🔥EPA Approves Removal of Recreational Fires Ban in Washington
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that was submitted by the Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA). In 2013, Ecology and ORCAA inadvertently submitted for incorporation into the SIP a ban on small, recreational fires in Thurston County. These fires are defined as having a maximum pile size of three feet in diameter by two feet high using seasoned firewood or charcoal, generally associated with backyard, summer campfires. Ecology and ORCAA provided a review of the historical record to demonstrate that the ban on recreational fires was not relied upon for attainment, maintenance, or reasonable further progress in the Thurston County area. Ecology and ORCAA also provided data to demonstrate that removing the ban on recreational fires would not interfere with maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards. Therefore, we are approving the request by Ecology and ORCAA to remove this provision from the SIP.
Learn More⚖️EPA Notice on Beryllium NESHAP Information Collection Activities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Beryllium Rocket Motor Fuel Firing (EPA ICR Number 1125.10, OMB Control Number 2060-0394) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through February 28. 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 18, 2023 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Learn More⚠️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🌍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