Regulatory Matters » Other Agency Matters
Corps of Engineers
February 8, 2012 Agency Notice (Conference Call) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District has posted on http://glmris.anl.gov the “Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern—Chicago Area Waterway System”. An Aquatic Nuisance Species Control is an option or technology that may be applied to prevent ANS transfer via aquatic pathways. The ANS Control Paper identifies the range of options or technologies available to target the ANS of Concern in the Chicago Area Waterway System. These ANW of Concern—CAWS were previously identified as non-native species that are the initial focus of GLMRIS. In relation to this notice a conference call will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST). 77 FR 96, (January 3, 2012).
February 17, 2012 Agency Notice – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District has posted on http://glmris.anl.gov the “Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern—Chicago Area Waterway System”. An Aquatic Nuisance Species Control is an option or technology that may be applied to prevent ANS transfer via aquatic pathways. The ANS Control Paper identifies the range of options or technologies available to target the ANS of Concern in the Chicago Area Waterway System. These ANW of Concern—CAWS were previously identified as non-native species that are the initial focus of GLMRIS. Comments accepted. 76 FR 79167, (December 21, 2011).
Defense Department
February 17, 2012 Agency Notice – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District Regulatory Division (Corps), in coordination with the Los Angeles Harbor Department/Port of Los Angeles, has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Berths 302-306 American Presidents Line (APL) Container Terminal Project. This Notice serves as the Public Notice/Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS/EIR for the project. Comments accepted. 76 FR 80346, (December 23, 2011).
Environmental Protection Agency
February 13, 2012 Agency Notice – The Environmental Protection Agency has granted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) its request for an authorization to adopt and enforce regulations for its airborne toxic control measures for auxiliary diesel engines operated on ocean-going vessels at-berth in California ports (“At-Berth Regulation”). The At-Berth Regulation is designed to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter from auxiliary diesel engines on container vessels, passenger vessels and refrigerated cargo vessels while they are docked at specified California ports. Petitions for review may be filed. 76 FR 77515, (December 13, 2011), (FRL-9503-4).
February 13, 2012 Agency Notice – The Environmental Protection Agency has granted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) its request for an authorization to adopt and enforce regulations for the control of emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen from new and in-use diesel-fueled engines on commercial harbor craft. Petitions may be filed. 76 FR 77521, (December 13, 2011), (FRL-9503-5).
February 21, 2012 Agency Notice – EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are publishing for comment a draft NPDES Vessel General Permit (VGP) that would authorize discharges incidental to the normal operation of non-military and non-recreational vessels greater than or equal to 79 feet in length. If finalized, this draft VGP would replace the current VGP, which was issued in December 2008 and expires on December 19, 2013. EPA is also proposing a draft NPDES Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) to authorize discharges incidental to the normal operations of non-military and non-recreational vessels less than 79 feet in length. Comments accepted. 76 FR 76716, (December 8, 2011), (FRL-9502-3; EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0141 and EPA-HQ-2011-0150).
February 27, 2012 Agency Notice – In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces that the EPA is planning to submit a request to renew the existing approved Information Collection Request entitled “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program (Renewal)” to the Office of Management and Budget. Comments accepted. 76 FR 81488, (December 28, 2011), (EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0719, FRL-9613-4).
March 19, 2012 Agency Notice – EPA is taking direct final action to simplify an existing provision in their marine diesel engine program that is intended to encourage owners of Great Lakes steamships to repower those steamships with cleaner marine diesel engines. The simplified program will automatically permit the use of residual fuel, through December 31, 2025, in a steamship if it has been repowered with a certified Tier 2 or later marine diesel engine, provided the steamship was operated exclusively on the Great Lakes and was in service on October 30, 2009. Steamships are powered by old, inefficient steam boilers. Voluntary replacement of these boilers with modern fuel-efficient marine diesel engines will result in reductions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides, even while the replacement diesel engines are operated on higher sulfur residual fuel, and will provide human health and welfare benefits for the people who live in the Great Lakes region. Conversion to new diesel engines will also result in considerable carbon dioxide reductions and fuel savings. This rule is effective on March 19, 2012 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by February 17, 2012. If EPA receives adverse comment, they will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect. 77 FR 2472, (January 18, 2012), (EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0928; FRL-9618-9).
State Department
February 8, 2012 Agency Notice (Meeting) – The Shipping Coordinating Committee will conduct two open meetings. The purpose of the second meeting is to prepare for the sixty-third Session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee to be held at the International Maritime Organization Headquarters February 27th to March 2nd, 2012. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in Room 4202 of the United States Coast Guard Headquarters Building, 2100 2nd Street, S.W., Washington, DC. 76 FR 82027, (December 29, 2011).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
March 19, 2012 Agency Notice – As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Passenger/Crew List (CBP Form I-418). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments accepted. 77 FR 2561, (January 18, 2012).
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