Federal Register Summary: October 2018

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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Notice of Public Meeting

October 30, 2018 – BSEE is hosting a public meeting to discuss advancement of a low-emission spray combustion unit for responding to oil spills. The meeting will be held on December 10, 2018 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. EST in New Orleans, LA. [83 FR 54608]

Department of Energy (DOE)

Critical Electric Infrastructure Information; New Administrative Procedures

October 29, 2018 – DOE published a proposed rule to establish procedures for the designation of critical electric infrastructure information under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (P.L. 114-94), which contains several provisions designed to protect and enhance the Nation's electric power delivery infrastructure. Public comment on this proposed rule will be accepted until December 28, 2018. [83 FR 54268]

Department of the Interior (DOI)

National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Reclamation (516 DM 14)

October 17, 2018 – DOI intends to revise the Bureau of Reclamation procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The proposed revisions are to establish a new categorical exclusion for the title transfer of certain projects and facilities from the Bureau of Reclamation to a qualifying non-federal entity. The new categorical exclusion would allow for more efficient review of appropriate title transfer actions. Comments must be submitted on or before November 16, 2018. [83 FR 52603]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Light-Duty Vehicle GHG Program Technical Amendments

October 1, 2018 – The EPA is proposing two technical corrections to the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards regulations finalized in the 2012 rulemaking. The regulations currently in place result in auto manufacturers receiving fewer credits than the agency intended for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and natural gas fueled vehicles. The proposed amendments would also clarify the calculation methodology for certain types of off-cycle credits in the regulations. Comments must be received before October 31, 2018. [83 FR 49344]

Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Air and Energy Subcommittee Meeting-November 2018

October 1, 2018 – The EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) will host a public meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Air and Energy Subcommittee. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, and will continue on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. EST. Attendees should register online by November 6, 2018. [83 FR 49382].

Expedited Approval of Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants Under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures

October 12, 2018 – The EPA announced its approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water and determining compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The EPA approved one hundred analytical methods for determining contaminant concentrations in drinking water samples collected under the Safe Drinking Water Act. [83 FR 51636]

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Manufacture of Amino/Phenolic Resins Risk and Technology Review Reconsideration

October 15, 2018 – The EPA finalized amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Manufacture of Amino/Phenolic Resins. Specifically, the EPA revised the maximum achievable control technology standard for continuous process vents at existing affected sources, and requirements for planned routine maintenance of emission control systems used to reduce hazardous air pollutants emissions from storage vessels. [83 FR 51842]

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Reconsideration

October 15, 2018 – The EPA proposed amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas source category. The proposed amendments and clarifications are related to fugitive emissions requirements, well site pneumatic pump standards, the requirements for certification of closed vent systems, and the alternative means of emissions limitations (AMEL) provisions. The EPA also proposes additional amendments to clarify and streamline implementation of the rule. Comments must be submitted on or before December 17, 2018. [83 FR 52056]

Fees for the Administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act

October 17, 2018 – The EPA issued a final rule establishing fees applicable to any person required to submit information or a notice to the EPA, or who manufactures a chemical substance that is the subject of a risk evaluation. Requiring manufacturers and processors of certain chemical substances to pay a fee for specific fee-triggering events under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), will defray part of the EPA cost of administering TSCA. This final rule is effective on October 18, 2018. [83 FR 52694]

Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)

October 23, 2018 – The EPA announced a public comment period for the draft document titled, “Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft).” The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. Comments must be received on or before December 11, 2018. [83 FR 53471]

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Reconsideration

October 29, 2018 – The EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule titled “Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Reconsideration.” The hearing will provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed action. The hearing will take place on November 14, 2018, at the EPA Region 8 offices in Denver, Colorado, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. [83 FR 54303]

Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings

October 30, 2018 – The EPA is withdrawing its January 19, 2017, proposed rule addressing health and environmental protection standards under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA). The rule would have applied to byproduct materials produced by uranium in-situ recovery and would have subsequently been implemented by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its agreement states. [83 FR 54543]

Adopting Subpart Ba Requirements in Emission Guidelines for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

October 30, 2018 – The EPA has proposed a rule to amend the 2016 Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSW Landfills EG). In a separate regulatory proposal published in August 2018, the EPA proposed changes to modernize the requirements for state and federal plans implementing the MSW Landfills EG, which were adopted from 1975 regulations. This action proposes to update the cross-references to the old implementing regulations to harmonize with the proposed new timing and completeness requirements for state and federal plans. Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before December 14, 2018. [83 FR 54527]

Executive Office of the President

National Energy Awareness Month, 2018

October 5, 2018 – President Donald Trump designated October 2018 as National Energy Awareness Month in Proclamation 9794 of September 28, 2018. National Energy Awareness Month is meant to recognize the role American energy plays in producing more abundant, affordable, and reliable power for the United States and the world. [83 FR 50247]

National Forest Products Week, 2018

October 24, 2018 – President Donald Trump designated the week of October 21 through October 27, 2018, as National Forest Products Week. National Forest Products Week is meant to recognize that strong, healthy, and well-managed forests are vital to the Nation's economic prosperity. [83 FR 53799]

National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA)

NASA Federal Advisory Committees; Annual Invitation

October 25, 2018 – NASA is calling for public nominations for service on NASA federal advisory committees. NASA’s twelve federal advisory committees have member vacancies from time to time throughout the year, and NASA will consider self-nominations to fill such intermittent vacancies. All nominations must be sent to hq-nasanoms@mail.nasa.gov by November 24, 2018. [83 FR 53913]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Science Advisory Board (SAB); Public Meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board

October 12, 2018 – The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) will hold an open meeting on Thursday, November 1, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT and on Friday, November 2, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT. Topics include discussion of the Ecosystems Management Working Group Report on Citizen Science, updates and information on elements of the SAB work plan, and an update from the Acting NOAA Administrator. [83 FR 51664]

Solicitation for Members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board

October 17, 2018 – NOAA is soliciting nominations for members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is responsible for advising the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans, Atmosphere, and NOAA Administrator on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, and application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction. Nominations should be sent to noaa.sab.newmembers@noaa.gov by November 16, 2018. [83 FR 52417].

Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee: Call for Nominations and Public Meeting

October 24, 2018 – NOAA is calling for nominations for new members of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee. Nominations must be sent to Nicole.Capps@noaa.gov before or on December 1, 2018. [83 FR 53608]

National Sea Grant Advisory Board (NSGAB); Public Meeting of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board

October 31, 2018 – The NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) will hold a public meeting on Monday, December 10, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. The meeting will be held via conference call. OAR is also calling for nominations for the National Sea Grant Advisory Board. There is no due date for nominations. Applications will be kept on file for consideration of any Board vacancy for a period of three years from January 1, 2019. [83 FR 54723]

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Proposal Review Panel for International Science and Engineering; Notice of Meeting

October 23, 2018 – The NSF will hold an open meeting in the form of a site visit on the topic, “Coastal Flood Risk Reduction Program: Integrated, multi-scale approaches for understanding how to reduce vulnerability to damaging events.” The site visit will take place November 19, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and November 20, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Texas A&M University at Galveston. [83 FR 53507]

STEM Education Advisory Panel; Notice of Meeting

October 25, 2018 – The NSF STEM Education Advisory Panel will hold a closed meeting on November 7, 2018, to share and collect information in support of members' role in advising the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM). The meeting will take place at NSF headquarters in in Alexandria, VA, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. [83 FR 53913]

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

Implementing the Freedom of Information Act

October 31, 2018 – OSTP is amending its regulations to implement the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Improvement Act of 2016. The regulations reflect OSTP's policy and practices and reaffirm its commitment to provide the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public. Comments can be emailed to ostpfoia@ostp.eop.gov with the subject line “FOIA PROPOSED RULEMAKING” through November 30, 2018. [83 FR 54684]