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Determination of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans From Stationary Sources.

Proposed rule - This action proposes editorial and technical revisions to the Environmental Protection Agency's Method 23 (Determination of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans from Stationary Sources) . Proposed revisions include incorporating isotope dilution for quantifying all target compounds and changing the method quality control from the current prescriptive format to a more flexible performance-based approach with specified performance criteria. We are also proposing revisions that will expand the list of target compounds of Method 23 to include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) . The proposed revisions will improve the accuracy of Method 23 and will provide flexibility to stack testers and analytical laboratories who measure semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC) from stationary sources while ensuring that the stack testing community can consistently implement the method across emissions sources and facilities.

Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances.

Proposed rule - EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances that are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) . This action would require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this proposed rule. This action would further require that persons not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until they have submitted a Significant New Use Notice, and EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice under TSCA, and has taken any risk management actions as are required as a result of that determination.

Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine Standards.

Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting pre- proposal comments on a rulemaking effort known as the Clean er Trucks Initiative (CTI) . This advance notice describes EPA's plans for a new rulemaking that would establish new emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and other pollutants for highway heavy-duty engines. It also describes opportunities to streamline and improve certification procedures to reduce costs for engine manufacturers. The EPA is seeking input on this effort from the public, including all interested stakeholders, to inform the development of a subsequent notice of proposed rulemaking.

Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

Proposed rule - This proposed rule would amend the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (the Construction and Safety Standards) by adopting recommendations made to HUD by the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) . The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (the Act) requires HUD to publish in the Federal Register any proposed revised Construction and Safety Standard submitted by the MHCC. The MHCC has prepared and submitted to HUD its third group of recommendations to improve various aspects of the Construction and Safety Standards. HUD has reviewed those proposals and has made editorial revisions to several and HUD proposes correlating additions for several of the proposals. HUD has decided not to go forward in this proposed rule with certain revisions recommended by the MHCC due to pending regulations for improving energy efficiency in manufactured homes currently being prepared by the Department of Energy . In addition, HUD has decided not to move forward with a new proposal to add requirements for draftstopping to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

Quality Standards for Motor Fuels.

Proposed rule - This amendment changes the vapor pressure tolerance for ethanol blended fuels containing nine percent (9%) or up to and including fifteen percent (15%) ethanol per U.S. EPA 40 CFR.

Commercialization of Alternative Diesel Fuels.

Proposed rule - Amends rules to modify the Commercialization of Alternative Diesel Fuels to improve the rigor and clarity of its testing and certification program.

Pipeline Safety: Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards.

Notice of proposed rulemaking - PHMSA is proposing to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations applicable to newly constructed and entirely replaced onshore natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines to mitigate ruptures. Additionally, PHMSA is revising the regulations regarding rupture detection to shorten pipeline segment isolation times. These proposals address congressional mandates, incorporate recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, and are necessary to reduce the consequences of large-volume, uncontrolled releases of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline ruptures.

Substances Containing Highly Potent Greenhouse Gases.

Proposed rule - Pertains to substances that contain hydrofluorocarbons , which are highly potent greenhouse gases.

Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Procedures for Evaluating Statutory Factors for Use in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards.

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking - The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing amendments to its decision-making process for selecting energy conservation standards. More specifically, DOE is proposing changes that would require DOE to conduct a comparative analysis of the relative costs and benefits of all of the proposed alternative levels for potentially establishing or amending an energy conservation standard in order to make a reliable determination that the chosen alternative is economically justified.

Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances.

Proposed rule - EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) . This action would require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this proposed rule. This action would further require that persons not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until they have submitted a Significant New Use Notice, and EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice under TSCA 5(a)(3), and has taken any risk management actions as are required as a result of that determination.