Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Lake Charles Science Center and Educational Complex Project Modification The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (Louisiana TIG) Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities (Final RP/EA #2). The Louisiana TIG is considering modifications to the original Lake Charles Science Center and Educational Complex (Lake Charles SCEC) project described in the Final RP/EA #2. The modifications being considered include collocating the Lake Charles SCEC with the Lake Charles Children's Museum (LCCM) as part of the shared Port Wonder facility on the north shore of Lake Charles. In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the federal and state natural resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana TIG prepared a Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Lake Charles SCEC Project Modification (Draft Supplemental RP/EA). The Draft Supplemental RP/EA evaluates modifications to the Lake Charles SCEC project and alternatives considered by the Louisiana TIG under criteria set forth in the OPA Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) regulations and evaluates their environmental effects in accordance with the NEPA. The modifications under consideration to the Lake Charles SCEC project are consistent with the restoration alternatives selected in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PDARP/PEIS). The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the Draft Supplemental RP/EA and to seek public comment on the document. For further information contact: Tim Landers, (202)566-2231, email at landers.timothy@epa.gov. DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ w EPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: ELNORA THOMPSON AT: THOMPSON.ELNORA(o}EPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN, JOAN B. ROGERS AT: ROGERS. JOANBfalEP A. GOV ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA Administrator Wheeler Recognizes Progress at Madison County Mines Superfund Site U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced significant progress at the Madison County Mines Superfund Site, which has been on the Administrator's emphasis list of Superfund sites targeted for immediate, intense action. After achieving critical milestones, EPA removed the Madison County Anschutz Mine Site in Fredericktown, Missouri, from the list. The site was one of three updates made to the list. There is a total of 15 Superfund sites on the revised list, with 13 sites removed to date. The Madison County Anschutz Mine was placed on the Administrator's Emphasis List to promote the timely implementation of a property-wide cleanup of historical, surficial mine waste contamination proposed by the new owners, which will also allow for the beneficial reuse of the property and potentially create significant economic benefit for the local community. The new property owners intend to reopen a former cobalt mine, which could employ hundreds of residents. EPA and the new owners signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent to conduct the work. Since the cleanup began at the Madison County Mines Site, EPA has completed the remediation of over 626,000 cubic yards of soil at more than 1,900 residential properties in and around Fredericktown, in addition to cleaning up approximately 87 acres of mine waste. EPA's response actions have resulted in a significant reduction of elevated blood lead in children tested throughout Madison County, where the percentage has dropped from around 27 percent in 1996 to less than 2 percent today. EPA established the Administrator's Emphasis List in December 2017, in response to recommendations from EPA's Superfund Task Force. Each site on the Administrator's Emphasis List has a short-term milestone to provide the basis for tracking progress at the site. EPA will consider removing a site from the list once the milestone is achieved. Removal from the Administrator's Emphasis List does not change the site's status on the National Priorities List. EPA remains dedicated to addressing risks at all Superfund sites, not just those on the Administrator's Emphasis List. The Superfund Task Force Recommendations are aimed at expediting cleanup at all Superfund sites. EPA continues to accelerate progress at Superfund sites across the country. For further information contact: Ben Washburn, (913)551-7364, email at washburn.ben@epa.gov EPA, OSDBLI, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses Small Business Environmental Assistance Program SBEAP | Q's & A's ^ ReQUtewm u -2-1 HSftJ*- BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Question: What is TSCA? What does it mean for small businesses? Chemicals Carol Dear Carol: TSCA stands for Toxic Substances Control Act and it allows the EPA to regulate chemical substances and mixtures with a few exceptions such as food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides. This act covers a lot, so there are probably sections that don't apply to you. However, it is important to know whether a chemical is restricted under TSCA before manufacturing or importing it because you are responsible for meeting those regulations. Small businesses should look at the TSCA inventory, which contains information about health, safety and environmental risks for about 85,000 chemicals and flags those with restrictions on their manufacture and use. The inventory is also a useful resource for comparing substances you might want to include in your process to see which one are safer and which one could increase your regulatory burden. It is always recommended that companies consider less-toxic alternatives for their industrial processes or even cleaning. The state resources reference below can be a source of technical assistance but the new EPA program, Safer Choice, may also be helpful. For instance, methylene chloride is highly toxic, and the EPA is currently working on rules to restrict its use. A business that uses methylene chloride as a stripping agent, such as a bath tub refinisher, might want to research safer alternatives on the Safer Choice Products list or Safer Choice Ingredients list. If you need help navigating the inventory, or if you have questions about any other part of TSCA, you can always ask SBEAP for help. 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: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Reasonably Available Control Technology in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Ozone Nonattainnient Area http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.htin Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 83, Tuesday, April 30, 2019/Rules and Regulations AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Texas State implementation Plan addressing volatile organic compounds (VOC) revised rules and the State's reasonably available control technology (RACT) analyses for VOC and nitrogen oxides (NOX). We are approving the revised VOC rules as assisting in reaching attainment of the 2008 ozone National Air Quality Ambient Air Quality Standards and as meeting the RACT requirements in the Flouston- Galveston-Brazoria 2008 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (HGB area). We are also approving negative declarations for certain VOC source categories subject to RACT in the FIGB area. The EPA is also finding that the State's RACT analyses demonstrate that the HGB area meets the VOC and NOX RACT requirements for this standard. This rule is effective on May 30, 2019. For further information contact: Robert M. Todd, (214)665-2156, email attodd.robert@epa.gov. EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Revisions and Small Manufacturer Definition Update for Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under TSCA Section 8(a) http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html Federal Register: Vol 84, No. 80, Thursday, April 25, 2019/Proposed Rules AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Proposed Rule SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a) Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) requirements and the TSCA section 8(a) size standards for small manufacturers. The current CDR rule requires manufacturers of certain chemical substances listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory to report data on chemical manufacturing, processing, and use every 4 years. EPA is proposing several changes to the CDR rule to make regulatory updates to align with new statutory requirements of TSCA, improve the CDR data collected as necessary to support the implementation of TSCA, and potentially reduce burden for certain CDR reporters. Proposed updates to the definition for small manufacturers, including a new definition for small governments, are being made in accordance with TSCA section 8(a) and impact certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements for TSCA section 8(a) rules, including CDR. The definitions may reduce burden on chemical manufacturers by increasing the number of manufacturers considered small. Overall, these regulatory modifications may better address EPA and public information needs by providing additional information that is currently not collected; improve the usability and reliability of the reported data; and ensure that data are available in a timely manner. For further information contact: Susan Sharkey, (202) 564-8789, email at sharkey.susan@epa.gov. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- |