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🌍EPA Denies Petition Against Shell Chemical's Operating Permit

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated December 19, 2024, denying a petition dated June 11, 2024, from Air Alliance Houston (the Petitioner). The petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Shell Chemical LP, for its Deer Park Chemical Plant located in Harris County, Texas. In addition, and as a part of the Order, the EPA Administrator found that cause exists to reopen the Shell Chemical Deer Park Chemical Plant permit pursuant to 40 CFR part 70.7.

🌊Notice on SeaWorld Permit Extension and Comment Period Update

Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries Service is extending the public comment period associated with the notice of receipt for an application for a permit (File No. 28286) to conduct research and enhancement activities on one stranded, non- releasable beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) from the endangered Cook Inlet distinct population segment (DPS). The application has been updated to reflect additional information received from the applicant. Additionally, we propose extending SeaWorld's current permit, No. 22095-01, under which the subject beluga whale is currently held, for six months to allow additional processing of the updated application (File No. 28286).

🏞️Proposed Consent Decree on Clean Water Act by EPA Impacting Businesses

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator's March 18, 2022, memorandum regarding "Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements to resolve Environmental Claims Against the Agency," notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree in Delaware Riverkeeper Network et al. v. U.S. EPA et al., Docket No. 2:24-cv-05308 (E.D. Pa.). On October 2, 2024, Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Maya K. van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The complaint alleges that: the EPA failed to comply with its mandatory duty under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to promulgate revised water quality standards to protect aquatic life in the Delaware River within 90 days of proposal; and the EPA's failure to promulgate revised water quality standards is an unreasonable delay under the Administrative Procedure Act. The EPA seeks public input on a proposed consent decree prior to its final decision-making with regard to potential settlement of the litigation.

🌱EPA's Biofuels Report

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of a final document titled, "Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress" (EPA/600/R-24/343F). The document was prepared by EPA's Offices of Research and Development (ORD) and Air and Radiation (OAR), in consultation with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy.

🌊Withdrawal of Key U.S. Offshore Areas from Oil Leasing Regulations

📜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.

🌍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).

🌍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.

🌍Environmental Impact Statements

🌍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.