PFAS

Silicone Pressure Sensitive Adhesives; Acrylic Pressure Sensitive Adhesives; Rubber Pressure Sensitive Adhesives; Benzoyl Peroxide Crosslinking Agents; Reaction Initiator—Platinum; Silane-Based Coating Primers; Zirconate/Titanate-Based Coating Primers; PTFE Aqueous Dispersion; <span class="match">PFA</span> (Perfluoroether Polymer) Dispersion; FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) Dispersion; Fused Silica; Colloidal Silica; Silicon Carbide Powder; Carbon Black Powders; Mica Pigments; Iron-Oxide P...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in the Department of Health and Human Services, requests public input on priority topics related to firefighter safety and health. Through its Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Well-Being, NIOSH conducts research and provides services to identify and help prevent new and emerging hazards in the fire service earlier and faster. As the threat from structural, wildland urba...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA" or the "Agency") is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for perchlorate and a health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In this action, the EPA is proposing to set the perchlorate MCLG at 0.02 mg/L (20 [micro]g/L). The EPA is also proposing and taking comment on setting an enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for perchlorate at 0.02 mg/ L (20 [micro]g/L), 0.04 mg/L...

On September 26, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) solicited public comments on VA's plan to assess the current scientific literature and historical claims data regarding exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and kidney cancer. The notice provided an opportunity for veterans, caregivers, survivors, and the public to share relevant information with VA to inform decisions regarding presumptive benefits that could impact veterans who may have experienced environmental a...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from solvent cleaning activities and architectural coatings and emissions of particulate matter (PM) from incinerators, burn-off ovens, and crematories. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean...

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective state infrastructure financing authority borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program. EPA's SWIFIA program is managed by the WIFIA division and operates under the authority of the WIFIA statute. EPA estimates that it may len...

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. EPA estimates that it may lend approximately $6.5 billion to help finance $13 billion in water infrastructure investment....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulation for reporting and recordkeeping requirements for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As promulgated in October 2023, the regulation requires manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year between 2011-2022 to report certain data to EPA related to exposure and environmental and health effects. EPA is proposing to incorporate certain exem...

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action proposes to list several substitutes as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps, chillers, household refrigerators and freezers, motor vehicle air conditioning, and fire suppression and explosion protection. This action also proposes to update use conditions for substitutes previously listed for certain air conditionin...

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing changes to regulations promulgated under the Technology Transitions section of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, which authorizes the Administrator to restrict the use of particular hydrofluorocarbons in the sectors and subsectors in which they are used. This proposal addresses administrative petitions and other requests from companies and trade associations across a number of subsectors, including refrigerated transport--inte...

This agenda announces the proposed regulatory actions that GSA plans for the next 12 months and those that were completed since the fall 2024 edition. This agenda was developed under the guidelines of Executive Orders 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," Executive Order 14219, "Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's `Department of Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative," and Executive Order 14192...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing, pursuant to the statutory framework established in the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), the eligibility of six applications to continue to receive priority access to allowances to produce or import hydrofluorocarbons. In this final rule, EPA establishes the framework for how EPA interprets the statutory criteria for assessing whether to renew the eligibility of applications to receive application-specific a...

This final rule revises the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals; makes changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; updates the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); updates and makes changes to requirements for certain quality prog...

OFPP, DoD, GSA, and NASA, collectively referred to as the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council), are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to ensure agencies procure straws with the strength and durability of plastic in accordance with the National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws....

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2026 based on our continuing experience with these systems. We also describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment systems. This proposed rule would also update and refine the requirements for the Hospi...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is announcing a meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC or Council) as authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The purpose of the meeting is for EPA to consult with the NDWAC as required by the SDWA on proposed revisions to the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. Additional details will be provided in the meeting agenda, which will be posted on EPA's NDWAC w...

In the Federal Register of June 20, 2023, EPA proposed significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 18 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and a subsequent TSCA Order. EPA is withdrawing the proposed rules because the Agency withdrew the TSCA Order that was the basis of the rules on December 18, 2024....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is amending the data submission period for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PFAS reporting rule by changing the start date for submissions and making corresponding changes to the end dates for the submission period, i.e., the data submission period begins on April 13, 2026, and ends on October 13, 2026, with an alternate end date for small manufacturers reporting exclusively as article importers of April 13, 2027. As promulgated in Octob...

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital- related costs of acute care hospitals; make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); update and make changes to requirements for certain quality...

This document announces the Agency's receipt of new chemical submissions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including information about the receipt of a Premanufacture notice (PMN), Significant New Use Notice (SNUN), Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN), an amendment to a previously submitted notice; receipt of test information; a biotechnology exemption application; an application for a test marketing exemption (TME); and a notice of commencement of manufacture (including imp...

This reopens the comment period for 30 days for two proposed rules published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025, and January 21, 2025. This document reopens the comment period for two proposed rules with comments periods that closed February 18, 2025, and February 20, 2025. Additional details about these actions can be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document....

This document extends the comment period for two notices published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, and January 15, 2025.

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2025, from President Donald J. Trump, entitled "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review," this action temporarily delays until March 21, 2025, the effective date of the regulations listed in the table below. EPA has identified two additional regulations that meet the criteria in the memo and may identify additional regulations in subsequent notices....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to promulgate new methods and update the tables of approved methods for the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act requires the EPA to promulgate test procedures for the analysis of pollutants. Promulgating new methods and updating the tables of approved methods increases the quality and consistency of data collected for the purposes of the Clean Water Act. In this rule, the EPA proposes to add new EPA methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl...

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers ("commercial refrigeration equipment" or "CRE"). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to periodically review its existing standards to determine whether more-stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economicall...

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) adds certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) automatically to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) beginning January 1 of the year following specific triggering events. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to make conforming edits to the TRI regulation to explicitly include PFAS that are added to the TRI chemical list automatically pursuant to the NDAA in the regulation's definition of "toxic ...

This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make two additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samp...

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, requires that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine whether to regulate at least five unregulated contaminants every five years. The decision to regulate or not to regulate a contaminant is known as a regulatory determination. In most cases, the contaminants chosen for regulatory determination are selected from the most recent Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), which the SDWA requires the EPA to publish every five years. T...

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) commitment to safeguarding the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the agency is announcing the availability of the "Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)" for a 60-day public comment period. This draft risk assessment reflects the agency's latest scientific understanding of the potential risks to human health and the environment posed by the ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a correction to a notice that appeared in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024. The notice of availability contained an incorrect value in Table 1, which is corrected below.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, this action updates the regulations to identify nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is being...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing its determination that the Food Contact Notifications (FCNs) listed in this notice are no longer effective. Several manufacturers notified FDA in writing that they ceased producing, supplying, or using the listed food contact substances (FCSs) for their intended use in the United States. We are taking this action in accordance with the process set out in our regulations, by which FDA may determine that an FCN is no longer effective....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of draft Clean Water Act (CWA) national recommended ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) for the protection of human health for three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS)--for a 60-day public comment period. The EPA has developed these draft PFAS national recommended human health criteria (HHC) to reflect t...

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including walk-in coolers and freezers ("walk-ins" or "WICFs"). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to periodically review its existing standards to determine whether more-stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savin...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is amending the new chemicals procedural regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These amendments align the regulatory text with the amendments to TSCA's new chemicals review provisions contained in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, enacted on June 22, 2016, will improve the efficiency of EPA's review processes, and update the regulations based on existing policies and experience implementi...

The impacts of flooding affect the environment, economic prosperity, and public health and safety across the Nation. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) seeks to improve the resilience of communities and Federal assets against the impacts of flooding from extreme events and climate change. DOT has developed these FFRMS Interim Guidelines to advance the goals of the FFRMS and to outline the steps DOT is taking to implement the FFRMS across the Department....

All 10 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions are proposing for public comment the 2026 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, also referred to as the "2026 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)" or the "proposed permit." The proposed permit once finalized will replace the EPA's existing MSGP that expires on February 28, 2026. The EPA proposes to issue this permit for five (5) years. Once finalized...

EPA is issuing this supplemental proposal to update the significant new use rules (SNURs) previously proposed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for seventeen chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs would require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these seventeen chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a s...

This final rule with comment period revises the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2025 based on our continuing experience with these systems. We describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. Also, this final rule updates the requirements for the Hospital Outpatie...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is requesting information to help fill data gaps that remain regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood. The purpose of this request is to help increase our understanding of the potential for PFAS exposure from seafood. We intend to use the information submitted in response to this request to help inform future activities to reduce dietary exposure to PFAS that may pose a health concern....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the notice that published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2024, seeking public comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other plastic containers to inform regulations as appropriate under the Toxic Sub...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a correction to a notice that appeared in the Federal Register on October 7, 2024. The notice of availability contained an incorrect table column heading in Table 2 which is corrected below.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise the EPA's regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This action proposes to add (Z)-1- chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (also known as HCFO-1224yd(Z); CAS number 111512-60-8) to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone (O<INF>3</INF>) formation....

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): "Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 Test Orders for the Standardized Testing of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)," identified by EPA ICR No. 2797.01 and OMB Control No. 2070-NEW. This ICR represents a new request. Before su...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled ATSDR Exposure Investigations (EIs). ATSDR EIs are deigned to fill data gaps...

National Firefighter Registry for Cancer—our Nation's largest effort to reduce the risk of cancer among firefighters—providing access to job-related disability benefits for firefighters diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer or lung disease, and protecting firefighters from toxic <span class="match">PFAS</span> chemicals in their gear and equipment. My Administration is working to make our communities safer and more resilient while keeping our first responders safe. I signed the most significa...

In December 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested comment on the proposed the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which informed the revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for lead and copper. After consideration of public comment on the LCRI, and consistent with the provisions set forth under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA is finalizing revisions to the NPDWR for lead and copper. In this rule, the agency is finalizing requ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). Qualified nominees for the LGAC hold elected positions with local, tribal, state, or territorial governments, or serve in a full- time government position appointed by an elected official. EPA is seeking up to 12 individuals to serve one- or two-year terms beginning in January 2025. For more information...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing regulations to implement certain provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. This rulemaking establishes an emissions reduction and reclamation program for the management of hydrofluorocarbons that includes requirements for leak repair and installation and use of automatic leak detection systems for certain equipment using refrigerants containing hydrofluorocarbons and certain substitutes; the servicing and/or repair of...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Influent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study and National Sewage Sludge Survey (NSSS) (EPA ICR Number 2799.01, OMB Control Number 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested v...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating a regulation under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that establishes Federal standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily non- Armed Forces and non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length and above into the waters of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone. The Federal standards of performance were developed in coordination with the U.S. ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 16 individually listed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA). EPA also addresses how PFAS categories should be treated. Separately, EPA d...

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) commitment to safeguard the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the agency is announcing the availability of national "Final Recommended Freshwater Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria and Acute Saltwater Aquatic Life Benchmarks for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)" and "Final Recommended Freshwater Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria and Acute Saltwater Aquatic Life Benchmarks for Perfluorooctane Sulfona...

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that aluminum extrusions from Italy are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023.

The CHIPS Research and Development Office (CHIPS R&D) intends to announce an open competition for industry-informed, university-based collaborations demonstrating artificial intelligence-powered autonomous experimentation (AI/AE) into sustainable materials and processes relevant to semiconductor manufacturing. CHIPS R&D expects a total Federal commitment of up to approximately $100 million over a period not to exceed five years as needed to support at least two large, team- oriented awards....

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations to implement provisions of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act or Act). The statute amended procedures applicable to claims based on toxic exposure and modified or established presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure. Pursuant to the Act, VA is proposing to remove the manifestation period requirement and the ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is seeking public comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other plastic containers to inform regulations as appropriate under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This request for public comment follows the Agency's grant on July 1...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Textile Mills Industry Data Collection (EPA ICR Number 2798.01, OMB Control Number 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 28, 2023 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows fo...

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces that it plans to conduct an assessment of the scientific literature and historical claims data to determine whether an association between military environmental exposures and certain medical conditions exists. This scientific assessment will consider the possibility of a relationship between exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and kidney cancer. The population of study will include U.S. service members who may have experienced...

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) announces availability of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Biennial Progress Report: 2022-2023.

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective state infrastructure financing authority borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program. EPA estimates that it may lend approximately $1 billion to help finance approximately $2 billion in water infrastructure investment....

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. EPA estimates that it may lend approximately $6.5 billion to help finance approximately $13 billion in water infrastructure investment....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is taking direct final action to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulation with reporting and recordkeeping requirements for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As promulgated in October 2023, the regulation requires manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year between 2011-2022 to report certain data to EPA related to exposure and environmental and health effects. EPA is making a one-time modificatio...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulation with reporting and recordkeeping requirements for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that was finalized on October 11, 2023. The final rule requires manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year between 2011-2022 to report certain information to EPA beginning November 12, 2024. EPA is proposing a one-time modification of the data submission peri...

This final rule revises the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals; makes changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; updates the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); and makes other policy- related changes....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at https://www.reginfo.gov to periodically update the public. This document contains information about: <bullet> Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or canceled since the last agenda; and <bullet> Reviews of regulations with small business impacts under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)....

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) is proposing to declare that any aerosol duster products that contain more than 18 mg in any combination of HFC-152a and/or HFC-134a are banned hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). For the ten-year period from 2012 to 2021, CPSC is aware of more than 1,000 deaths, and estimates 21,700 treated injuries involving the inhalation of aerosol duster products. The proposed rule addresses deaths and injur...

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the agency) to conduct a review every six years of existing national primary drinking water regulations (NPDWRs) and determine which, if any, are appropriate for revision. The purpose of the review, called the Six-Year Review, is to evaluate available information for regulated contaminants to determine if any new information on health effects, treatment technologies, analytical methods, occurrence, expos...

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2025 based on our continuing experience with these systems. In this proposed rule, we describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. Also, this proposed rule would update and refine the requirem...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to revoke the tolerance exemption for residues of polytetrafluoroethylene (CAS No. 9002-84-0) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations. EPA is proposing to revoke this tolerance exemption because polytetrafluoroethylene, which has been identified as a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), is no longer used in any registered pesticide product....

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action lists several substitutes as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for retail food refrigeration, commercial ice machines, industrial process refrigeration, cold storage warehouses, and ice skating rinks. Through this action, EPA is incorporating by reference standards which establish requirements for commercial refrigerating appliances and commercial ice machines, safe use of flammab...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting formatting and entry designations in a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2024. The rule finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act for five individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide d...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Rule in accordance with America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018 (United States, 2018) and is requiring States, territories, and Tribes with primary enforcement responsibility to report compliance monitoring data (CMD) to the EPA. The revisions will improve the readability, clarity, and understandability of CCRs as well as the accuracy of the information presented, improve risk communication ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, this action updates the regulations to identify seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is bein...

This action finalizes amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that apply to the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) and amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) that apply to the SOCMI (more commonly referred to as the Hazardous Organic NESHAP or HON) and Group I and II Polymers and Resins (P&R I and P&R II, respectively) Industries. The EPA is finalizing decisions resulting from the Agency's technology review of ...

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This notice solicits applications for FSP Program funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, and Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The opportunity described in this notice is made available ...

moment of their diagnosis. The Department of Labor has established a new unit to more quickly process claims for Federal firefighters with cancer. We are cracking down on exposure to toxic <span class="match">PFAS</span>—the so-called “forever chemicals” that are used to make firefighting gear, equipment, and suppression agents. We have increased funding for research into the specific <span class="match">PFAS</span> risks that firefighters face, looking for new ways to address them. When a f...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is finalizing a Clean Water Act regulation to revise the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the steam electric power generating point source category applicable to flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater, bottom ash (BA) transport water and legacy wastewater at existing sources, and combustion residual leachate (CRL) at new and existing sources. Last updated in 2015 and 2020, this regulation is estim...

Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is designating two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)--perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers--as hazardous substances. The Agency reached this decision after evaluating the available scientific and technical information about PFOA and PFOS and determining tha...

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that aluminum extrusions from Italy are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination....

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital- related costs of acute care hospitals; make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); and make other policy-related changes....

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is revising its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures (regulations) to add a categorical exclusion for certain energy storage systems and revise categorical exclusions for upgrading and rebuilding powerlines and for solar photovoltaic systems, as well as to make conforming changes to related sections of DOE's NEPA regulations. These changes will help ensure that DOE conducts an appropriate and efficient environmenta...

In March 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed and requested comment on the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) and health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), and perfluorobutane...

This final rule revises HUD's regulations governing floodplain management and the protection of wetlands to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) in accordance with the Executive Order titled "Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input." These revisions to HUD's regulations will improve the resilience of HUD-assisted or financed projects to the effects of climate change and natural disasters ...

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020 NDAA) was signed into law on December 19, 2019. Section 7361 of the FY 2020 NDAA directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and materials containing PFAS and to update the guidance at least every three years, as appropriate. The EPA is releasing an update to the December 20, 2020, interim guidance for ...

As part of its on-going commitment to advancing sustainable acquisition, the General Services Administration (GSA) is exploring opportunities to reduce or eliminate potential per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals with the intent to reduce exposure from products offered to the Government through GSA's contract solutions. GSA is publishing this notice to request comments to help us understand potential areas for focus, and to identify potential unintended negative impacts. At this ti...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is issuing this final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address to the extent necessary the unreasonable risk of injury to health presented by chrysotile asbestos based on the risks posed by certain conditions of use. The injuries to human health include mesothelioma and lung, ovarian, and laryngeal cancers resulting from chronic inhalation exposure to chrysotile asbestos....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request, "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency POTW Influent PFAS Study Data Collection" (EPA ICR No. 2799.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a request...

DoD is adopting as final, with changes, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 that prohibits DoD procurement of fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam containing in excess of one part per billion of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances after October 1, 2023, unless an exemption applies....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) proposes to revise regulations that allow for the open burning and detonation (OB/OD) of waste explosives. This allowance or "variance" to the prohibition on the open burning of hazardous waste was established at a time when there were no alternatives for the safe treatment of waste explosives. However, recent findings from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the EPA have identified safe alternatives whic...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorononanoic Acid [PFNA, CASRN 375-95-1] and Related Salts. The draft document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of a contract-led peer review. Public comments rece...

Based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) reconsideration of the air quality criteria and the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the EPA is revising the primary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard by lowering the level from 12.0 [micro]g/m\3\ to 9.0 [micro]g/m\3\. The Agency is retaining the current primary 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard and the primary 24-hour PM<INF>10</INF> standard. The Agency also is not changing the secondary 24-hour PM...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to remove polytetrafluoroethylene (CAS No. 9002-84-0) from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in food use and nonfood use pesticide products because this inert ingredient has been identified as a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that is no longer used in any registered pesticide product....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments to the 2018 final rule that established fees for the administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Specifically, EPA is finalizing changes to the fee amounts and EPA's total costs for administering TSCA; exemptions for entities subject to the EPA-initiated risk evaluation fees; exemptions for test rule fee activities; modifications to the self-identification and reporting requirements of EPA-initiated risk evaluation...

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi- autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is issuing this Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for Continued Operation of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California (Final LLNL SWEIS) (DOE/EIS-0547). NNSA prepared the Final LLNL SWEIS to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with reasonable alternatives for continuing LLNL opera...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at https://www.reginfo.gov to periodically update the public. This document contains information about: <bullet> Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or canceled since the last agenda; and <bullet> Reviews of regulations with small business impacts under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act....

Publication of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order ("E.O.") 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," (58 FR 51735, as amended) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," (76 FR 3821) and E.O. 14094, "Modernizing Regulatory Review," (88 FR 21879). The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory ag...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to amend its regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) by adding nine specific per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their salts, and their structural isomers, to its list of hazardous constituents. These nine PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX), perfluorononanoic aci...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting public input on drinking water analytical methods for emerging contaminants in drinking water, particularly those listed on the agency's Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), that might support monitoring under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. This notice describes published drinking water analytical methods and EPA drinking water methods currently in development for the CCL and other emerging contaminants, with an expe...

This proposed rule would amend the definition of hazardous waste applicable to corrective action to address releases from solid waste management units at RCRA-permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities and make related conforming amendments, thereby providing clear regulatory authority to fully implement the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) statutory requirement that permitted facilities conduct corrective action to address releases not only of substances listed or identi...

OSHA is proposing through this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to issue a new safety and health standard, titled Emergency Response, to replace the existing Fire Brigades Standard. The new standard would address a broader scope of emergency responders and would include programmatic elements to protect emergency responders from a variety of occupational hazards. The agency requests comments on all aspects of the proposed rule....

Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended, the Administrator of FEMA is publishing this notice describing the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which ...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is finalizing a significant new use rule (SNUR) for 329 per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are designated as inactive on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory. PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties, such as water and stain resistance. Many PFAS break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. E...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving in part and disapproving in part the State implementation plan (SIP) submissions, submitted by the State of Alaska (Alaska or the State) to address Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) requirements for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Fairbanks North Star Borough PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area (Fairbanks PM<INF>2.5</INF> Nonattainment Area). Alaska made these submissi...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Textile Mills Industry Data Collection" (EPA ICR No. 2798.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a reques...

To support further development of multiple funding programs for water infrastructure subject to the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites public comment to inform the domestic availability of multiple products used in the construction, alteration, and/or maintenance of water infrastructure. The EPA is inviting comments to enable the agency to have the most comprehensive and current information available on the domestic market for BA...

FMCSA amends the regulations pertaining to financial responsibility requirements for brokers of property and freight forwarders in five separate areas: assets "readily available"; immediate suspension of broker/freight forwarder operating authority; surety or trust responsibilities in cases of broker/freight forwarder financial failure or insolvency; enforcement authority; and entities eligible to provide trust funds for brokers and freight forwarders, which are filed using Form BMC-85, Broker's...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will meet on the date and time described below. The meeting is open to the public. For additional information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see "REGISTRATION" under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Pre-Registration is required....

This final rule sets forth routine updates to the Medicare home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2024 in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. This rule-- discusses comments received regarding access to home health aide services; implements home health payment-related changes; rebases and revises the home health market basket and revises the labor-related share; codifies statutory requirements for disposable negative pressure wound therapy (dNPWT); and implem...

provide access to job-related disability benefits to firefighters diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer or lung disease as well as legislation funding research on mitigating the risks firefighters face from toxic <span class="match">PFAS</span>—so-called “forever chemicals”—while ensuring the Department of Defense will no longer purchase gear that contains <span class="match">PFAS</span> as soon as an alternative is available. Today and every day, we thank our first responders for their im...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) to the list of Lower Thresholds for Chemicals of Special Concern (chemicals of special concern). These PFAS already have a lower reporting activity threshold of 100 pounds. The addition of these PF...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by trichloroethylene (TCE) under its conditions of use as documented in EPA's November 2020 Risk Evaluation for TCE and January 2023 revised risk determination for TCE pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TCE is widely used as a solvent in a variety of industrial, commercial and consumer applications including for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production, vapor an...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing regulations to implement certain provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, as enacted on December 27, 2020. This rulemaking restricts the use of hydrofluorocarbons in specific sectors or subsectors in which they are used; establishes a process for submitting technology transitions petitions; establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements; and addresses certain other elements related to the effective implementation of th...

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) will take place.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). In accordance with obligations under TSCA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, EPA is requiring persons that manufacture (including import) or have manufactured these chemical substances in any year since January 1, 2011, to submit information to EPA regarding PFAS uses...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to amend its regulations to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) and update the agency's 8-step decision-making process floodplain reviews. FEMA also proposes a supplementary policy that would further clarify how FEMA would apply the FFRMS. The proposed rule would change how FEMA defines a floodplain with respect to certain actions, and FEMA would use natural systems, ecosystem process, and nature-based approaches, w...

DoD is issuing an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective state infrastructure financing authority borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program. EPA estimates that it may lend approximately $1 billion to help finance approximately $2 billion in water infrastructure investment....

The purpose of this notice of funding availability (NOFA) is to solicit letters of interest (LOIs) from prospective borrowers seeking credit assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. EPA estimates that it may lend approximately $6.5 billion to help finance approximately $13 billion in water infrastructure investment....

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) is publishing this notice to request information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in commerce or potentially used in consumer products, potential exposures associated with the use of PFAS in consumer products, and potential human health effects associated with exposures to PFAS from their use in consumer products. This notice also includes the availability information of a related contractor report....

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SEC") is adopting new rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers Act" or "Act"). The rules are designed to protect investors who directly or indirectly invest in private funds by increasing visibility into certain practices involving compensation schemes, sales practices, and conflicts of interest through disclosure; establishing requirements to address such practices that have the potential to lead to investor harm; and re...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), EPA herby provides notice of a meeting for the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and its Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) on the date and time described below. This meeting will be open to the public. For information on public attendance and participation, please see registration details under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). Qualified nominees for the LGAC hold elected positions with local, Tribal, State, or Territorial governments, or serve in a full- time government position appointed by an elected official. EPA is seeking up to 5 individuals to serve one-year terms beginning in January 2024. For more information on the L...

This final rule will: revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals; make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); and make other policy- related changes. This final rule also re...

This action proposes changes to the EPA's Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR). The proposed amendments may require changes to current regulations of State, local, and certain tribal air agencies; would require these agencies to report emissions data to the EPA using different approaches from current requirements; and would require owners/operators of some facilities to report additional emissions data. More specifically, the EPA is proposing to require certain sources report information ...

This final rule updates payment rates, including implementing the second phase of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) parity adjustment recalibration. This final rule also updates the diagnosis code mappings used under PDPM, the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. We are also eliminating the requirement for facilities to actively waive their right to a hearing in writing, treating as a constructive waiver when the facility does not submit a ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a document in the Federal Register of July 24, 2023, concerning request for comments on the release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) and Related Salts. The document contained the incorrect chemical name six times, including the document heading....

This final rule updates the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024. As required by statute, this final rule includes the classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups and a description of the methodologies and data used in computing the prospective payment rates for FY 2024. It also rebases and revises the IRF market basket to reflect a 2021 base year. It also confirms when IRF uni...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an opportunity for public input on the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) programs' potential expansion of their certification to new product categories. Safer Choice helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. DfE is a similar program currently used by EPA for the purpose of helping consumers and commercial buyers identify...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at https://www.reginfo.gov to periodically update the public. This document contains information about: <bullet> Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or canceled since the last agenda; and <bullet> Reviews of regulations with small business impacts under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) and Related Salts. The draft assessment was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of a contractor-led peer review. Public comments received wil...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC or Council) as authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The purpose of the meeting is for EPA to update the Council on Safe Drinking Water Act programs and to consult with the NDWAC as required by the SDWA on a final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (P...

This proposed rule would set forth routine updates to the Medicare home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2024 in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. This rule would--provide information on home health utilization trends and solicits comments regarding access to home health aide services; implement home health payment-related changes; rebase and revise the home health market basket and revise the labor-related share; codify statutory requirements for disposa...

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission ("Commission") has determined to review in part a final initial determination ("ID") of the presiding administrative law judge ("ALJ"), finding a violation of section 337. The Commission requests written submissions from the parties on the issues under review and submissions from the parties, interested government agencies, and other interested persons on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and bonding, under the schedule...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, this action updates the regulations to identify nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is being...

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commenc...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the ANPRM, "Addressing PFAS in the Environment." The EPA published the ANPRM in the Federal Register on April 13, 2023, and the public comment period was scheduled to end on June 12, 2023. However, the EPA has received several requests for additional time to develop and submit comments on the ANPRM. In response to the request for additional time, the EPA is extending the comment period for an additional 60 days, throug...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing new and amended requirements concerning the assertion and treatment of confidential business information (CBI) claims for information reported to or otherwise obtained by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Amendments to TSCA in 2016 included many new provisions concerning the assertion, Agency review, and treatment of confidentiality claims. This document finalizes procedures for submitting such claims in TSCA submissions. I...

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the new chemicals procedural regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These amendments are intended to align the regulatory text with the amendments to TSCA's new chemicals review provisions contained in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, enacted on June 22, 2016, improve the efficiency of EPA's review processes, and update the regulations based on existing policies...

also be evaluated as continuous variables. At sites with prior <span class="match">PFAS</span> biomonitoring data, the study will evaluate changes in <span class="match">PFAS</span> concentration over time. Each recipient is reconstructing historic serum <span class="match">PFAS</span> concentrations. This is being done by estimating half-lives and elimination rates as well as by water contamination modeling to inform pharmacokinetic (PK) or physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models...

This final rule establishes a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality: The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). This rule is part of a broad revision of the way HUD-assisted housing is inspected and evaluated. The purpose of NSPIRE is to strengthen HUD's physical condition standards and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs. This final rule...

warehouse, delivery, and other workers. We have invested more than $100 million in training farm workers to avoid injuries. And we have fought for first responders by cracking down on toxic <span class="match">PFAS</span>—the so-called “forever chemicals” that have been used for years to produce firefighting equipment and fire suppression agents, making firefighters sick—and funding research into <span class="match">PFAS</span> alternatives. I also signed bills qualifying more than 10,000 Federa...

This proposed rule would: revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital- related costs of acute care hospitals; make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); and make other policy-related changes....

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action lists certain substances as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector for chillers--comfort cooling, residential dehumidifiers, residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps, and a substance as acceptable, subject to use conditions and narrowed use limits, in very low temperature refrigeration. Through this action, EPA is...

spaces across the country so communities smothered by the legacy of pollution can rebuild. We are working to replace every lead pipe left in America so children everywhere can turn on the faucet and drink clean water, and we are partnering with communities to get dangerous “<span class="match">PFAS</span>” chemicals out of their water supplies. To complement and enable these efforts, today I signed an Executive Order committing the Federal Government to incorporating environmental justice perspe...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Chrome Finishing Industry Data Collection (EPA ICR Number 2723.01, OMB Control Number 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 16, 2022 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), EPA herby provides notice of a meeting for the Local Government Advisory Committee's (LGAC) Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) on the date and time described below. This meeting will be open to the public. For information on public attendance and participation, please see the registration information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION....

PHMSA is publishing this notice to: (1) solicit information pertaining to how the potential use of recycled plastic resins in the manufacturing of specification packagings may affect hazardous materials transportation safety; (2) ensure transparency of its current policy pertaining to the use of recycled plastics in the manufacturing of specification packagings; (3) seek input on this policy to better inform potential regulatory changes; and (4) gather information for the evaluation of future ap...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is seeking public input and data to assist in the consideration of potential development of future regulations pertaining to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund). The Agency is seeking input and data regarding potential future hazardous substance designation under CERCLA of: Seven PFAS, besides perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perflu...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), EPA herby provides notice of a meeting for the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and its Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) on the date and time described below. This meeting will be open to the public. For information on public attendance and participation, please see the registration information under...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA, CASRN 335-76-2) and Related Salts. The draft document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of a contract-led peer review. Public comments rece...

This proposed rule would update payment rates, including implementing the second phase of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) parity adjustment recalibration. This proposed rule also proposes updates to the diagnosis code mappings used under PDPM, the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. We are also proposing to eliminate the requirement for facilities to actively waive their right to a hearing in writing, instead treating the failure to subm...

This proposed rule proposes updates to the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024. As required by statute, this proposed rule includes the proposed classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups and a description of the methodologies and data used in computing the proposed prospective payment rates for FY 2024. It also proposes to rebase and revise the IRF market basket to reflect a...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to using and advancing the best available science to tackle per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution, protect public health, and harmonize policies that strengthen public health protections with infrastructure funding to help communities, especially disadvantaged communities, deliver safe drinking water. In March 2021, EPA issued a final regulatory determination to regulate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfon...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing a regulation to revise the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the steam electric power generating point source category applicable to flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater, bottom ash (BA) transport water, and combustion residual leachate (CRL) at existing sources. EPA is also soliciting comment on ELGs for legacy wastewater. This proposal is estimated to cost $200 million dollars annu...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at https://www.reginfo.gov to periodically update the public. This document contains information about: <bullet> Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or canceled since the last agenda; and <bullet> Reviews of regulations with small business impacts under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act....

Publication of the Fall 2022 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order ("E.O.") 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," (58 FR 51735) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," (76 FR 3821). The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are develo...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting nominations of chemicals, microbes, or other substances that are not currently regulated in drinking water for possible inclusion on the Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6). EPA requests that nominations include information showing the nominated contaminant is known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and indicating the nominated contaminant may have an adverse health effect on humans....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for technical experts to serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) on a review panel under the authority of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC), a federal advisory committee to the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Selected experts will review ORD's draft documents detailing scientific studies supporting the development of transcriptomic-based toxicity values and their implementation as a new EPA Transcriptomi...

On April 28, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule seeking comments in response to a petition requesting the revision of the EPA's regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) to exempt trans-1,1,1,4,4,4- hexafluorobut-2-ene (also known as HFO-1336mzz(E); CAS number 66711-86- 2). The EPA is now taking final action to revise the regulatory definition of VOC under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This final action adds HFO-1336mzz(E) to the list of com...

This notice announces the availability of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15). The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to biennially publish a plan for new and revised effluent limitations guidelines, after public review and comment. Plan 15 provides updates on activities discussed in Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15) and discusses comments that were received during the public comment period. Plan 15 di...

Based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) reconsideration of the air quality criteria and the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the EPA proposes to revise the primary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard by lowering the level. The Agency proposes to retain the current primary 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard and the primary 24-hour PM<INF>10</INF> standard. The Agency also proposes not to change the secondary 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard, ...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is proposing a significant new use rule (SNUR) for those per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have not been manufactured (including imported) or processed for many years and are consequently designated as inactive on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory. PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties, such as water and stain resistance. Many PFA...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting public comment and recommendations on the National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) for fiscal years 2024-2027 (formerly called "National Compliance Initiatives"). The EPA focuses enforcement and compliance resources on the most serious and widespread environmental problems by developing and implementing national program initiatives. The initiatives currently underway, modifications to these existing initiatives, as well as po...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled Human Health Effects of Drinking Water Exposures to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl...

FMCSA proposes the implementation of certain requirements under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Previously, FMCSA implemented the MAP-21 requirement to increase the financial security amount for brokers from $25,000 to $75,000 for household brokers and from $10,000 to $75,000 for all other property brokers and, for the first time, established financial security requirements for freight forwarders. The agency proposes regulations in five separate areas: Assets read...

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program) for Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023. This notice solicits applications for FSP Program funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The opportunity described in this notice is made availa...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is removing twelve chemicals from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products because these inert ingredients have been identified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and they are no longer used in any registered pesticide product....

This notice (FSP-National) details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for projects not located on the Northeast Corridor under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program) for Fiscal Year 2022. The FSP-National notice solicits applications for FSP funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The opportunity described in this notice is made available under Ass...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) to the list of Lower Thresholds for Chemicals of Special Concern (chemicals of special concern). These PFAS already have a lower reporting threshold of 100 pounds. The addition of these P...

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to Orders issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs would require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and soliciting comment on an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) and Updated Economic Analysis following the completion of a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) proposed rule for reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The EPA seeks public comment on all aspects of the IRFA and Updated Economic Analysis, includ...

This final rule with comment period revises the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for Calendar Year (CY) 2023 based on our continuing experience with these systems. We describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. Also, this final rule updates and refines the requirements for the ...

On April 1, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that Washington's human health criteria (HHC) for certain pollutants were not protective of Washington's designated uses and were not based on sound scientific rationale and, accordingly, proposed to restore protective HHC for those pollutants in Washington's waters. EPA is finalizing protective and science-based Federal HHC in this final rule to protect Washington's waters, including waters where tribes hold treaty-reserved ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chrome Finishing Industry Data Collection" (EPA ICR No. 2723.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a req...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this document to modify and supplement its proposed rule issued on January 11, 2021, in which the Agency proposed updates and adjustments to the 2018 Fee Rule established under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With over five years of experience administering the TSCA amendments of 2016, EPA is publishing this document to ensure that the fees charged accurately reflect the level of effort and resources needed to implement TSCA in the ma...

FMCSA is issuing this interim guidance to inform the public and regulated entities about FMCSA's interpretation of the definitions of "broker" and "bona fide agents" as it relates to all brokers of transportation by motor vehicle. FMCSA is taking this action to better define the terms in response to a mandate in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). After consideration of public comments received, FMCSA is providing clarification on its interpretation of the definitions of "broker" ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) which is a list of contaminants in drinking water that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations. In addition, these contaminants are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This list is the Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5) published by the agency since t...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Recommendations) and is seeking managers of standards development organizations, ecolabel programs, and associated conformity assessment bodies to apply for potential assessment and inclusion in the Recommendations. Interested applicants should electronically submit responses to the scoping questions. Those considering applying are invited to attend a webi...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Intergovernmental Relations invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS). Qualified nominees for the LGAC and SCAS hold elected positions with local, tribal, state, or territorial governments, or serve in a full-time government position appointed by an elected official. This notice soli...

EPA is proposing to remove twelve chemicals from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products because these inert ingredients have been identified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and they are no longer used in any registered pesticide product.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers, as hazardous substances. CERCLA authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations designating as hazardous substances such elements, compounds, mixtures, solutions, and ...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will meet on the date and time described below. The meeting is open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to EPA's pursuit in addressing Environmental Justice and any related topics being considered by the NEJAC. For additional information about registering to attend...

EPA is issuing a correction to a final rule that published in the Federal Register on Monday, July 18, 2022. The document updated the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, the action updated the regulations to identify five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Ye...

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for Calendar Year (CY) 2023 based on our continuing experience with these systems. In this proposed rule, we describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. Also, this proposed rule would update and refine the req...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is opening a docket to obtain data and information on the use of fluorinated polyethylene for food contact applications. Specifically, FDA is seeking scientific data and information on current food contact uses of fluorinated polyethylene, consumer dietary exposure that may result from those uses, and safety of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that may migrate from fluorinated polyethylene food containers. The purpose of this request is to ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Specifically, this action updates the regulations to identify five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that must be reported pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is being...

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties to identify data gaps in research and development regarding several aspects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This information will be used to inform a strategic plan for Federal coordination of PFAS research and development and, in compliance with Section 332 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21 NDAA), the interagency strategy tea...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the chartered Science Advisory Board. The chartered SAB will meet to conduct quality reviews of two draft SAB reports: Review of EPA's Analyses to Support EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Rulemaking for PFAS, and Review of the EPA's Draft Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5). The chartered SAB will also discuss any recommendations received from the SAB Work Group for Review ...

FRA is publishing this Notice to describe its proposed approach to the development of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) project inventory (NEC Project Inventory), which is a required component of the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Partnership Program). FRA is required to publish an NEC Project Inventory not later than one year after the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The NEC Project Inve...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the release of health advisories for four perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including interim updated lifetime drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and final health advisories for hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt (together referred to as "GenX chemicals") and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its related compound potassium perfluorobutane su...

or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure Assessments (<span class="match">PFAS</span> EAs) (OMB Control No. 0923-0059, Exp. 06/30/2022)—Revision—Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Background and Brief Description Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (<span class="match">PFAS</span>) are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consume...

In the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, signed by the President on March 15, 2022, Congress provided $5 million in budget authority solely for the cost of direct loans or guaranteed loans to state infrastructure financing authority borrowers for projects described in Section 5026(9) of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA). The state infrastructure financing authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program will use this amount to cover the subsidy required to provide ...

In the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, signed by the President on March 15, 2022, Congress provided $58.5 million in budget authority for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) program to cover the subsidy required to provide a much larger amount of credit assistance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that this budget authority may provide approximately $5.5 billion in credit assistance and may finance approximately $11 billion i...

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), EPA herby provides notice of a meeting for the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and its Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) on the date and time described below. This meeting will be open to the public. For information on public attendance and participation, please see the registration information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION....

Title I of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 amended the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to establish the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. The WTC Health Program (Program), which is administered by the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within CDC, provides medical monitoring and treatment to eligible responders to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Penns...

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) commitment to safeguard the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the agency is announcing the availability of Clean Water Act (CWA) national "Draft Recommended Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)" and "Draft Recommended Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)" for a 30-day public comment period. These draft criteria are a priority a...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise the EPA's regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This action proposes to add (2E)- 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene (also known as trans-1,1,1,4,4,4- hexafluorobut-2-ene, and HFO-1336mzz(E); CAS number 66711-86-2) to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone (O<INF>3</INF>) ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address the unreasonable risk of injury to health it has identified for conditions of use of chrysotile asbestos following completion of the TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos. TSCA requires that EPA address the unreasonable risks of injury to health and environment by rule and to apply requirements to the extent necessary so that chrysotile asbestos no longe...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two public meetings of the SAB per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Review Panel (PFAS Review Panel) to discuss their draft report reviewing EPA's Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Drinking Water; EPA's Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC or Council) as authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The purpose of the meeting is for EPA to update the Council on Safe Drinking Water Act programs and to consult with NDWAC as required by SDWA on a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),...

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA" or "the Act"), as amended, requires that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan ("NCP") include a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States. The National Priorities List ("NPL") constitutes this list. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the Environmental Prote...

Substances Exposure Assessments (<span class="match">PFAS</span> EAs) (OMB Control No. 0923-0059, Exp. 06/30/2022) at communities near U.S. military installations that used Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). The <span class="match">PFAS</span> from the AFFF entered groundwater and impacted the drinking water in the nearby communities. In 2022, however, ATSDR is conducting a follow-up EI under this generic clearance ICR to supplement the <span class="match">PFAS</span> EAs. This EI generic informa...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting two identical public meetings to discuss and solicit input on environmental justice considerations related to the development of the proposed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In the context of developing this proposed regulation, environmental justice considerations include the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardles...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with release of the draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) and Related Salts. The draft document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of an independent external pe...

Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended, the Administrator of FEMA is publishing this notice describing the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria Development Panel, which was he...

Publication of the Fall 2021 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order ("E.O.") 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," (58 FR 51735) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," (76 FR 3821). The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are develo...

The Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury) is adopting as final the interim final rule published on May 17, 2021, with amendments. This rule implements the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to amend its regulations relating to the procedures by which we determine that a premarket notification for a food contact substance (FCN) is no longer effective. The proposed rule, if finalized, would, among other things, ensure that manufacturers or suppliers have the opportunity to provide input before we could determine that an FCN is no longer effective. The proposed rule also would provide additional reasons that could be the basis ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is seeking public input on updating the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Industrial Stormwater Fact Sheet Series (hereinafter referred to as "the fact sheets"). EPA's industrial stormwater program has 29 fact sheets currently posted online for each sector covered under the 2021 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges from industrial activity. Each fact sheet describes the types of facilities incl...

levels of <span class="match">PFAS</span> in drinking water, and studies in the general population suggest associations between <span class="match">PFAS</span> and several health outcomes. Exposure to <span class="match">PFAS</span> is nearly ubiquitous in the United States. Epidemiological studies suggest that <span class="match">PFAS</span> exposure may impact the immune system and susceptibility to viral infections. However, there is little consistency in the results of studies on <span cla...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) rule that requires certain public water systems (PWSs) to collect national occurrence data for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium. Subject to the availability of appropriations, EPA will include all systems serving 3,300 or more people and a representative sample of 800 systems serving 25 to 3,299 people. If EPA does not receive the appropriations needed for monitoring all of thes...

This rule amends the regulations for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) to allow supplemental DMC payments to participating eligible dairy operations. DMC provides dairy producers with risk management coverage that pays producers when the difference between the price of milk and the cost of feed (the margin) falls below a certain level. Eligible dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of established production history may enroll supplemental pounds based upon a formula using 2019 actual milk m...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled Per-or-Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure Assessments (PFAS...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a series of additional PFAS related virtual deliberation meetings of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Committee (EC) Committee as a follow-up to meetings held September 29-30, 2021. More information can be found on the BOSC website at: https://www.epa.gov/bosc/bosc-executive-committee- meeting-september-october-2021. Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances this notice wa...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces four public meetings of the SAB per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Review Panel (PFAS Review Panel) to review EPA's Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Drinking Water; EPA's Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Drinking Water; EPA'...

This notice announces HUD's intention to competitively offer multiple residential reverse mortgage pools, including six multi-loan pools and one single asset pool, consisting of approximately 1,700 reverse mortgage notes secured by vacant properties with a loan balance of approximately $420 million. The Secretary will prioritize bids on some of these assets to qualified non-profit or unit of state or local government bidders. This notice also generally describes the bidding process for the sale ...

This notice announces the availability of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15) and solicits public comment. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the EPA to biennially publish a plan for new and revised effluent limitations guidelines, after public review and comment. Preliminary Plan 15 discusses EPA's 2020 annual review of effluent limitations guidelines and pretreatment standards, presents the agency's preliminary ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a series of virtual meetings of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Committee (EC) to review the draft reports of the Homeland Security (HS) and Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) subcommittees and discuss Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) requests public nominations of scientific experts for the upcoming peer reviews of five Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessments including: Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA; CASRN 335-76-2), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA; CASRN 375- 24-4), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA, CASRN 307-24-4), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS, CASRN 355-46-4), and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, CASRN 375-22...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with release of the IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and Related Compound Ammonium Perfluorobutanoic Acid. The draft document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of a contract-led peer review. Public ...

We are advising the public of our decision to revise the requirements for the importation of citrus from Australia in order to authorize the importation into the continental United States of citrus from additional areas of production. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks ...

EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register of June 28, 2021, concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This document extends the comment period for 31 days, from August 27, 2021 to September 27, 2021. An extension of the comment period was requested by some stakeholders to allow interested parties additional time to thoroughly review and analyze the proposed rule's scope and its suppor...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a draft list of contaminants that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations for public review and comment. These contaminants are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This draft list is the Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5) published by the agency since the SDWA amendments of 1996. The ...

This notice announces that information submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and/or the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including information that may have been claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by the submitter, has been and will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for transfer to the parties to certain litigatio...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific experts to form a Panel to review draft EPA documents that are being developed to support EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Rulemaking for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These draft documents will describe EPA's prepared analyses of health effects data that will inform the derivation of proposed Maximum Contaminant Level Goals for perfluorooctanesulfonic ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). In accordance with obligations under TSCA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, EPA proposes to require certain persons that manufacture (including import) or have manufactured these chemical substances in any year since January 1, 2011, to electronically report informati...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). This action implements the statutory mandate in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA) enacted on December 20, 2019. As this action is being taken to conform the regulations to a Congres...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the partial deletion of five sites from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, created under section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the states, through their designated state agencies, have determined that all appropriate response actions under C...

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action lists certain substances in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. For the retail food refrigeration--medium-temperature stand-alone units (new) end-use, EPA is listing three substitutes as acceptable subject to narrowed use limits. For the residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps (new) end-use, EPA is listing six substitutes as acceptable subject ...

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed by the President on December 27, 2020, Congress provided $5 million in budget authority solely for the cost of direct loans or guaranteed loans to state infrastructure financing authority borrowers for projects described in the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA). The state infrastructure financing authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program will use this amount to cover the subsidy required to provide a much larger amount of ...

In the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed by the President on December 27, 2020, Congress provided $54.5 million in budget authority for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) program to cover the subsidy required to provide a much larger amount of credit assistance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) estimates that this budget authority may provide approximately $5.5 billion in credit assistance and may finance approximately $11 b...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled "Evaluating the Association between Serum Concentrations of ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is initiating further data collection and analysis to support potential future rulemaking, under the Clean Water Act (CWA), relating to the effluent limitations guidelines, pretreatment standards and new source performance standards applicable to the Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) point source category to address discharges from manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and is considering revisin...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing a Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) rule that would require public water systems to collect national occurrence data for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium. This proposed rule would require all community and non-transient non community water systems serving 3,300 or more people, and a representative sample of smaller water systems, to conduct monitoring. PFAS and lithium are not currently subject to nationa...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing final regulatory determinations for eight of the 109 contaminants listed on the Fourth Contaminant Candidate List. Specifically, the Agency is making final determinations to regulate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and to not regulate 1,1-dichloroethane, acetochlor, methyl bromide (bromomethane), metolachlor, nitrobenzene, and RDX. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, r...

All 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Regions are finalizing the 2021 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, also referred to as the "2021 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)" or the "final permit." This final permit replaces EPA's administratively continued 2015 MSGP that expired on June 3, 2020. EPA is issuing this permit for five (5) years to provide permit coverage to eligible operat...

This document provides the reasons for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) response to a petition it received under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) from the Center for Environmental Health, Cape Fear River Watch, Clean Cape Fear, Democracy Green, Toxic Free NC, and the NC Black Alliance on October 14, 2020. Generally, the petitioners requested that EPA initiate a rulemaking proceeding or issue an order under TSCA compelling health and environmental effects testing on 54 Per- an...

This notice announces the availability of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 14 (Plan 14). EPA prepared Plan 14 pursuant to Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 304(m) as described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Plan 14 provides updates on activities discussed in Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 14 (Preliminary Plan 14) and discusses comments that were received during the public comment period....

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020 NDAA) was signed into law on December 19, 2019. Section 7361 of the FY 2020 NDAA directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and materials containing PFAS. The EPA is releasing the interim guidance for public comment. The guidance provides information on technologies that may be feasible and appropriate...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing for public comment a proposed rule under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that would establish national standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily non-military and non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length and above into the waters of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone. The proposed national standards of performance were developed ...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments to the significant new use rule (SNUR) for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances that were proposed on January 21, 2015; an amendment to a SNUR for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances that was proposed on January 21, 2015; and an amendment to make inapplicable the exemption for persons who import a subset of LCPFAC chemical substances as part of ...

In the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, signed by the President on December 20, 2019, Congress provided $50 million in budget authority for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) program to cover the subsidy required to provide a much larger amount of credit assistance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) estimates that this budget authority may provide approximately $5 billion in credit assistance and may finance approximately $10 b...

EPA is adding 172 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). EPA is also setting a manufacture, processing, and otherwise use reporting threshold of 100 pounds for each PFAS being added to the list. These actions are being taken to comply with section 7321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fisca...

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of five species of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit (pummelo, Nanfeng honey mandarin, ponkan, sweet orange, and Satsuma mandarin) from China into the continental United States. Based on the findings of the pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public to review and comment through a previous notice, we have concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient ...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Air and Energy (A-E) Subcommittee to discuss the initial progress on implementation of the A-E Strategic Research Action Plan (StRAP).

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make regulatory determinations every five years on at least five unregulated contaminants. A regulatory determination is a decision about whether or not to begin the process to propose and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) for an unregulated contaminant. A preliminary regulatory determination lays out and takes comment on EPA's view about whether certain unr...

Publication of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan represent key components of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," Executive Order 13771, "Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs," January 30, 2017, and Executive Order 13777, "Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda," February 24, 2017. The fall editions of the Unified Agenda include the agency regulatory plans required ...

to reconstruct historical <span class="match">PFAS</span> contaminant concentrations. For exposure estimation, participants will be categorized based on their measured serum concentration of <span class="match">PFAS</span> compounds or on modeled estimated historical serum levels ( e.g., referent or low, medium, high). Measured and estimated <span class="match">PFAS</span> serum levels will also be evaluated as continuous variables. At sites with prior <span class="match">PFAS</span> biom...

In this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), EPA is soliciting information from the public as EPA considers proposing a future rule on adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). In this ANPRM, EPA outlines what PFAS are, why the Agency is considering adding certain PFAS to EPCRA sec...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 45- day public comment period associated with release of the Systematic Review Protocol for the perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessments. This protocol document presents the methods for conducting the systematic reviews and dose response analyses for these assessment...

This notice of availability announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 14 (Preliminary Plan 14) and solicits public comment. Section 304(m) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the EPA to biennially publish a plan for new and revised effluent limitations guidelines, after public review and comment. Preliminary Plan 14 identifies any new or existing industrial categories selected for effluent guidelines or pretreatment standards and provide...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 is publishing a direct final Notice of Deletion of the Buckeye Reclamation Landfill Superfund Site (Buckeye Site), located in St. Clairsville, Ohio from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct fi...

the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Name of Committee: Disease, Disability, and Injury Prevention and Control Special Emphasis Panel (SEP)—RFA-TS-19-002, Multi-Site Study of the Health Implications of Exposure to <span class="match">PFAS</span>-Contaminated Drinking Water. Date: July 24-25, 2019. Time: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., EDT. Place: W Atlanta-Buckhead, 3377 Peachtree Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326. Agenda: To...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division's Technical Support Center announces a public meeting and webinar to discuss potential approaches to developing the proposal for the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for public drinking water systems. The EPA will discuss issues related to UCMR 5, including: The impacts of the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018; analytical method...

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC announces the following meeting for the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (BSC, NCEH/ATSDR). This meeting is open to the public, limited only by available seating. The meeting room accommodates approximately 60 people. The public is also welcome to listen to the meeting by calling 800-810-6806, passcode 8137872, limited by 75 lines. The deadline f...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled "Human health effects of drinking water exposures to per- an...

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, signed by the President on February 15, 2019, Congress provided $60 million in budget authority for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) program to cover the subsidy required to provide a much larger amount of credit assistance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) estimates that this budget authority may provide approximately $6 billion in credit assistance and may finance approximately $12 billion i...

to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (<span class="match">PFAS</span>) at Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH (The Pease Study)—New—Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Background and Brief Description Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (<span class="match">PFAS</span>) are a family of environmentally and biologically persistent chemicals used in industrial applications such as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), used to extinguish flammable liquid fires. Sinc...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is soliciting nominations for possible membership on the Disease, Disability, and Injury Prevention and Control Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)....

Exposure Assessments (<span class="match">PFAS</span> EAs)—New—Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the National Center for Environmental Health (ATSDR/NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Background and Brief Description Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (<span class="match">PFAS</span>) are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. Although some <span class="match">PFAS</span> a...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period associated with the release of two draft toxicity assessments for public comment: <bullet> Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and its Ammonium Salt (GenX Chemicals). <bullet> Draft Human Health Toxicity Values for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate. The EPA developed the draft assessments to provide the ...

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC announces the following meeting for the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (BSC, NCEH/ATSDR). This meeting is open to the public, limited only by available seating. The meeting room accommodates approximately 60 people. The public is also welcome to listen to the meeting by calling 800-619-8521, passcode 7019704, limited by 100 lines. The deadline ...

Publication of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan represent key components of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," Executive Order 13771, "Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs," January 30, 2017, and Executive Order 13777, "Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda," February 24, 2017. The fall editions of the Unified Agenda include the agency regulatory plans required ...

The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet via teleconference on Tuesday, November 14, 2018 at 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (ET). The Subcommittee will discuss recommendations regarding the Clean Water Act 2015 Waters of the United States Rule and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the impacts to small communities. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 4:15 p.m.-4:20 p.m. Indivi...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Heartland Community Engagement in Leavenworth, Kansas. The goal of the event is to allow the EPA to hear directly from the EPA's Region VII communities to understand ways the Agency can best support the work that is being done at the state, tribal, and local level to address PFAS in the environment. For more information on the event, visit the EPA's PFAS website: https:// www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-commun...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled "Human Health Effects of Drinking Water Exposures to Per- an...

September 13, 2018, 9:30 a.m.-5:35 p.m. (EDT), and Friday, September 14,, 2018, 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT). The focus of the Committee meeting will be on issues pertaining to cooperative federalism; water and water infrastructure issues; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (<span class="match">PFAS</span>); superfund and brownfields; and other issues in EPA's Strategic Plan. The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet in Washington, DC, on Friday, September 14, 2018, 8:30 a.m...

The Commission is revising its previously proposed rules related to the minimum amount that competitive products as a whole are required to contribute to institutional costs annually, based on comments received. The Commission invites public comment on the revised proposed rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) community engagement in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The goal of the event is to allow the EPA to hear directly from North Carolina communities to understand ways the Agency can best support the work that is being done at the state, local, and tribal level. For more information on the event, visit the EPA's PFAS website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement. During the recent PFAS Nati...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) community engagement in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The goal of the event is to allow the EPA to hear directly from Colorado communities to understand ways the Agency can best support the work that is being done at the state, local, and tribal level. For more information on the event, visit the EPA's PFAS website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement. During the recent PFAS National Lea...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the Union Chemical Co., Inc. Superfund Site (Site) located in South Hope, Maine, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency ...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled "Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Exposure Assessme...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) community engagement in Horsham, Pennsylvania. The goal of the event is to allow the EPA to hear directly from Pennsylvania communities to understand ways the Agency can best support the work that is being done at the state and local level. For more information on the event, visit the EPA's PFAS website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement. During the recent PFAS National Leadership Su...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will kick off the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) community engagements with a two-day event in Exeter, New Hampshire. The goal of the event is to allow the EPA to hear directly from New England communities to understand ways the Agency can best support the work that is being done at the state, local, and tribal level. For more information on the event, visit the EPA's PFAS website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas- community-engagement. During t...

powders; fluoropolymer film sheeting 0.152mm in thickness in rolls and not in rolls; woven glass fiber mats; woven glass fiber fabrics colored and not colored; fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) pellets; ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) pellets; and, perfluoroalkoxy (<span class="match">PFA</span>) pellets (duty rate ranges from 4.2% to 7.3%). The request indicates that woven glass fiber mats and woven glass fiber fabrics colored and not colored will be admitted to the zone in privileged fo...

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC announces the following meeting for the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (BSC, NCEH/ATSDR). This meeting is open to the public, limited only by available seating. The meeting room accommodates approximately 60 people. The public is also welcome to listen to the meeting by calling 888-989-4501, passcode 9885805, limited by 100 lines. The deadline ...

The Commission is proposing to amend its existing rule related to the minimum amount that competitive products as a whole are required to contribute to institutional costs annually. The proposed rule changes were developed during the Commission's second review of whether the appropriate share level should be retained, eliminated, or modified. The Commission invites public comment on the proposed rule....

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board will take place.

Publication of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan represent key components of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review" (58 FR 51735) and incorporated in Executive Order 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review" issued on January 18, 2011 (76 FR 3821). The fall editions of the Unified Agenda include the agency regulatory plans required by E.O. 12866, which identify regulatory pr...

This rule requires each public housing agency (PHA) administering public housing to implement a smoke-free policy. Specifically, no later than 18 months from the effective date of the rule, each PHA must implement a "smoke-free" policy banning the use of prohibited tobacco products in all public housing living units, indoor common areas in public housing, and in PHA administrative office buildings. The smoke-free policy must also extend to all outdoor areas up to 25 feet from the public housing ...

OSHA is revising and updating its general industry standards on walking-working surfaces to prevent and reduce workplace slips, trips, and falls, as well as other injuries and fatalities associated with walking-working surface hazards. The final rule includes revised and new provisions addressing, for example, fixed ladders; rope descent systems; fall protection systems and criteria, including personal fall protection systems; and training on fall hazards and fall protection systems. In addition...

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Revenue Procedure 2016-30, Pre-filing Agreement Program....

As required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt provisions contained in certain widely-used or long-standing special permits that have an established safety record. The adopted amendments are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests. The adopted amend...

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Revenue Procedure 2009-14, Pre-filing Agreement Program....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is making certain revisions to the 1988 underground storage tank (UST) regulation and to the 1988 state program approval (SPA) regulation. These changes establish Federal requirements that are similar to key portions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct); they also update the 1988 UST and SPA regulations. Changes to the regulations include: Adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced tanks and piping; adding operator t...

EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register January 21, 2015, concerning long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical substances. This document extends the comment period for 90 days, from March 23, 2015, to June 26, 2015. The comment period is being extended because EPA received several comments asserting that there may be significant implications for the supply chain and it is critical that interested stakeholders have s...

As required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt provisions contained in certain widely-used or long-standing special permits that have an established safety record. The proposed revisions are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests, thus re...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is proposing to amend a significant new use rule (SNUR) for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances by designating as a significant new use manufacturing (including importing) or processing of an identified subset of LCPFAC chemical substances for any use that will not be ongoing after December 31, 2015, and all other LCPFAC chemicals substances for which there are currently no ongoing uses. For this SNUR, EPA is also ...

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is publishing this final rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the understandings reached at the 2005 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary meeting held in Oslo, Norway; the 2012 NSG Plenary meeting held in Seattle, Washington; and the 2013 NSG Plenary meeting held in Prague, Czech Republic. This rule also implements a decision adopted under the NSG intersessional silent approval procedures in December 2009. Accordingly, ...

FRA issues this final rule in accordance with a statutory mandate that the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) require certain major railroads to develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, critical incident stress plans that provide for appropriate support services to be offered to their employees who are affected by a "critical incident" as defined by the Secretary. The final rule contains a definition of the term "critical incident," the elements appropriate for the rail environmen...

The Greater Red Lodge Project is proposed to (1) reduce hazardous fuels; (2) maintain and/or improve resiliency of forest vegetation and grasslands; (3) enhance aspen habitat; and (4) improve water quality. The EIS will consider a no action alternative and three action alternatives that propose treatment on 1000-2000 acres depending upon the alternative. The project area encompasses approximately 21,871 acres north and west of the community of Red Lodge, Carbon County, MT in the vicinity of Red ...

The EPA is proposing amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production to address the results of the residual risk and technology review. In light of our review, we are proposing amendments that would prohibit the use of hazardous air pollutant-based auxiliary blowing agents for slabstock foam production facilities. In addition, the EPA is proposing amendments to correct and clarify regulatory provisions related to emissions dur...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is amending a significant new use rule (SNUR) for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical substances to add PFAS chemical substances that have completed the TSCA new chemical review process, but have not yet commenced production or import and is designating (for all listed PFAS chemical substances) processing as a significant new use. EPA is also finalizing a SNUR for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances that desig...

FRA issues this proposed rule in accordance with a statutory mandate that the Secretary of Transportation require certain major railroads to develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, critical incident stress plans that provide for appropriate support services to be offered to their employees who are affected by a "critical incident" as defined by the Secretary. The NPRM proposes a definition of the term "critical incident," the elements appropriate for the rail environment to be include...

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard- setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting public comment on the standards to be considered....

This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). This notice includes the following proposed exemptions: D-11664, Atlas Energy, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan); D-11718, Notice of Proposed Amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PT...

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is proposing to amend a significant new use rule (SNUR) for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical substances to add PFAS chemical substances that have completed the TSCA new chemical review process but have not yet commenced production or import, and to designate (for all listed PFAS chemical substances) processing as a significant new use. EPA is also proposing a SNUR for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances tha...