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🏞️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.

🚧EPA's Proposed Clean Water Act Methods

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to promulgate new methods and update the tables of approved methods for the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act requires the EPA to promulgate test procedures for the analysis of pollutants. Promulgating new methods and updating the tables of approved methods increases the quality and consistency of data collected for the purposes of the Clean Water Act. In this rule, the EPA proposes to add new EPA methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and add methods previously published by voluntary consensus bodies that industries and municipalities would use for reporting under the EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program. The EPA also proposes to withdraw the seven Aroclor (PCB mixtures) parameters. In addition, the EPA is proposing to simplify the sampling requirements for two volatile organic compounds, and make a series of minor corrections to existing tables of approved methods. This proposed rule does not mandate when a parameter must be monitored or establish a discharge limit.

🌍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).

📑EPA NESHAP Regulation Notice

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Natural Gas Transmission and Storage (EPA ICR Number 1805.12, OMB Control Number 2060-0377) 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.

🌍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.

🌱EPA Proposes New Air Quality Regulations for Arizona Agriculture

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an approval and a limited approval and limited disapproval of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission made by the State of Arizona to address emissions of particulate matter 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller (PM<INF>10</INF>) from agricultural operations. The SIP submission includes an amended statute, two definition rules, and two rules regulating crop and animal operations in Pinal County, Arizona. We are proposing action on local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

⚖️EPA Notice

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Marine Tank Vessel Loading Operations (EPA ICR Number 1679.12, OMB Control Number 2060- 0289) 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.

🌍Environmental Impact Statements

🏭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.