NEW REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

Federal

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead, 40 C.F.R. Part 50
  EPA is proposing to retain the current national ambient air quality standards for lead without revision.  EPA’s decision not to revise the standards is based on EPA’s latest review, which took into account scientific information published through September of 2011.  EPA will hold a public hearing, if one is requested by January 26, 2015, on a date to be announced, and comments are due April 6, 2015.
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone, 40 C.F.R. Parts 50, 51, 52, 53, 58
  EPA is proposing revisions to the primary and secondary national ambient air quality standards for ozone.  Under the proposal, both the primary and secondary standards will be revised to a level within the range of .065 to .070 parts per million.  Among many other things in what is an extensive rulemaking, EPA is also proposing to make corresponding revisions in data handling conventions for ozone and conforming changes to the Air Quality Index; to revise regulations for the prevention of significant deterioration program to add a transition provision for certain applications, and to propose schedules and convey information related to implementing any revised standards.  Public hearings will be held on January 29, 2015, in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Texas, and on February 2, 2015, in Sacramento, CA.  Comments are due March 17, 2015.

Maine

Nothing to report.

Massachusetts

• Underground Storage Tank and Stage I Enforcement Discretion Directive for Owners and Operators Subject to 310 C.M.R. 80.00 and 310 C.M.R. 7.24
  MassDEP has issued an Enforcement Discretion Directive regarding the new underground storage tank (UST) regulations at 310 CMR 80.00 and the new Stage I vapor recovery regulations at 310 CMR 7.24(3), both sets of which went into effect on January 2, 2015. According to the Directive, MassDEP will exercise enforcement discretion until April 30, 2015.  For UST requirements at 310 CMR 80.00, there will be no enforcement for violations found during the 120-day discretion period, except for violations for failure to complete and submit third-party inspections that are due between January 2, 2015 and April 30, 2015.  In addition, for Stage I requirements that are contained in 310 CMR 7.24(3), MassDEP will not take enforcement for violations found during the 120-day discretion period.  During the discretion period, MassDEP will hold trainings for owners, operators, and third-party inspectors on the new requirements.  A schedule of workshops, meetings and guidance can be accessed here.

New Hampshire

Nothing to report.

STATUS OF PREVIOUSLY REPORTED RULES
COMPLIANCE DEADLINES