In Civil Settlements with the United States and California, Fiat Chrysler to Settle Allegations of Cheating on Federal and State Vehicle Emissions Tests The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of California announced a settlement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., FCA US, and affiliates (Fiat Chrysler) for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and California law. Fiat Chrysler has agreed to implement a recall program to repair more than 100,000 noncompliant diesel vehicles sold or leased in the United States, offer an extended warranty on repaired vehicles, and pay a civil penalty of $305 million to settle claims of cheating emission tests and failing to disclose unlawful defeat devices. Fiat Chrysler also will implement a program to mitigate excess pollution from these vehicles. The recall and federal mitigation programs are estimated to cost up to $185 million. In a separate settlement with California, Fiat Chrysler will pay an additional $19 million to mitigate excess emissions from more than 13,000 of the noncompliant vehicles in California. In addition, in a separate administrative agreement with the United States Customs and Border Protection, Fiat Chrysler will pay a $6 million civil penalty to resolve allegations of illegally importing 1,700 noncompliant vehicles. EPA and California settlement resolves claims of EPA and California relating to Fiat Chrysler's use of defeat devices to cheat emission tests. Defeat devices are design elements (in this case, software functions) installed in vehicles that reduce the effectiveness of the emission control system during normal on-road driving conditions. The affected vehicles are model year 2014 through 2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with "EcoDiesel" 3.0-liter engines. The settlement does not resolve any potential criminal liability. The settlement also does not resolve any consumer claims or claims by individual owners or lessees who may have asserted claims in the ongoing multidistrict litigation. In addition to its separate settlement addressing excess emissions for affected vehicles in California, the state of California has entered into another settlement with Fiat Chrysler resolving alleged violations of California consumer protection laws relating to the affected vehicles. For more information on the settlement, please visit https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/fiat-chrvsler-automobiles- clean-air-act-civil-settlement-information-sheet DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZfSjEPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: ELNORA THOMPSON AT: THOMPSON.ELNORAf2iEPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN, JOAN B. ROGERS AT: ROGERS.JOANBf5iEPA.GOV EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses Ground Water Protection at Uranium In Situ Recovery Facilities The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting views from interested stakeholders on whether the NRC should resume rulemaking to amend its regulations governing the domestic licensing of source material by codifying general requirements to address ground water protection at uranium in situ recovery (ISR) facilities. The NRC currently regulates ISR operations through application of regulations that primarily focus on conventional uranium mills and site-specific license conditions. The NRC initiated rulemaking in 2006 to develop requirements to provide regulatory consistency and improve the efficiency of the ISR licensing process but placed this rulemaking on hold in 2010. Information provided to the NRC during the public comment period will be factored into the decision as to whether the NRC will continue this rulemaking. Submit comments by March 4, 2019. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. The NRC will not prepare written responses to each individual comment but will consider each in determining the path forward for this rulemaking. For further information, contact: Andrew G. Carrera on (301)415-1078; email address: Andrew. carreranrc@epa. gov Well Porous rock/soil not saturated with groundwater Water Table Porous rook saturated with groundwater Impermeable rook EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- Question: What are VOCs and HAPs, and what do they have to do with permitting? Ted Tools Dear Ted: VOCs and HAPs are two types of emissions of gases emitted from chemicals such as paints, solvents or cleaners. These emissions can be harmful to both human health and the environment. VOC stands for volatile organic compound, meaning a carbon-based chemical that will react with sunlight to form harmful ground-level ozone or smog. Many solvents other than water are VOCs, although not all organic solvents are VOCs. HAPs are hazardous air pollutants, meaning they are known to cause serious health problems such as cancer or birth defects. HAPs are also known as air toxics. Since both types of emissions can be damaging to human health and the environment, businesses that emit VOCs and HAPs must account for their emissions and determine if they will need an air permit. Several different permits or rules may apply to various industries, but state SBEAPs specialize in helping businesses identify which rules or permits may apply. State SBEAPs can help with calculations and state-specific air permitting requirements. The National SBEAP "Rules and Tools" resource has several compliance assistance tools to help businesses understand and comply with rules. These include compliance calendars, emissions calculators and videos. You can find tools by industry or state, and connect with National Compliance Centers, trade associations and other resources for your industry. Because environmental regulations can vary from state to state, Ask SBEAP recommends you contact your state SBEAP who is there to provide environmental compliance technical assistance personalized to your small business. To find your state SBEAP, click on this map. As always, if you need additional assistance, you can email Ask SBEAP or call us at 800-578-8898. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses SUBJECT: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Clark County, Nevada http ://www. epa. uo v/dock ets/contacts. htm 1 Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 23, Monday, February 4, 2019/Notices AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior ACTION: Notices of Intent SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency in cooperation with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Moapa Band), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other agencies, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation and a transmission line located on Tribal lands, Federal lands administered and managed by BLM, and land owned by NV Energy in Clark County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify potential issues related to the EIS. It also announces that two public scoping meetings will be held in Nevada to identify potential issues, alternatives, and mitigation to be considered in the EIS For further information contact: Chip Lewis, (602) 379-6750, email at chip.lewis@bia.gov. EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Hydrochloric Acid Production Residual Risk and Technology Review http ://www. epa. no v/dock ets/contacts. h tin Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 23, Monday, February 4, 2019/Proposed Rules AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Proposed Rules SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Hydrochloric Acid (HC1) Production source category. The proposed action presents the results of the residual risk and technology reviews conducted as required under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The proposed amendments address the startup, shutdown, and malfunction provisions of the rule, add electronic reporting, and update the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Comments must be received on or before March 21, 2019. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the information collection provisions are best assured of consideration if the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) receives a copy of your comments on or before March 6, 2019. For further information contact: Nathan Topham, (919) 541-0483, email at topham.nathan@epa.gov. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- |