Joaquin Valley area from nonattainment to attainment for the revoked 1979 1-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or "standard") for ozone ("1979 ozone NAAQS," "1-hour ozone NAAQS," or "1-hour ozone standard") meets all the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act") criteria for redesignation. Therefore, the EPA is proposing to terminate all anti-backsliding obligations for the San Joaquin Valley area for the revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
Learn More