The Federal Register

Amendment to Tier 2 Vehicle Emission Standards and Gasoline Sulfur Requirements: Partial Exemption for U.S. Pacific

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

EPA is taking direct final action to exempt the three U.S. Pacific Island TerritoriesAmerican Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (C.N.M.I.)from the gasoline sulfur requirements that EPA promulgated in the Tier 2 motor vehicle rule. The Governor of American Samoa petitioned us for an exemption from the Tier 2 gasoline sulfur requirement because of the potential for gasoline shortages, the added cost, and the minimal air quality benefits the Tier 2 gasoline sulfur requirement would provide to American Samoa. Representatives of the Governors of Guam and C.N.M.I. have also requested an exemption referencing the petition submitted by American Samoa. Generally, the Far East market, primarily Singapore, supplies gasoline to the U.S. Pacific Island Territories. The Tier 2 sulfur standard effectively requires special gasoline shipments, which would increase the cost and could jeopardize the security of the gasoline supply to the Pacific Island Territories. The air quality

National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List Update

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 announces the deletion of the Brio Refining, Inc. Superfund Site (Site), located in Friendswood, Texas, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is appendix B of 40 CFR part 300, which is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This action is being taken by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Texas, through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. Moreover, EPA and TCEQ have determined that with proper monitoring, operation and maintenance, this Site poses no significant threat to public health or the environment.

Amendment to Tier 2 Vehicle Emission Standards and Gasoline Sulfur Requirements: Partial Exemption for U.S. Pacific

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

EPA is proposing to exempt the three U.S. Pacific Island TerritoriesAmerican Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (C.N.M.I.)from the gasoline sulfur requirements that EPA promulgated in the Tier 2 motor vehicle rule. The Governor of American Samoa petitioned us for an exemption from the Tier 2 gasoline sulfur requirement because of the potential for gasoline shortages, the added cost, and the minimal air quality benefits the Tier 2 gasoline sulfur requirement would provide to American Samoa. Representatives of the Governors of Guam and C.N.M.I. have also requested an exemption referencing the petition submitted by American Samoa. The Far East market, primarily Singapore, supplies gasoline to the U.S. Pacific Island Territories. The Tier 2 sulfur standard effectively requires special gasoline shipments, which would increase the cost and could jeopardize the security of the gasoline supply to the Pacific Island Territories. The air quality in American Samoa, Guam, and

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Arizona; Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

EPA is proposing to approve two revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. These revisions consist of changes to Arizona's Basic and Enhanced Vehicle Emissions Inspection Programs that would exempt collectible vehicles in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and collectible vehicles and motorcycles in the Tucson metropolitan area, from emissions testing requirements; an updated performance standard evaluation for the vehicle emissions inspection program in the Phoenix area; and new contingency measures. EPA is proposing approval of these two state implementation plan revisions because they meet all applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA's regulations and because the exemptions would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards in the two affected areas. EPA is proposing this action under the Clean Air Act obligation to take action on State submittals of revisions to state

California State Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Standards; Notice of Within-the-Scope Determination for Amendments To

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

By this decision, issued under section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act, as amended, (hereafter ``Act''), 42 U.S.C. 7543(b), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today has determined that provisions of the California Air Resources Board`s (CARB's) 19992003 amendments to the California ZeroEmission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations as they affect 2006 and prior model years (MYs) are withinthescope of previous waivers of federal preemption granted to California for its ZEV regulations. In the alternative, EPA is also granting a waiver of federal preemption for these MYs. EPA is also granting California(s request for a waiver of federal preemption to enforce provisions of the ZEV regulations as they affect 2007 through 2011 MYs. As explained below, EPA is also making a finding that although we believe it appropriate to grant a full waiver of federal preemption for the 2007 MY, we also believe it appropriate to consider the 2007 MY regulations withinthescope of previous waivers of federal preemption as the

Boutique Fuels List under Section 1541(b) of the Energy Policy Act

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) includes a number of provisions addressing state boutique fuel programs. Section 1541(b) of this Act requires EPA, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to determine the total number of fuels approved into all state implementation plans (SIPs) as of September 1, 2004, under section 211(c)(4)(C) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPAct also requires us to publish a list of such fuels, including the states and Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD) in which they are used, for public review and comment. On June 6, 2006, we published a draft list based upon a ``fuel type approach'' along with an explanation of our rationale in developing it. We also published an alternative list based upon a ``state specific approach.'' In this notice we are finalizing the list of total number of fuels approved into all SIPs as of September 1, 2004, based upon the fuel type approach. This notice also addresses comments that we received on the proposed draft

Request for Member Nominees to the Proposed Adaptation for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources Advisory

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, we are giving notice that EPA is inviting nominations for membership on the proposed Adaptation for ClimateSensitive Ecosystems and Resources Advisory Committee (ACSERAC). The purpose of this proposed Committee is to provide advice on the conduct of a study titled, ``Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources,'' to be conducted as part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). This assessment is part of a comprehensive set of assessments identified by the CCSP's Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program. The proposed ACSERAC will advise on the specific issues that should be addressed in the assessment, appropriate technical approaches, the type and usefulness of information to decision makers, the content of the final assessment report, compliance with the Information Quality Act, and other matters important to the successful achievement of the objectives of the

Request for Member Nominees to the Proposed Human Impacts of Climate Change Advisory Committee (HICCAC)

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, we are giving notice that EPA is accepting nominees for membership on the proposed Human Impacts of Climate Change Advisory Committee (HICCAC). The purpose of this proposed Committee is to provide advice on the conduct of a study titled, ``Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems,'' to be conducted as part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). This assessment is part of a comprehensive set of assessments identified in the CCSP's Strategic Plan. The proposed HICCAC will advise on the specific issues that should be addressed in the assessment, appropriate technical approaches, the nature of information relevant to decision makers, the content of the assessment report, and other scientific and technical matters that may be found to be important to the successful completion of the study. EPA has determined that this proposed federal advisory committee is in the public in

Human Studies Review Board; Notice of Public Meeting

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA or Agency) Office of the Science Advisor (OSA) announces a public meeting of the Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) to advise the Agency on EPA's scientific and ethical reviews of human subjects' research.

Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Six Public Teleconferences of the Science Advisory Board

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces six public teleconferences of the SAB Committee on Valuing the Protection of Ecological Systems and Services (CVPESS) to discuss components of a draft report related to valuing the protection of ecological systems and services.

Total Coliform Rule / Distribution System Stakeholder Technical Workshop and Request for Nominations

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a technical workshop in Washington, DC, to discuss available information on the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) and available information regarding risks in distribution systems in support of revisions to the TCR. The TCR provides public health protection from microbial contamination in drinking water while indicating the adequacy of treatment and the integrity of drinking water distribution systems. As part of the technical workshop, EPA is seeking information and analytic approaches for characterizing risks posed by the distribution system. Subsequently, if results from the workshop indicate that a formal consensus building process is appropriate for the revision effort, the Agency will consider establishing a Committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice and recommendations on how best to utilize available information for potential revisions to the TCR and to address public health risks from contamination of distribution

Proposed NPDES General Permit for Discharges From the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category to Coastal Waters

Thu, Dec 28 2006 11:00:00 GMT

EPA Region 6 today proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit regulating discharges from oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas and regulating produced water discharges from wells in the Stripper and Offshore Subcategories which discharge into coastal waters of Texas.

As proposed, the permit prohibits the discharge of drilling fluid, drill cuttings, produced sand and well treatment, completion and workover fluids. Produced water discharges are prohibited, except from wells in the Stripper Subcategory located east of the 98th meridian whose produced water comes from the Carrizo/Wilcox, Reklaw or Bartosh formations in Texas. Discharge of dewatering effluent is proposed to be prohibited, except from reserve pits which have not received drilling fluids and/or drill cuttings since January 15, 1997. The discharge of deck drainage, formation test fluids, sanitary waste, domestic waste and miscellaneous discharges is proposed to be autho