Search Results for keywords:"Environmental Regulation"

On December 16, 2024, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) about receiving a water quality certification request from Northern States Power Company for a project. According to the Clean Water Act, Michigan EGLE has until December 6, 2025, to decide on the certification request. If they don't act by this deadline, the request is considered waived. The notice, filed by the FERC Secretary, Debbie-Anne A. Reese, was published in the Federal Register with the document number 2025-00085.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on the proposed extension of an information collection request (ICR) related to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for benzene emissions from storage vessels and coke oven by-product recovery plants. This request has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for their review. The ICR is currently valid until February 2025, and this notice opens an additional 30-day period for public comments. The EPA estimates that seven respondents will be affected, with a total annual burden of 1,130 hours and costs amounting to $143,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule determining that the Anne Arundel and Baltimore County area met the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO₂) National Ambient Air Quality Standards by the deadline of September 12, 2021. This decision is based on air quality data, modeling, and emissions information from 2018 to 2020. Although the area has attained the standards, it remains officially classified as a nonattainment area until Maryland requests and the EPA approves a formal redesignation to attainment. This determination does not add new requirements or impact regulatory actions significantly.

In response to a Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 2025, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is delaying the effective dates of two regulatory program amendments in Wyoming and Montana. These amendments were initially published in January 2025 and were set to take effect soon. The Wyoming amendment addresses the disposal of wind turbine blades and towers in surface coal mining sites, while the Montana amendment deals with definitions and permit requirements related to environmental regulations. The delay is meant to provide time for further review and consideration without public input, as seeking such input would be impractical given the time constraints.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice on January 15, 2025, responding to two petitions for reconsideration regarding the "New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions" rules for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The EPA reviewed the requests but decided to deny or partially deny them, with detailed reasons provided in a decision document. This decision keeps the existing standards in place. Individuals or organizations wishing to challenge this decision must file in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by March 17, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule to approve part of Louisiana's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for meeting air quality standards related to sulfur dioxide (SO₂), following the Clean Air Act guidelines. The plan addresses interstate air pollution transport, ensuring emissions from Louisiana do not significantly harm air quality in neighboring states. The EPA's review found no significant contribution to air pollution issues in nearby states and supports the proposal to approve Louisiana's SIP. Public comments on this proposal are invited until May 9, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put forward an information collection request (ICR) regarding the NESHAP for Beryllium Rocket Motor Fuel Firing, seeking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval. This request is a proposed extension, already approved until February 28, 2025, and involves gathering data to ensure compliance with regulations stated in 40 CFR part 61, subpart D. The EPA had initially invited public comments on this ICR back in May 2023, and now offers a further 30-day window for additional public feedback. The request involves an estimated total annual burden of nine hours and costs of $1,450, with no expected changes in these estimates since the industry growth is negligible.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received an application from the California Department of Water Resources and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on January 29, 2021. This application seeks a water quality certification under the Clean Water Act from the California State Water Resources Control Board. The California Water Board has one year to act on this request; if they do not respond by January 29, 2022, their authority to certify is considered waived. This notification is a procedural matter ensuring the Commission and relevant bodies are informed about the certification timeline.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated Virginia's authority to enforce certain federal air pollution standards. This change allows Virginia to implement and enforce federal standards for hazardous air pollutants and new source performance standards, which are rules designed to control air pollution from specific sources. The update ensures Virginia can continue to enforce these standards as they are updated in federal regulations. The EPA also informed Virginia that the exemption for startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) periods should no longer be allowed due to a court ruling.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that partially approves and partially disapproves Arizona's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for addressing regional haze, a form of air pollution. Arizona's plan aimed to tackle haze by revising strategies to improve visibility in protected natural areas. The EPA found that while some parts of the plan meet federal requirements, others do not because they lack adequate analysis or justification. The EPA's decision starts a process that could lead to federal intervention unless Arizona submits an improved plan that meets all necessary criteria.