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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Phase 3:Notice of proposed rulemaking and notification of public hearing to be held on 2 May and 3 May 2023 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to promulgate new GHG standards for heavy-duty highway vehicles starting in model year (MY) 2028 through MY 2032 and to revise certain GHG standards for MY 2027 that were established previously under EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles - Phase 2 rule ("HD GHG Phase 2") . This document proposes updates to discrete elements of the Averaging Banking and Trading program, including a proposal to eliminate the last MY year of the HD GHG Phase 2 advanced technology incentive program for certain types of electric highway heavy-duty vehicles. EPA is proposing to add warranty requirements for batteries and other components of zero-emission vehicles and to require customer-facing battery state-of-health monitors for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. In this document, we are also proposing additional revisions and clarifying and editorial amendments to certain highway heavy-duty vehicle provisions and certain test procedures for heavy-duty engines. Finally, as part of this action, EPA is proposing to revise its regulations addressing preemption of state regulation of new locomotives and new engines used in locomotives. (...)

Methylene Chloride; Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): Proposed rule - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by methylene chloride under its conditions of use as documented in EPA's June 2020 Risk Evaluation for Methylene Chloride and November 2022 revised risk determination for methylene chloride prepared under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA requires that EPA address by rule any unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment identified in a TSCA risk evaluation and apply requirements to the extent necessary so that the chemical no longer presents unreasonable risk. Methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane, is acutely lethal, a neurotoxicant, a likely human carcinogen, and presents cancer and non-cancer risks following chronic exposures as well as acute risks. Central nervous system depressant effects can result in loss of consciousness and respiratory depression, resulting in irreversible coma, hypoxia, and eventual death, including 85 documented fatalities from 1980 to 2018, a majority of which were occupational fatalities (see Unit II.A.) . Nevertheless, methylene chloride is still a widely used solvent in a variety of consumer and commercial applications including adhesives and sealants, automotive products, and paint and coating removers. To address the identified unreasonable risk, EPA is proposing to: prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride for consumer use; prohibit most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride (...)

Draft Regulatory Guide: Guidelines for Lightning Protection for Production and Utilization Facilities: Draft guide; request for comment - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1409, "Guidelines for Lightning Protection for Production and Utilization Facilities." This DG is the proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.204, "Guidelines for Lightning Protection of Nuclear Power Plants.'' DG-1409 describes an approach that is acceptable to the staff of the NRC to meet regulatory requirements for adequate lightning protection of safety-related systems, structures, and components (SSCs) . This DG endorses, with clarifications, the methods described in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard (Std.) 665-1995, "IEEE Standard for Generating Station Grounding"; IEEE Std. 666-2007, "IEEE Design Guide for Electrical Power Service Systems for Generating Stations"; IEEE Std. 1050-2004, "IEEE Guide for Instrumentation and Control Equipment Grounding in Generating Stations"; and IEEE Std. C62.23-2017, "IEEE Application Guide for Surge Protection of Electric Generating Plants."

Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles: Proposed rule - Under its Clean Air Act authority, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new, more stringent emissions standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) for light- duty vehicles and Class 2b and 3 ("medium-duty") vehicles that would phase-in over model years 2027 through 2032. In addition, EPA is proposing GHG program revisions in several areas, including off-cycle and air conditioning credits, the treatment of upstream emissions associated with zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in compliance calculations, medium-duty vehicle incentive multipliers, and vehicle certification and compliance. EPA is also proposing new standards to control refueling emissions from incomplete medium-duty vehicles, and battery durability and warranty requirements for light-duty and medium-duty plug-in vehicles. EPA is also proposing minor amendments to update program requirements related to aftermarket fuel conversions, importing vehicles and engines, evaporative emission test procedures, and test fuel specifications for measuring fuel economy.

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Production, Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing, Organic Liquids Distribution (Non-Gasoline), and Petroleum Refineries Reconsideration: Proposed rule; reconsideration of final rule - On 6 July 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the Ethylene Production source category, which is part of the Generic Maximum Achievable Control Technology (GMACT) Standards National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP); on 7 July 2020, the EPA finalized the RTR conducted for the Organic Liquids Distribution (Non-Gasoline) NESHAP; and on 12 August 2020, the EPA finalized the RTR conducted for the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing NESHAP. Amendments to the Petroleum Refineries NESHAP were most recently finalized on 4 February 2020. Subsequently, the EPA received and granted various petitions for reconsideration on these NESHAP for, among other things, the provisions related to the work practice standards for pressure relief devices (PRDs), emergency flaring, and degassing of floating roof storage vessels. In response to the petitions, the EPA is proposing amendments to the work practice standards for PRDs, emergency flaring, and degassing of floating roof storage vessels. In addition, the EPA is proposing other technical corrections and clarifications for each of the rules. The EPA will not respond to comments addressing any other issues or any other provisions of the final rule not specifically addressed in this proposed rulemaking.

New Source Performance Standards for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins Industry: (...) apply to the SOCMI (more commonly referred to as the Hazardous Organic NESHAP or HON) and Group I and II Polymers and Resins Industries (P&R I and P&R II) . The EPA is proposing decisions resulting from the Agency's technology review of the HON, P&R I, and P&R II, and its eight-year review of the NSPS that apply to the SOCMI. The EPA is also proposing amendments to the NSPS for equipment leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in SOCMI based on its reconsideration of certain issues raised in an administrative petition for reconsideration. Furthermore, the EPA is proposing to strengthen the emission standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions and chloroprene emissions after considering the results of a risk assessment for the HON and Neoprene Production processes subject to P&R I. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to remove exemptions from standards for periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM), to add work practice standards for such periods where appropriate, and to add provisions for electronic reporting. We estimate that the proposed amendments to the NESHAP would reduce hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions (excluding EtO and chloroprene) from the SOCMI, P&R I, and P&R II sources by approximately 1,123 tons per year (tpy), reduce EtO emissions from HON processes by approximately 58 tpy, and reduce chloroprene emissions from Neoprene Production processes in P&R I by approximately 14 tpy. We also estimate that these proposed amendments to the NESHAP will reduce excess emissions of HAP from flares in the SOCMI and P&R I source categories by an additional 4,858 tpy. Lastly, we estimate that the proposed amendments to the NSPS would reduce VOC emissions from the SOCMI source category by approximately 1,609 tpy.

Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair: Notice of proposed rulemaking - PHMSA proposes regulatory amendments that implement congressional mandates in the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 to reduce methane emissions from new and existing gas transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines, regulated (Types A, B, C and offshore) gas gathering pipelines, underground natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities. Among the proposed amendments for part 192-regulated gas pipelines are strengthened leakage survey and patrolling requirements; performance standards for advanced leak detection programs; leak grading and repair criteria with mandatory repair timelines; requirements for mitigation of emissions from blowdowns; pressure relief device design, configuration, and maintenance requirements; and clarified requirements for investigating failures. Finally, PHMSA proposes expanded reporting requirements for operators of all gas pipeline facilities within DOT's jurisdiction, including underground natural gas storage facilities and liquefied natural gas facilities.

Draft Regulatory Guide: Qualification of Safety-Related Actuators in Production and Utilization Facilities: Draft guide; request for comment by 21 June 2023 - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1386, "Qualification of Safety-Related Actuators in Production and Utilization Facilities." This DG is the proposed Revision 2 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.73 "Qualification Tests for Safety-Related Actuators in Nuclear Power Plants." This DG describes an approach that is acceptable to the staff of the NRC to meet regulatory requirements for the environmental qualification of safety related actuators in production and utilization facilities. It endorses, with exceptions, additions, and clarifications, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard (Std.) 382-2019, "IEEE Standard for Qualification of Safety-Related Actuators for Nuclear Power Generating Stations and Other Nuclear Facilities."

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Taconite Iron Ore Processing Amendments: Proposed rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Taconite Iron Ore Processing Plants, as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA). To ensure that all emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from sources in the source category are regulated, the EPA is proposing emission standards for mercury. In addition, the EPA is proposing to revise the existing emission standards for hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride.

New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule