Search Results for keywords:"environmental justice"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to update the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for sulfur dioxide emissions from four sources in Billings and Laurel, Montana. This rule removes the previous allowance for exceeding emission limits during malfunctions, startups, and shutdowns, as it did not align with the Clean Air Act. The EPA conducted an environmental justice analysis and found no significant disparities in pollution burden around the affected facilities. This rule will take effect on February 18, 2025, and is intended to have a neutral to positive impact on local air quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting public comments on a draft Pesticide Registration Notice about tracking bilingual labeling on pesticide product labels. This effort, required by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022, aims to monitor how Spanish translations are added to pesticide labels to improve accessibility for farmworkers. The agency emphasizes that while the draft is a guide and not legally binding, it seeks to enhance environmental justice and compliance with safety instructions. Public comments are due by February 3, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public feedback on its proposed decisions regarding four pesticides: alpha methyl mannoside, Duddingtonia flagrans strain IAH 1297, Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2 isolate 1906, and sheep fat. The EPA proposes that no further review is required at this time, as these pesticides meet federal safety standards, showing low levels of toxicity and exposure. Public comments on these proposals are open until February 10, 2025, and should be submitted via the EPA's online portal. The EPA aims to ensure these decisions align with its commitment to environmental justice and user safety.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to the Regional Haze Rule related to state visibility protection plans. Specifically, they want to extend the deadline for states to submit their implementation plans from 2028 to 2031, allowing more time to address updates that might arise from future revisions to the rule. This proposed extension aims to give states enough time to develop comprehensive plans and coordinate them with other air quality programs. The EPA is seeking public feedback on these proposed changes and alternative deadlines.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new rules to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from five taconite facilities in Michigan and Minnesota. These rules are meant to improve air quality and visibility by following procedures outlined in a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) and applying the best available control technologies. The proposal includes plans for public comments and hearings, and it aims to comply with environmental justice policies to not disproportionately affect communities with environmental concerns. The changes focus on refining previous emission estimates based on real-time data collected from these facilities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule to revoke most tolerances for the insecticide chlorpyrifos, except for specific uses on 11 crops, including alfalfa, apple, and soybean, in certain states. This action is in response to a 2007 petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Pesticide Action Network, which called for the revocation of all chlorpyrifos tolerances due to health concerns, particularly its potential effects on neurodevelopment. The EPA has determined that while some tolerances will be revoked based on voluntary cancellations, the remaining tolerances are considered safe under new restrictions. Public comments on this proposal are being accepted until February 10, 2025.