🐻❄️Proposed Authorization for Polar Bear Incidental Harassment in Alaska
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act from the Bureau of Land Management, propose to authorize nonlethal incidental take by harassment of small numbers of Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) for 1 year from the date of issuance of the incidental harassment authorization (IHA). The applicant requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with oil well plugging and reclamation, soil sampling, snow trail, pad, and airstrip construction, and summer cleanup activities in the North Slope Borough of Alaska between Wainwright and Oliktok. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for up to 12 takes of polar bears by Level B harassment. No Level A harassment or lethal take is requested, expected, or proposed to be authorized. We invite comments on the proposed IHA, the application package, draft environmental assessment, and related documents from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
Learn More🌊Workshop on Recovery Planning for Endangered Seals in Alaska
NMFS announces its intent to convene a workshop to solicit facts and information from experts to inform recovery planning for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment (DPS) bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus) and the Arctic ringed seal (Phoca hispida hispida). We will not be asking for any consensus recommendations on how to recover these species. This workshop will be open to the public. We also request submission of information that might inform the development of the recovery plans.
Learn More🌍EPA Withdraws Rule on Excess Emissions Compliance Requirements
Due to the receipt of adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the November 26, 2024, direct final rule to partially withdraw two final actions finding that 13 States and/or local air pollution control agencies failed to submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) in a timely manner to address the EPA's 2015 findings of substantial inadequacy and "SIP calls" for provisions applying to excess emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM). The EPA will address all comments received in a subsequent final rule for which the EPA will not institute a second comment period.
Learn More🌊Impact of New California Harbor Craft Emission Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is providing notice of its decision to partially grant the California Air Resources Board's ("CARB's") request for an authorization of amendments adopted in 2022 to its Commercial Harbor Craft ("CHC") regulation (the "2022 CHC Amendments"). EPA's decision was issued under the authority of section 209 of the Clean Air Act ("CAA" or "Act").
Learn More♻️California EPA Issues Decision on Diesel Transport Refrigeration Units
The Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is providing notice of its decision to partially grant the California Air Resources Board's ("CARB's") request for an authorization of amendments to its In-Use Diesel-Fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRU) and TRU Generator Sets (collectively, "TRU") regulations ("2022 TRU Amendments"). EPA's decision was issued under the authority of section 209 of the Clean Air Act ("CAA" or "Act").
Learn More♻️EPA's Final Rule on Perchloroethylene Emission Standards for Dry Cleaners
This action finalizes the Clean Air Act (CAA) technology review (TR) conducted for the commercial and industrial dry cleaning facilities using perchloroethylene (PCE) as the cleaning solvent (PCE Dry Cleaning) source categories regulated under National Emission Standards for Hazardous air Pollutants (NESHAP). This final rule does not finalize the changes made at proposal and makes no amendments to the current NESHAP given the recently finalized action under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) which has instituted a 10-year phaseout of the use of PCE for dry cleaning.
Learn More🌍EPA Adds PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory Starting 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, this action updates the regulations to identify nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is being taken to conform the regulations to a Congressional legislative mandate, notice and comment rulemaking is unnecessary.
Learn More⚖️EPA Extends TSCA Review Period for Confidential Business Information
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the extension of the review period for Confidential Business Information (CBI) claims for specific identities of all active chemical substances listed on the confidential portion of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory submitted to the EPA under TSCA. EPA has determined that a further extension of the statutory review period for the review of CBI claims under TSCA is necessary to allow the Agency to complete the required reviews under TSCA.
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