Action Initiation List – August 2012 Page 1 of 3August 2012 Action Initiation List (as of 9/21/2012)U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)The following actions were initiated by EPA this month. Explanations of which EPA actions are included on this list and of eachelementof the table can be found at the end of this document.The two most recent Action Initiation Lists (AILs) can always be found at: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/search/ail.html. But, they will notprovide updates on the actions listed herein. Updates on priority rulemakings areavailable from EPA's Regulatory Development andRetrospective Review Tracker (RegDaRRT) on www.epa.gov/rulemaking/.If one of the rules on this AIL is in RegDaRRT, a link to the rule's profile is included in the table below. For all rules – those that are inRegDaRRT and those that are not – you may obtain updates twice a yearin EPA’s Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, which isaccessible from these Web sites:• EPA’s Laws, Regulations, Guidance and Dockets (http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/search/regagenda.html)• RegInfo.gov (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain)• Regulations.gov(http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=UnifiedAgenda&agency=EPA&pubperiod=200710)Action Initiation List – August 2012 Page 2 of 3Action TitleStageContactAbstractProjectedPublicationDateAir Quality: Definition ofVolatile OrganicCompounds --Amendment to Definition withRespect to t-Butyl AcetateNPRM David Sanders919-541-3356Sanders.Dave@epa.govThis NRPM proposes to amend the definition of volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) by removing t-butyl acetate from the group ofcompounds that are considered VOCs for purposes of allrecordkeeping, emissions reporting, photochemical dispersionmodeling and inventory requirements which apply to VOC but thatare not considered VOCs for purposes of VOC emissionslimitations or VOC content requirements. This action would add tbutyl acetate to the group of compounds which are not consideredVOCs for any purpose.12 monthsor lessMercury and Air ToxicsStandard (MATS) - NewSource ReconsiderationNPRM Bill Maxwell919-541-5430Maxwell.Bill@epa.govEPA is reviewing new technical information associated with thenew-source limits for toxics emitted from new power plants underthe Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).The new information indicates that there may be technicalchallenges associated with monitoring mercury emissions at thelevels set for new power plants. These new plants would continueto rely on the same proven pollution control technologies to reduceharmful mercury, acid gases,and particle pollution, which willprovide important health benefits to the American public.EPA believes this information warrants further review and willfollow an expedited, open, and transparent process that includespublic comment on any proposed changes. The Agency will alsouse its Clean Air Act authority tostay the final standards for newpower plants for 90 days during this technical review.12 months orlessRenewable Fuel Standard for2014NPRM David KorotneyKorotney.David@epa.gov734-214-4507The Energy Independence and Security Act requires theAdministrator to promulgate rules establishing the applicablevolumes of biomass-based diesel for 2013 and beyond and to doso no later than 14 months before the year for which suchapplicable volume will apply. This action will propose the 2014biomass based diesel (BBD). Entities potentially affected by thisfinal rule are those involved with the production, distribution, andsale of transportation fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuel orrenewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.12 months orlessAction Initiation List – August 2012 Page 3 of 3What EPA Actions Appear on the AILs?Generally, AILs include those actions that 1) will appear in upcomingSemiannual Regulatory Agendaand 2) have been approved for commencement by EPA'sRegulatory Policy Officer. In rare instances, an action will not appear on an AIL before it appears in theAgenda. Also, keep in mind that AILswill not post immediately.You can access a given month's list roughly 15 days after the close of the month (e.g., the April2011 AIL will post sometime around May 15th).What Does Each Column in the AIL Mean?Title:Self-explanatory.Stage:The stage of an action describes where we are in the rule writing process, from the very beginning when a rule (or other action) is just an idea to the end when itis published as a final rule (or other action) in the Federal Register. For example, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) stage announces a proposed rule orproposed modification to an existing rule. Inthe AILs, the following acronyms are used:• ANPRM - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking• NPRM - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking• Supplemental - Supplemental NPRM• Direct Final - Direct Final Action• Interim Final – Interim Final Action• Final – Final Action• Section 610 Review – Agency Review under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility ActContact:Provides the name, phone, and email address for the EPA staff personassigned to this rule. Additionally, if a rule is in EPA'sRegDaRRT(www.epa.gov/rulemaking/), then a link to the rule's profile will be provided in this column.Abstract:A brief summary of the action and its purpose.Projected Publication Date:Since many variables affect how long it takes to write a rule orother action, it is difficult to predict a firm publication date when wehave just started working on an action. Therefore, we insertone of two options in the "Projected Publication Date" column: 1)"12 months or less" and 2) "more than 12months." These options give you some idea ofhow quickly we expect to complete an action.