🌍EPA Defers Sanctions for San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") state implementation plan (SIP) revision on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD or "District") that corrects deficiencies concerning the District's new source review (NSR) stationary source permitting program. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of SJVUAPCD Rules 1020, 2020, and 2201. The effect of this interim final determination is to defer sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's limited disapproval of SJVUAPCD Rule 2201 in 2023.
Learn More🌱EPA Seeks Rule Change on Pesticide Labeling Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on a petition received from the Attorneys General of the States of Nebraska, Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota requesting the Agency initiate rulemaking to amend the existing regulations under the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act (FIFRA). The Attorneys General believe the Agency should modify its requirements such that any state labeling requirements inconsistent with EPA's findings and conclusions from its human health risk assessment on human health effects, such as a pesticide's likelihood to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm, constitute misbranding.
Learn More🏭EPA Notice on Chemical Risk Evaluation and Public Comment Requested
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), TSCA Existing Chemical Risk Evaluation and Management; Generic ICR for Interview and Focus Groups, (EPA ICR Number 2584.03 and OMB Control Number 2070-0219) 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 15, 2024. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Learn More⚠️EPA NESHAP Compliance for Natural Gas
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Natural Gas Transmission and Storage (EPA ICR Number 1789.12, OMB Control Number 2060-0418) 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 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 Requires NPDES Permits for Stormwater Discharges in Los Alamos
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is providing notice of a Revised Designation Decision that storm water discharges from the Los Alamos Urban Area (as defined by the latest decennial Census) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) property in Los Alamos County and Santa Fe County, New Mexico are contributing to violations of New Mexico Water Quality Standards (WQS) and require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This action is in response to a June 30, 2014, petition filed with EPA by Amigos Bravos entitled "A Petition by Amigos Bravos for a Determination that Storm Water Discharges in Los Alamos County Contribute to Water Quality Standards Violations and Require a Clean Water Act Permit," and revises the Agency's prior December 16, 2019, designation decision, which was remanded to EPA for reconsideration by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
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 Notice on Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Threshold Setting Data Needs for the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials (EPA ICR Number 2805.01 and OMB Control Number 2070-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for a new ICR. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 7, 2024. 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's Clean Air Act Permit Decision and Business Implications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an order dated December 30, 2024, granting in part and denying in part a petition dated September 6, 2024, from the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club. The petition requested that the EPA object to the renewal of a Clean Air Act (CAA) operating permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to Suncor Energy (U.S.A.), Inc. for its Commerce City Refinery, Plant 1 (West) & Plant 3 (Asphalt Unit) located in Adams County, Colorado.
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