Blog Contributors
- Michele R. Blythe
- Paul M. Bohannon
- Johanna S. Coulter
- Paul W. Herring
- Lisa Montgomery Shelton
- David M. "Max" Williamson
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TIR: Regulated Navigation Areas: Boom Deployment Strategy Testing, Great Bay, NH (Federal Register Publication)
The Coast Guard is temporarily establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) in navigable waters near Great Bay, New Hampshire. This temporary regulation is in effect while the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) conducts boom deployments to test the effectiveness of oil spill response strategies, and is necessary to ensure the safety of exercise participants and the maritime public from hazards associated with the boom deployment exercise. While the RNA is in effect, all vessels must transit at bare steerageway and comply with directions from the Captain of the Port.
Document ID: USCG-2010-0666-0001
Document Type: RULES
Docket ID: USCG-2010-0666
Comments Due by September 15, 2010
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Establishment of Nonessential Experimental Population of Endangered Whooping Cranes in Southwestern Louisiana
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposes to reintroduce whooping cranes (Grus americana), a federally listed endangered species, into habitat in its historic range in southwestern Louisiana with the intent to establish a nonmigratory flock that lives and breeds in the wetlands, marshes and prairies there. They propose to classify the flock as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) according to section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. Releases will be within the historic breeding area in southwestern Louisiana near White Lake in Vermilion Parish. This proposed rule provides a plan for establishing the NEP and provides for allowable legal incidental take of whooping cranes within the defined NEP area. The objectives of the reintroduction are to advance recovery of the endangered whooping crane. No conflicts are envisioned between the reintroduction and any existing or anticipated Federal, State, Tribal, local government, or private actions such as oil/gas exploration and extraction, aquacultural practices, agricultural practices, pesticide application, water management, construction, recreation, trapping or hunting.
Document ID: FWS-R4-ES-2010-0057-0001
Document Type: PROPOSED RULES
Docket ID: FWS-R4-ES-2010-0057
Comments Due by October 18, 2010
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices
This draft report presents a series of case studies describing the approaches currently being taken by four water utilities to assess their vulnerability to future climate change. The report is intended to illustrate the types of analyses, models and climate change information being developed and used by selected utilities that are leaders in climate adaptation to understand and respond to climate risk.
The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop, which will be scheduled at a later date and announced in the Federal Register, are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document.
Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0701-0001
Document Type: NOTICES
Docket ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0701
Open comment date.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Underground Storage Tanks; Technical and Financial Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures
Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, requires that EPA develop standards for UST systems, as may be necessary, to protect human health and the environment, and procedures for approving state programs in lieu of the federal program. EPA promulgated technical and financial requirements for owners and operators of USTs at 40 CFR part 280, and state program approval procedures at 40 CFR part 281. This ICR is a comprehensive presentation of all information collection requirements contained at 40 CFR parts 280 and 281. The data collected for new and existing UST system operations and financial requirements are used by owners and operators and/or EPA or the implementing agency to monitor results of testing, inspections, and operation of UST systems, as well as to demonstrate compliance with regulations. EPA believes strongly that if the minimum requirements specified under the regulations are not met, neither the facilities nor EPA can ensure that UST systems are being managed in a manner protective of human health and the environment.
EPA uses state program applications to determine whether to approve a state program. Before granting approval, EPA must determine that programs will be no less stringent than the federal program and contain adequate enforcement mechanisms. The EPA would like to solicit comments to: (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Document ID: EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0625-0001
Document Type: NOTICES
Docket ID: EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0625
Comments Due by October 12, 2010
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
EPA is proposing to amend specific provisions in the GHG reporting rule to clarify certain provisions, to correct technical and editorial errors, and to address certain questions and issues that have arisen since promulgation. These proposed changes include providing additional information and clarity on existing requirements, allowing greater flexibility or simplified calculation methods for certain sources in a facility, amending data reporting requirements to provide additional clarity on when different types of GHG emissions need to be calculated and reported, clarifying terms and definitions in certain equations, and technical corrections.
Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0508-2344
Document Type: PROPOSED RULES
Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0508
Comments Due by September 27, 2010
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: NESHAP for Plywood and Composite Products
This regulation covers both new and existing plywood and composite wood products (PCWP) facilities. Plywood and/or composite products are manufactured by bonding wood material (fibers, particles, strands, veneers, etc.) or agricultural fiber with resin, generally under head and pressure, to form a structural panel or engineered wood product. Plywood and composite products include, but are not limited to, plywood, veneer, particleboard, oriented strand board, hardboard, fiberboard, medium density fiberboard, laminated strand lumber, laminated veneer lumber, wood I-joists, kiln-dried lumber and glue-laminated beams.
Owners/operators of plywood and composite products facilities are required to submit initial notification, performance tests, and compliance status reports. Also, respondents are required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. Semiannual reports are required. These notifications, reports and records are essential in determining compliance and, in general, are required of all sources subject to NESHAP.
Any owner or operator subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain a file of these measurements, and retain the file for at least five years following the date of such measurements, maintenance reports and records. Performance tests reports are required as this is the Agency's record of a source's initial capability to comply with the emission standard, and they serve as a record of the operating conditions under which compliance was achieved.
Document ID: EPA-HQ-OECA-2010-0340-0002
Document Type: NOTICES
Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OECA-2010-0340
Comments Due by September 7, 2010
Climate Change Outline: Effects Analysis
This eighth chapter of our Andrews Kurth Climate Change Outline explains EPA’s analysis of effects relating to food production, health, forestry and water resources.
Click here to view the Andrews Kurth Climate Change Outline - Part 8 (PDF).
Climate Change Outline: The Endangerment Finding
The seventh chapter of the Andrews Kurth Climate Change Outline focuses on EPA’s Endangerment Finding. This document is the regulatory determination justifying EPA regulation of GHGs. Mixing effects, water and sea level considerations are included.
Click here to view the Andrews Kurth Climate Change Outline - Part 7 (PDF).
Environmental E-Alerts
Prior to launching the EcoZone blog, Andrews Kurth issued many client e-alerts on environmental topics.
OPA & Offshore: Oil & Gas Pits and The Birds
When we find a really helpful website, we try to include it in this blog.