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Renewable s Enhancement and Growth Support Rule (153 pages, in English)

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update both its renewable fuels and other fuels regulations to reflect changes in the marketplace and to promote the growing use of both ethanol fuels (conventional and advanced) and non- ethanol advanced and cellulosic biofuels. The EPA is proposing to make several changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program regulations that would align them with recent developments in the marketplace to increase production of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels. There are several companies that have developed renewable fuel production technologies that produce a " biointermediate '' at one facility that is then processed into renewable fuel at another facility, and we are proposing regulatory changes to allow fuels produced through such methods to qualify under existing approved renewable fuel production pathways. This action also proposes to update our fuel regulations by defining fuel blends containing 16 to 83 volume percent ethanol as ethanol flex fuel (EFF) and to no longer treat fuel blends containing 16 to 50 volume percent ethanol as gasoline. The EPA is proposing environmentally protective fuel quality specifications for EFF that are consistent with those already in place for gasoline. In this action we are also proposing new pathways for cellulosic biofuel produced from short-rotation tree s and for renewable diesel and biodiesel produced from non-cellulosic portions of separated food waste . We are also proposing to add new registration, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for facilities using carbon capture and storage if we were to approve the use of this technology in future assessments of proposed pathways for producing qualifying renewable fuel. We are also seeking comment on how best to implement and/or revise the RFS regulations pertaining to the generation of RINs for renewable electricity used as transportation fuel. Finally, we are proposing a number of other regulatory changes, clarifications, and technical corrections to the RFS program and other fuels regulations.

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Revisions and Amendments to Regulations for Continuous

Opacity Monitoring, Continuous Emissions Monitoring, and Quality Assurance Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitors (5 pages, in English)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. The revision pertains to changes and amendments to Maryland regulations for continuous opacity monitoring (COM or COMs) and continuous emissions monitoring (CEM or CEMs) and to an amendment adding requirements for Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) as they pertain to COMs. EPA is approving these revisions to the COMs and CEMs requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) .

Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (25 pages, in English)

EPA is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 57 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) .

Hazardous Materials: PIPES Act Requirements for Identification Numbers on Cargo Tanks Containing Petroleum Based Fuel (6 pages, in English)

PHMSA is publishing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in response to the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016, which reauthorizes the pipeline safety program and requires a number of reports and mandates. The PIPES Act requires PHMSA to take regulatory actions to establish minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities; to update the minimum safety standards for permanent, small scale liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities; and to publish an ANPRM to address a petition for rulemaking proposing hazardous materials regulations related to the marking of identification numbers on cargo tanks.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

Amends rule to postpone operative date of minimum energy efficiency standards for embedded small battery chargers.

Consumer Products and Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings (64 pages, in English)

Amends rules to reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in consumer products and architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings sold in Connecticut as an effort to reduce the quantity of VOCs released to the atmosphere.

Pesticide Use on Crops Grown for Seed (4 pages, in English)

Establishes provisions governing the use of pesticides on crops grown for seed.

Additions to List of Section 241.4 Categorical Non- Waste Fuels: Other Treated Railroad Ties (21 pages, in English)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to issue amendments to the Non- Hazardous Secondary Materials rule, initially promulgated on 21 March 2011, and amended on 7 February 2013 and 8 February 2016, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Non- Hazardous Secondary Materials rule generally established standards and procedures for identifying whether non- hazardous secondary materials are solid waste s when used as fuels or ingredients in combustion units. In the 7 February 2013 amendments, the EPA listed particular non- hazardous secondary materials as "categorical non- waste fuels" provided certain conditions are met. Persons burning these non- hazardous secondary materials do not need to evaluate them under the general self-implementing case-by-case standards and procedures that would otherwise apply to non- hazardous secondary materials used in combustion units. The 8 February 2016 amendments added three materials including creosote treated railroad ties to the list of categorical non- waste fuels.

Alkylpyrrolidones; Significant New Use Rule (7 pages, in English)

Under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), EPA is proposing a significant new use rule (SNUR) for two alkylpyrrolidones: N- ethylpyrrolidone (NEP) and N-isopropylpyrrolidone (NiPP) . The proposed significant new uses are any use of NiPP and any use of NEP except for the ongoing uses as a reactant, in silicone seal remover, coatings, consumer and commercial paint primer, and adhesives. Persons subject to the SNUR would be required to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing any manufacturing or processing of the chemical substance for a significant new use.

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; New Regulations for Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings (3 pages, in English)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision pertains to a provision establishing new volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits and standards for architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings available for sale and use in Maryland. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA) .