EPA withdrew from Agency regulation and management two designated ocean dredged material disposal sites, the Nome East and Nome West Sites, located near Nome, Alaska, pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

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. 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.

United States v. Dow Silicones Corp., No. 19-11880 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 24, 2024). A proposed consent decree modification extends a deadline for a settling CWA defendant’s implementation of a stormwater capacity and pollutant evaluation from January 24, 2023, to January 24, 2026, and also includes requirements to mitigate any environmental harm associated with the extension of the deadline.

EPA revised the water quality standards (WQS) regulation under the CWA to add requirements for states establishing WQS in waters where tribes hold and assert rights to CWA-protected aquatic and aquatic-dependent resources reserved through treaties, statutes, or executive orders.

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. 

CEQ finalized its “Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule” to revise its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA. 

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