Search Results for keywords:"Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act to extend the deadline for installing new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning and heat pump systems that use specific hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). These systems can be installed until January 1, 2027, if their components were made or imported before January 1, 2026. An additional extension to January 1, 2028, is allowed for projects with building permits issued before October 5, 2023, approving the use of these HFCs. The aim is to give more time for the installation and avoid wasting unsold VRF system inventories.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to limit the use of pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP), a chemical identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. The rule prohibits manufacturing, processing, and distributing PCTP and PCTP-containing products if the concentration exceeds 1% by weight. This restriction aims to lower the availability and exposure of PCTP, thereby reducing the potential risks to human health and the environment. By enforcing these limits, the EPA encourages the use of safer alternatives and reduces environmental and human exposure to PCTP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve updates to Florida's regional haze state implementation plan (SIP), addressing pollution that affects visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. These updates, submitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in 2021 and 2024, comply with the Clean Air Act and EPA's Regional Haze Rule requirements for the second planning period. The plan focuses on reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide from major sources in Florida and includes cooperative efforts with neighboring states to address cross-border pollution effects. If approved, the updates will become enforceable under federal law.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing updates to the fees charged under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for fiscal years 2022 to 2024. This proposal aims to adjust existing fees and introduce new fee categories to ensure the fees offset a portion of the costs of the EPA's responsibilities under TSCA. New exemptions are also proposed for certain manufacturers to reduce the burden on smaller entities and those engaged in specific activities, like research and development. EPA seeks to redistribute the fees more equitably among manufacturers based on production volume, aiming to refine the fee process from previous implementations and ensure industries that contribute to chemical manufacturing support EPA's oversight and evaluation efforts.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to partially approve and partially disapprove parts of North Dakota's regional haze plan (SIP) for its second implementation period. This decision was made because certain aspects of the plan, such as its long-term strategy and goals for reasonable progress, did not meet the necessary requirements under the Clean Air Act. Specifically, North Dakota relied on visibility thresholds that the EPA found unreasonable, which led to rejecting feasible and cost-effective controls on pollution sources like Coyote Station and Antelope Valley. However, other elements of the plan, such as calculations of visibility conditions and monitoring strategies, were approved.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to partially waive the 2024 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program due to a shortfall in its production. The plan suggests reducing the requirement to 0.88 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from the initial 1.09 billion. Additionally, the proposal requests feedback on whether to consider this reduction using both the general and cellulosic waiver authorities. The EPA also aims to extend the compliance deadline to accommodate refiners and blenders adjusting to revised requirements and proposes minor revisions to regulations regarding biogas in the RFS program.