Action Initiation List – August 2012 

August 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 thof 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/searchprovide updates on the actions listed herein. Updates on priority rulemakings are available from EPA's RegulRetrospective 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 

RegDaRRT and those that are not – you may obtain updates twice a year in EPA’s Semiannual Regulatory A

accessible from these Web sites: • EPA’s Laws, Regulations, Guidance and Dockets (http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/search/regagenda.htm

• RegInfo.gov (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain) • Regulations.gov  (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=UnifiedAgenda&agency=EPA&pubperi
Action Initiation List – August 2012 

Action Title Stage Contact Abstract 

Air Quality: Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds -- Amendment to Definition with Respect to t-Butyl Acetate 

 NPRM David Sanders 

919-541-3356 Sanders.Dave@epa.gov 

This NRPM proposes to amend the definition of vocompounds (VOCs) by removing t-butyl acetate fro

compounds that are considered VOCs for purposerecordkeeping, emissions reporting, photochemicamodeling and inventory requirements which apply are not considered VOCs for purposes of VOC emlimitations or VOC content requirements. This actiobutyl acetate to the group of compounds which are VOCs for any purpose. 

Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) - New Source Reconsideration 

 NPRM Bill Maxwell 

919-541-5430 Maxwell.Bill@epa.gov 

EPA is reviewing new technical information associnew-source limits for toxics emitted from new powethe Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). The new information indicates that there may be techallenges associated with monitoring mercury emlevels set for new power plants. These new plants to rely on the same proven pollution control technoharmful mercury, acid gases, and particle pollution

provide important health benefits to the American pEPA believes this information warrants further revifollow an expedited, open, and transparent procespublic comment on any proposed changes. The Aguse its Clean Air Act authority to stay the final stanpower plants for 90 days during this technical revie

Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014 

NPRM David Korotney 

Korotney.David@epa.gov 734-214-4507 

The Energy Independence and Security Act requirAdministrator to promulgate rules establishing the volumes of biomass-based diesel for 2013 and beyso no later than 14 months before the year for whicapplicable volume will apply. This action will propobiomass based diesel (BBD). Entities potentially affinal rule are those involved with the production, disale of transportation fuels, including gasoline and renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. 
Action Initiation List – August 2012 

What EPA Actions Appear on the AILs? Generally, AILs include those actions that 1) will appear in upcoming Semiannual Regulatory Agenda and 2) have been approved f

Regulatory Policy Officer. In rare instances, an action will not appear on an AIL before it appears in the Agenda. Also, keep in mind 

You can access a given month's list roughly 15 days after the close of the month (e.g., the April 2011 AIL will post sometime aroun

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 a

is published as a final rule (or other action) in the Federal Register. For example, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) stag

proposed modification to an existing rule. In the 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 Act Contact: Provides the name, phone, and email address for the EPA staff person assigned to this rule. Additionally, if a rule is in 

(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 or other action, it is difficult to p

have just started working on an action. Therefore, we insert one of two options in the "Projected Publication Date" column: 1) "12 m

months." These options give you some idea of how quickly we expect to complete an action.