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Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers, as hazardous substances. CERCLA authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations designating as hazardous substances such elements, compounds, mixtures, solutions, and substances which, when released into the environment, may present substantial danger to the public health or welfare or the environment. Such a designation would ultimately facilitate cleanup of contaminated sites and reduce human exposure to these "forever" chemicals.

Low Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules: The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) / Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to amend its existing Low and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules by adopting, via incorporation by reference, California's Advanced Clean Cars II (which amends Advanced Clean Cars I, currently in effect), Advanced Clean Trucks, Low NOx Heavy-Duty Omnibus, and the Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Rule. The Low Emission Vehicle Rules set standards for emissions of criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and engines that are delivered for sale or placed in service in Vermont. (...)

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Water-Source Heat Pumps: The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes to amend its test procedures for water-source heat pumps, with the main changes being ones to expand the scope of applicability of the test procedure, reference different industry standards than currently referenced, change to a seasonal cooling efficiency metric, and change the test conditions used for the heating metric. (...)

Pipeline Safety: Periodic Standards Update II: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) incorporates more than 80 voluntary, consensus, industry technical standards by reference within the Federal pipeline safety regulations (PSRs). This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposes amendments that would incorporate by reference all or parts of updated editions of some of those standards. This NPRM also proposes non-substantive edits and clarifications to certain other provisions of the PSRs.

Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Clothes Dryers: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer clothes dryers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") 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 clothes dryers (...)

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the organic livestock and poultry production requirements by adding new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter and avian living conditions; and expanding and clarifying existing requirements covering livestock care and production practices and mammalian living conditions.

Except for exempt and excluded operations, each production or handling operation or specified portion of a production or handling operation that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" must be certified. Certified operations must meet all applicable requirements of the relevant regulations.

Addition of Diisononyl Phthalate Category; Community Right-to-Know Toxic Chemical Release Reporting: On 5 September 2000, in response to a petition filed under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), EPA issued a proposed rule to add a diisononyl phthalate (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under EPCRA and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). EPA proposed to add this chemical category to the EPCRA toxic chemical list based on its preliminary conclusion that this category met the EPCRA toxicity criterion. EPA has updated its hazard assessment for DINP and is proposing to add DINP as a category defined to include branched alkyl di-esters of 1,2 benzenedicarboxylic acid in which alkyl ester moieties contain a total of nine carbons. The updated hazard assessment demonstrates that the proposed DINP category meets the EPCRA toxicity criterion because the members of the category can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer and serious or irreversible chronic health effects in humans; specifically, developmental, kidney, and liver toxicity. EPA is proposing to add the DINP category to the toxic chemical list on this basis and is requesting comment on the updated DINP hazard assessment and associated updated economic analysis.

Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Substitutes Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Fire Suppression: Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, this action proposes to list certain substances as acceptable subject to use conditions in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector for chillers--comfort cooling, residential dehumidifiers, non-residential dehumidifiers, residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps, and a substance as acceptable subject to use conditions and narrowed used limits in very low temperature refrigeration. Through this action, EPA is proposing to incorporate by reference standards which establish requirements for electrical air conditioners, heat pumps, and dehumidifiers, laboratory equipment containing refrigerant, safe use of flammable refrigerants, and safe design, construction, installation, and operation of refrigeration systems. (...) Finally, EPA requests advance comment on potential approaches to SNAP listing decisions for very short-lived substances that have ozone depletion potentials similar to those of ozone-depleting substances scheduled to be phased out.

Appliance Energy Standards: Implements provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 383, Signed by Governor Steve Sisolak during the 2021 session of the Nevada Legislature, requires the Director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Energy (GOE) to adopt standards of efficiency for certain appliances, which will prohibit the sale, lease, rental or installation of certain new appliances that are not in compliance with energy efficiency standards. (...)

Low and Zero Emissions Vehicles: Revises provisions relating to low and zero emissions vehicles. Starting with model year 2025, vehicle manufacturers are required to comply with California's low and zero emission vehicle standards.