🚛Implications of New FMCSA Regulations for Motor Carriers and Brokers
In a final rule published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2024, FMCSA amended its regulations by making technical corrections throughout the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The final rule included an amendatory instruction to revise a stayed section without first lifting the stay. The final rule also included an amendatory instruction which referenced an incorrect paragraph letter. The Agency corrects these errors.
Learn More🌍Air Quality Regulation Updates for Maricopa County Businesses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a limited approval and limited disapproval of revisions to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD or "County") portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from loading of organic liquids and gasoline. Under the authority of the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"), this action simultaneously approves local rules that regulate these emission sources and directs Arizona to correct rule deficiencies. We are also finalizing a disapproval of MCAQD's reasonably available control technology (RACT) demonstration for the source categories associated with these rules for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Phoenix-Mesa ozone nonattainment area.
Learn More🌍EPA Defers Sanctions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the State of Alaska has submitted state implementation plan (SIP) revisions that satisfy outstanding Clean Air Act requirements. This interim final determination defers the imposition of sanctions for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) Fairbanks North Star Borough PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published in the "Proposed Rules" section of this Federal Register, of the SIP revisions, submitted by the State of Alaska (Alaska or the State) on December 4, 2024, to address Clean Air Act requirements for the 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🌍EPA's Proposed Air
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Alaska (Alaska or the State) on December 4, 2024, to address Clean Air Act requirements for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards in the Fairbanks North Star Borough Serious PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area. Alaska's submission includes SIP revisions to meet nonattainment planning requirements for emissions inventories, modeling and sulfur dioxide precursor demonstration for major stationary sources, control measures, attainment projections and progress to attainment and associated motor vehicle emissions budgets, and contingency measures. The EPA is also starting the adequacy process for the budgets.
Learn More🌍EPA Final Rule on Source Reclassification
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making corrections to the Review of Final Rule Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 10, 2024. Following publication of this final rule, the EPA discovered an inadvertent typographical error in the regulatory text and is correcting the error in this action.
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🏭New Regulations for Energy Efficiency in Central Air Conditioners
This final rule amends the Federal test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps ("CAC/HPs") to incorporate by reference the latest versions of the applicable industry standards. Specifically, DOE is incorporating by reference the latest version of the relevant industry consensus test standard, AHRI 210/240-2024 (I-P) for the current test procedure for CAC/HPs ("appendix M1") for measuring the current cooling and heating metrics--seasonal energy efficiency ratio 2 ("SEER2") and heating seasonal performance factor 2 ("HSPF2"). DOE is incorporating by reference the new industry consensus test standard, AHRI 1600-2024 (I-P), for a new test procedure ("appendix M2") for CAC/HPs that adopts two new metrics--seasonal cooling and off-mode rating efficiency ("SCORE") and seasonal heating and off-mode rating efficiency ("SHORE"). Testing to the SCORE and SHORE metrics would not be required until such time as compliance is required with any amended energy conservation standard based on the new metrics. Additionally, DOE is amending certain provisions of DOE's regulations related to representations and enforcement for CAC/HPs.
Learn More📊USDA FGIS Final Rule on User Fee Regulations for Grain Services
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS or Service) is amending its user fee regulations to establish standardized formulas the agency will use to calculate hourly and unit fees. The changes allow FGIS to charge reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing official services and re-establish a 3-to 6-month operating reserve, as required by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This final rule also makes specified conforming changes and minor technical changes to correct two typographical errors.
Learn More⚛️NRC Issues Updates on Spent Fuel Storage Regulations and Compliance
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the NAC International, Inc. MAGNASTOR[supreg] Storage System listing within the "List of approved spent fuel storage casks" to include Amendment No. 14 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 13 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1031. Amendment No. 14 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 13 revise the certificate of compliance to add a revised method of evaluation for the non-mechanistic tipover accident, clarify in the technical specifications that damaged missing grid spacers only apply to pressurized-water reactor fuel assembles, clarify inlet and outlet vent blockage and surveillance requirements in limiting condition for operation 3.1.2 in Appendix A to the certificate of compliance and associated technical specification bases, and remove the reference to Type II Portland cement in the description of the certificate of compliance. The NRC is also correcting typographical errors in Revision 1 to Amendment Nos. 11 to 13 and Amendment No. 14 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1031.
Learn More🌍Ohio's Air Quality Regulation Impacts for Businesses in 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the following portions of Ohio's State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission for the Cleveland 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard) Moderate nonattainment area: the base year emissions inventory, the reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, and the nonattainment new source review (NNSR) program. EPA is proposing to approve these portions of the State's submission as a SIP revision pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA and EPA's regulations. EPA is also initiating the adequacy process and proposing approval of the 2023 motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) associated with the Cleveland Moderate ozone nonattainment RFP demonstration.
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