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Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance Referendum: Notification of referendum - This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national paper and paper-based packaging research and promotion program. This referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic ballot from 6 October 2023 through 20 October 2023. To be eligible to vote, persons who are currently domestic manufacturers and importers and who domestically manufactured and imported 100,000 short tons or more of paper and paper-based packaging during the representative period from 1 January through 31 December 2022, are eligible to vote in the referendum. (...)

Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC); 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 carbon tetrachloride (CTC) under its conditions of use as documented in EPA's 2020 Risk Evaluation for Carbon Tetrachloride and 2022 Revised Unreasonable Risk Determination for Carbon Tetrachloride pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). CTC is a volatile, organic compound that is primarily used as a feedstock (i.e., processed as a reactant) in the making of products such as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing agents. 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. (...) To address the identified unreasonable risk, EPA is proposing under TSCA to establish workplace safety requirements for most conditions of use, including the condition of use related to the making of low Global Warming Potential (GWP) hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in commerce, and industrial/commercial use of CTC for conditions of use where information indicates use of CTC has already been phased out, and establish recordkeeping and downstream notification requirements. The use of CTC in low GWP HFOs is particularly important in the Agency's efforts to support the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act) and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was ratified on 26 October 2022.

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities Technology Review: Proposed rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities, as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) . To complete the required CAA section 112(d)(6) technology review promulgated on 13 July 2020, the EPA is proposing standards to regulate HAP emissions from five unmeasured fugitive and intermittent particulate (UFIP) sources, some of which are also referred to as "fugitive" sources, that are currently not regulated by the NESHAP, as follows: Bell Leaks, Unplanned Bleeder Valve Openings, Planned Bleeder Valve Openings, Slag Pits, and Beaching. Also, for sinter plants we are proposing standards for the following five currently unregulated HAP: carbonyl sulfide (COS), carbon disulfide (CS2), mercury (Hg), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and hydrogen fluoride (HF); for blast furnace (BF) stoves and basic oxygen process furnaces (BOPFs), we are proposing standards for the following three unregulated pollutants: total hydrocarbons (THC), HCl, and dioxins/furans (D/F); and for BFs, we are proposing standards for the following two unregulated pollutants: THC and HCl. As an update to the technology review, we are proposing to revise the current BOPF shop fugitive 20 percent opacity limit to a 5 percent opacity limit and require specific work practices; revise the current BF casthouse fugitive 20 percent opacity limit to a 5 percent opacity limit; and revise the current standards for D/F and polycyclic hydrocarbon (PAH) for sinter plants. We are also proposing a fenceline monitoring requirement for chromium (Cr), including a requirement that if a monitor exceeds the proposed Cr action level, the facility will need to conduct a root cause analysis and take corrective action to lower emissions. We solicit comments on all aspects of this proposed action.

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Proposed rule - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend requirements that apply to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to ensure that reporting is based on empirical data, accurately reflects total methane emissions and waste emissions from applicable facilities, and allows owners and operators of applicable facilities to submit empirical emissions data that appropriately demonstrate the extent to which a charge is owed. The EPA is also proposing changes to requirements that apply to the general provisions, general stationary fuel combustion, and petroleum and natural gas systems source categories of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to improve calculation, monitoring, and reporting of greenhouse gas data for petroleum and natural gas systems facilities. This action also proposes to establish and amend confidentiality determinations for the reporting of certain data elements to be added or substantially revised in these proposed amendments.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2021-2022 Code Editions

Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule, the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule, and the Definition of Solid Waste Rule; Technical Corrections: Proposed rule - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to make technical corrections that correct or clarify several parts of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. These technical corrections correct or clarify specific provisions in the existing hazardous waste regulations that were promulgated in the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements rule, the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals rule, and the Definition of Solid Waste rule. This rule also makes other minor corrections that fall within the same sections of the hazardous waste regulations but are independent of these three rules. Examples of the types of corrections being made in this rule include, but are not limited to, correcting typographical errors, correcting incorrect or outdated citations, making minor clarifications, and updating addresses. In the "Rules and Regulations" section of this Federal Register, we are making these technical corrections as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule because we view this as a noncontroversial action and anticipate no adverse comment. In the preamble to the direct final rule, we have explained our reasons for taking this action without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Boilers: Notice of proposed rulemaking and announcement of public meeting via webinar on 12 September 2023 - The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer boilers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) to periodically determine whether more-stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified and would result in significant energy savings. In this notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for consumer boilers, and also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.(...)

Low Emission Automobile Regulation: Proposed rule - Amends rules to establish new requirements applicable to light and medium duty vehicles and clarifying changes to existing regulations. The proposed revisions will adopt California Advanced Clean Cars II standards and include new zero emission light-duty vehicle sales requirements for model years 2027-2032 and potentially beyond, and new Low Emission Vehicle emission standards for new conventionally fueled light and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027-2032 and potentially beyond, along with clarifying changes to the existing regulation.

Revisions to the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements: Proposed rule and notice of virtual public hearing on 30 August 2023 - This action proposes changes to the EPA's Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR). The proposed amendments may require changes to current regulations of State, local, and certain tribal air agencies; would require these agencies to report emissions data to the EPA using different approaches from current requirements; and would require owners/operators of some facilities to report additional emissions data. More specifically, the EPA is proposing to require certain sources report information regarding emission of hazardous air pollutants (HAP); certain sources to report criteria air pollutants, their precursors and HAP; and to require State, local, and certain tribal air agencies to report prescribed fire data. The proposed revisions would also define a new approach for optional collection by air agencies of such information on HAP by which State, local and certain tribal air agencies may implement requirements and report emissions on behalf of owners/operators. The proposed revisions would also make the requirements for point sources consistent for every year; phase in earlier deadlines for point source reporting; and add requirements for reporting fuel use data for certain sources of electrical generation associated with peak electricity demand. The proposed revisions include further changes for reporting on airports, rail yards, commercial marine vessels, locomotives, and nonpoint sources. For owners/operators of facilities that meet criteria described in this proposal, the proposed revisions would require reporting of performance test and performance evaluation data to the EPA for all tests conducted after the effective date provided in the final rulemaking. (...)

Proposed Amendments to the Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus Regulation: Proposed rule - The Executive Officer (EO) of the California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) is proposing to consider the adoption of amendments to the Heavy-Duty (HD) Engine and Vehicle Omnibus (Omnibus) regulation under the authority granted by the Board in Resolution 23-15, wherein the Board delegated to the EO the power to adopt, amend, and revoke emission standards, test procedures, compliance test procedures, and compliance flexibilities for new on-road motor vehicles that the Board previously reserved to itself in Board Resolution 78-10.