EPA finalized amendments to the procedural framework rule for conducting risk evaluations under TSCA to better align with the statutory text and applicable court decisions, to reflect the Agency's experience implementing the risk evaluation program following enactment of the 2016 TSCA amendments, and to allow for consideration of future scientific advances in the risk evaluation process without need to further amend the Agency's procedural rule.

EPA made an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board has submitted a revised rule and has also submitted revised rules on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, and South Coast Air Quality Management District that correct deficiencies in its CAA SIP provisions concerning ozone nonattainment requirements for controlling volatile organic compounds at crude oil and natural gas facilities. 

SIP Proposal: California (revisions concerning emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude oil and natural gas facilities). 

EPA proposed revisions to the preconstruction permitting regulations that apply to modifications at existing major stationary sources in the new source review program under the CAA. 

United States v. French Limited, Inc., No. 4:89-cv-2544 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 26, 2024). A fourth modification to a 1990 consent decree under CERCLA concerning contamination at the French Limited Superfund Site near Crosby, Texas, revises work requirements, provides for the reimbursement to EPA of certain response costs, and provides for the disbursement to members of the working group of funds received by EPA in a bankruptcy settlement payment for the site.

United States v. Sunoco Pipeline, L.P., No. 1:24-cv-00238-SJD (S.D. Ohio Apr. 29, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant must pay a civil penalty of $550,000 in addition to $1,250,000 to compensate for harm to natural resources in connection with crude oil escaping from a ruptured pipeline, contaminating waters of the United States, and causing damage to natural resources.

EPA entered into a proposed settlement agreement under the CAA in Nevada Cement Co., LLC v. EPA, Nos. 23-682 and 23-1098 (9th Cir.), that would establish a process and deadlines by which plaintiff would apply to EPA for a case-by-case emissions limit request for its Fernley, Nevada, facility, in exchange for agreeing to lift a judicial stay. 

EPA granted a treatment variance, requested by DOE, from the Land Disposal Restrictions treatment standards for approximately 2,000 gallons of mixed hazardous low-activity radioactive waste from DOE’s Test Bed Initiative for the Hanford Site in Washington State. 

SIP Approval: New Hampshire (revisions to establish nitrogen oxide reasonably available control technology requirements for coal-fired cyclone boilers). 

SIP Proposal: California (revisions to San Diego County Air Pollution Control portion of plan to expand existing provision that exempts tub grinders and trommel screens that process green material from permit requirements to include horizontal grinders and processing of mixtures of green material and food material).