Overview
Title
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; United States Virgin Islands; Regional Haze Federal Implementation Plan; Correction
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The EPA made a goof in a past rule about air pollution in the Virgin Islands by leaving out some important pollution limits they meant to include. Now, they're fixing the mistake and telling people exactly what limits should have been in there from the start.
Summary AI
In this proposed rule, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to correct a past error regarding emission limits related to regional haze in the United States Virgin Islands. Originally published in 2012, the rule did not include certain required limits in the Code of Federal Regulations. This update will incorporate those limits without changing any previous decisions or reopening past determinations. The EPA is inviting public comments on this correction for transparency, focusing solely on confirming the specific limits intended to have been included.
Abstract
On October 22, 2012, the EPA published a final rule in the Federal Register promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) intended to address regional haze obligations for the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands. However, at that time EPA erroneously failed to incorporate into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) certain emission limits that had been determined to be necessary to satisfy those obligations and that had been proposed and included in the docket for the action. EPA is proposing to correct this inadvertent error by incorporating the previously noticed limits into the CFR. EPA is not reopening any of its previous determinations here.
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AnalysisAI
In this document, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule to correct a past error related to emission limits in the United States Virgin Islands. This rule is intended to ensure compliance with regional haze obligations that were initially set in 2012. At that time, certain emission limits were accidentally left out of the official regulatory document, known as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The current proposal aims to rectify this omission by officially including those limits.
Summary of the Document
The document outlines the EPA's plan to incorporate specific emission limits into the CFR that had been erroneously omitted in the past. These limits are necessary to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act related to regional haze, which focuses on improving visibility in protected areas. The EPA has emphasized that this action is purely a technical correction and does not change any previous decisions or reopen any prior determinations.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the main issues with the document is the lack of specific information on the emission limits being incorporated. This absence may cause confusion among stakeholders who are interested in understanding the precise changes being proposed. Additionally, the document contains references to various executive orders and legislative requirements without providing context or explanations, which might bewilder readers unfamiliar with these references.
Furthermore, the text is filled with technical language and legal jargon, making it challenging for the general public to grasp the full implications without specialized knowledge. The document also refers to specific docket numbers and previous documents without summarizing their contents, which can hinder individuals from following the context and comprehending the necessity of the corrections.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, this proposed rule is unlikely to have immediate, direct impacts. However, it is important as it ensures that all legislative and environmental standards are met, contributing indirectly to cleaner air and better environmental quality. By addressing regional haze, the EPA aims to improve the natural visibility in places of natural beauty, which is beneficial for all citizens and future generations.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For environmental advocates and organizations, this correction is a positive step towards ensuring that proper emission standards are maintained and enforced. These groups may view the EPA's action as a necessary correction to uphold the integrity of environmental regulations.
On the other hand, industries in the Virgin Islands that are subject to these emission limits might face challenges. They may need to reassess their operations to ensure compliance with the corrected standards, potentially incurring additional costs for upgrades or changes to their emission control technologies.
Overall, while the document addresses a technical oversight, it highlights the complexity of regulatory processes and the continuous need for transparency and accuracy in environmental governance.
Issues
• The document does not provide detailed information on the emission limits that are being incorporated, which may lead to confusion for stakeholders who wish to understand the specific changes being proposed.
• The document references multiple executive orders and legislative requirements without explaining their relevance to the proposed action, which could be confusing for readers unfamiliar with these references.
• The language surrounding regulations such as the Paperwork Reduction Act and the Regulatory Flexibility Act is technical and may be difficult for non-expert stakeholders to understand fully.
• The proposal document is largely technical and filled with legal and regulatory terminology, which might make it inaccessible to the general public for understanding without specialized knowledge.
• The document refers to specific docket numbers and prior documents without summarizing their contents, which might limit the ability of readers to easily follow the context and the necessity for the corrections.