[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
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From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27540]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 271

[FRL-5101-3]

 

Alabama; Final Authorization of Revisions to State Hazardous 
Waste Management Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Immediate final rule.

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SUMMARY: Alabama has applied for final authorization of revisions to 
its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act (RCRA). Alabama's revisions consist of the provisions 
contained in RCRA Cluster II, Checklist 59 in Non-HSWA Cluster V, and 
Checklist 70 in Non-HSWA Cluster VI. These requirements are listed in 
Section B of this notice. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 
reviewed Alabama's application and has made a decision, subject to 
public review and comment, that Alabama's hazardous waste program 
revisions satisfy all of the requirements necessary to qualify for 
final authorization. Thus, EPA intends to approve Alabama's hazardous 
waste program revisions. Alabama's application for program revisions is 
available for public review and comment.

DATES: Final authorization for Alabama's program revisions shall be 
effective January 13, 1995 unless EPA publishes a prior Federal 
Register action withdrawing this immediate final rule. All comments on 
Alabama's program revision application must be received by the close of 
business, December 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Alabama's program revision application are 
available during 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following addresses for 
inspection and copying: Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 
1751 Congressman W.L. Dickinson Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36130; (205) 
271-7737; U.S. EPA, Region IV, Library, 345 Courtland Street NE., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30365; (404) 347-2416. Written comments should be sent 
to Al Hanke at the address listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al Hanke, Chief, State Programs 
Section, Waste Programs Branch, Waste Management Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 345 Courtland Street NE., Atlanta, 
Georgia 30365; (404) 347-2234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    States with final authorization under Section 3006(b) of the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA'' or ``the Act''), 42 
U.S.C. 6926(b), have a continuing obligation to maintain a hazardous 
waste program that is equivalent to, consistent with, and no less 
stringent than the Federal hazardous waste program.
    In addition, as an interim measure, the Hazardous and Solid Waste 
Amendments of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-616, November 8, 1984, hereinafter 
``HSWA'') allow States to revise their programs to become substantially 
equivalent instead of equivalent to RCRA requirements promulgated under 
HSWA authority. States exercising the latter option receive ``interim 
authorization'' for the HSWA requirements under Section 3006(g) of 
RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6926(g), and later apply for final authorization for 
the HSWA requirements. Revisions to State hazardous waste programs are 
necessary when Federal or State statutory or regulatory authority is 
modified or when certain other changes occur. Most commonly, State 
program revisions are necessitated by changes to EPA's regulations in 
40 CFR Parts 260-268 and 124 and 270.

B. Alabama

    Alabama initially received final authorization for its base RCRA 
program effective on December 22, 1987. Alabama received authorization 
for revisions to its program on January 28, 1992, July 12, 1992, 
December 21, 1992, May 17, 1993, November 23, 1993, and April 4, 1994. 
On June 25, 1993, Alabama submitted a program revision application for 
additional program approvals. Today, Alabama is seeking approval of its 
program revisions in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21(b)(3).
    EPA has reviewed Alabama's application and has made an immediate 
final decision that Alabama's hazardous waste program revisions satisfy 
all of the requirements necessary to qualify for final authorization. 
Consequently, EPA intends to grant final authorization for the 
additional program modifications to Alabama. The public may submit 
written comments on EPA's immediate final decision up until December 
14, 1994.
    Copies of Alabama's application for these program revisions are 
available for inspection and copying at the locations indicated in the 
Addresses section of this notice. Approval of Alabama's program 
revisions shall become effective January 13, 1994, unless an adverse 
comment pertaining to the State's revisions discussed in this notice is 
received by the end of the comment period.
    If an adverse comment is received EPA will publish either: (1) A 
withdrawal of the immediate final decision or (2) a notice containing a 
response to comments which either affirms that the immediate final 
decision takes effect or reverses the decision.
    EPA shall administer any RCRA hazardous waste permits, or portions 
of permits that contain conditions based upon the Federal program 
provisions for which the State is applying for authorization and which 
were issued by EPA prior to the effective date of this authorization. 
EPA will suspend issuance of any further permits under the provisions 
for which the State is being authorized on the effective date of this 
authorization. Alabama is today seeking authority to administer the 
following Federal requirements promulgated on June 1, 1991-June 30, 
1992, for RCRA Cluster II.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Federal requirement        FR reference        FR promulgation date                                    State authority                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checklist 59:           54 FR 615.............  1/9/89................  335-14-8-.02(5)(b)5.b(13).                                                      
 Hazardous Waste                                                                                                                                        
 Miscellaneous Units.                                                                                                                                   
Checklist 70: Various   48 FR 14146; 48 FR      4/1/83; 6/30/83; 7/26/  335-14-8-.08(1),(2),(3),(5),(7).                                                
 FR Listings Changes     30113; 53 FR 28118;     88; 9/26/88; 1/4/89.                                                                                   
 to Part 124 Not         53 FR 37396; 53 FR                                                                                                             
 Accounted for by        246.                                                                                                                           
 Present Checklists.                                                                                                                                    
Checklist 95: Land      56 FR 41164...........  8/19/91...............  335-14-2-.01(3)(c)2.(ii)(III); 335-14-2-.01(4)(a)11; 335-14-9-.04(2)(3).        
 Disposal Restrictions                                                                                                                                  
 for Electric Arc                                                                                                                                       
 Furnace Dust (K061).                                                                                                                                   
Checklist 97: Exports   56 FR 43704...........  9/4/91................  335-14-3-.05(4)(b); 335-14-3-.05(7)(b).                                         
 of Hazardous Waste;                                                                                                                                    
 Technical Correction.                                                                                                                                  
Checklist 99:           56 FR 66365...........  12/23/91..............  335-14-1-.02(1); 335-14-6-.06(2)(a)3; 335-14-6-.06(2)(a)3(i-v).                 
 Amendments to Interim                                                                                                                                  
 Status Standards for                                                                                                                                   
 Downgradient                                                                                                                                           
 Groundwater                                                                                                                                            
 Monitoring Well                                                                                                                                        
 Locations.                                                                                                                                             
Checklist 100: Liners   57 FR 3462............  1/29/92...............  335-14-14-1-.02(1); 335-14-5-.02(6)(b)4; 335-14-5-.05(10)(a)(b)(c)(d); 335-14-5-
 and Leak Detection                                                      .05(4)(b)6; 335-14-5-.ii(2)(c); 335-14-5-.ii(2)(c)1.(i)(I)(II); 335-14-5-      
 Systems for Hazardous                                                   .ii(2)(c)1.(ii); 335-14-5-.ii(2)(c)2,3,4; 335-14-5-.11(2)(d)(f)(g)-(i); 335-14-
 Waste Land Disposal                                                     5-.11(3)(a)(b); 335-14-5-.11(4)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-5-.11(7)(d)1,2,3; 335-14-5-   
 Units.                                                                  .11(9)(b)2,3&4; 335-14-5-.12(2)(c); 335-14-5-.12(2)(c)1.(i)(I); 335-14-5-      
                                                                         .12(2)(c)1.(i)(I)(II); 335-14-5-.12(2)(c)1.(ii); 335-14-5-.12(2)(c)2,3,4,5; 335-
                                                                         14-5-.12(2)(d); 335-14-5-.12(2)(d)1,2; 335-14-5-.12(2)(e)(f)(g)-(k); 335-14-5- 
                                                                         .12(3)(a)(b); 335-14-5-.12(4)(a)(b)(b)1-6; 335-14-5-.12(4)(c); 335-14-5-       
                                                                         .12(4)(c)1.(i)-(iii); 335-14-5-.12(4)(c)2; 335-14-5-.12(5)(c); 335-14-5-       
                                                                         .14(2)(b)(b)1.(i); 335-14-5-.14(2)(b)1.(i)(I)(II); 335-14-5-.14(2)(b)2,3; 335- 
                                                                         14-5-.14(2)(b)3(i-v); 335-14-5-.14(2)(c)4,5; 335-14-5-.14(3)(a)(b); 335-14-5-  
                                                                         .14(4)(c)1,2,3; 335-14-5-.14(5)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-5-.14(11)(b)3; 335-14-5-      
                                                                         .14(11)(b)4-6; 335-14-6-.02(6)(b)4; 335-14-6-.02(10)(a)(b)(c)(d); 335-14-6-    
                                                                         .05(4)(b)6; 335-14-6-.11(2)(a)(c)(f)(g); 335-14-6-.11(3)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-   
                                                                         .11(7)(b)1-3; 335-14-6-.11(9)(b)2,3,4; 335-14-6-.12(5)(6)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-  
                                                                         .12(10)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-.12(11); 335-14-6-.14(2)(a)(c)(f-i); 335-14-6-      
                                                                         .14(3)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-.14(2)(i); 335-14-6-.14(4)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-       
                                                                         .14(3)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-.14(5)(a)(b)(c); 335-14-6-.14(11)(b)2; 335-14-6-     
                                                                         .14(11)(b)3-5; 335-14-8-.01(4)(a); 335-14-8-.02(8)(b); 335-14-8-.02(8)(b)2-7;  
                                                                         335-14-8-.02(8)(c); 335-14-8-.02(9)(c); 335-14-8-.02(9)(c)1(i-v); 335-14-8-    
                                                                         .02(9)(d); 335-14-8-.02(12)(b); 335-14-8-.02(12)(b)1(i-v); 335-14-8-.02(12)(d).
Checklist 102: Second   57 FR 8086............  3/6/92................  335-14-5-.02(4)(a); 335-14-9-.01(3); 335-14-9-.04(2)(3).                        
 Correction to the                                                                                                                                      
 Third Third Land                                                                                                                                       
 Disposal Requirements.                                                                                                                                 
Checklist 103:          57 FR 20766...........  5/15/92...............  335-14-9-.03(6).                                                                
 Hazardous Debris Case-                                                                                                                                 
 by-Case Capacity                                                                                                                                       
 Variance.                                                                                                                                              
Checklist 104: Oil      57 FR 21524...........  5/20/92...............  335-14-2-.01(4)(b)13; 335-14-2-.01(4)(b)14.                                     
 Filter Exclusion.                                                                                                                                      
Checklist 105:          57 FR 27880...........  6/22/92...............  335-14-2-.01(4)(a)10.                                                           
 Recycled Coke By-                                                                                                                                      
 Product Exclusion.                                                                                                                                     
Checklist 106: Lead-    57 FR 28628...........  6/26/92...............  335-14-9-.03(6)                                                                 
 bearing Hazardous                                                                                                                                      
 Materials Case-by-                                                                                                                                     
 Case Capacity                                                                                                                                          
 Variance.                                                                                                                                              
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    Alabama is not authorized to operate the Federal program on Indian 
Lands. This authority remains with EPA unless provided otherwise in a 
future statute or regulation.

C. Decision

    I conclude that Alabama's application for these program revisions 
meet all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by 
RCRA. Accordingly, Alabama is granted final authorization to operate 
its hazardous waste program as revised. Alabama now has responsibility 
for permitting treatment, storage, and disposal facilities within its 
borders and carrying out other aspects of the RCRA program, subject to 
the limitations of its program revision application and previously 
approved authorities. Alabama also has primary enforcement 
responsibilities, although EPA retains the right to conduct inspections 
under section 3007 of RCRA and to take enforcement actions under 
sections 3008, 3013, and 7003 of RCRA.

Compliance With Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget has exempted this rule from the 
requirements of section 6 of Executive Order 12866.

Certification Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 605(b), I hereby certify 
that this authorization will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. This authorization effectively 
suspends the applicability of certain Federal regulations in favor of 
Alabama's program, thereby eliminating duplicative requirements for 
handlers of hazardous waste in the State. It does not impose any new 
burdens on small entities.
    This rule, therefore, does not require a regulatory flexibility 
analysis.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Hazardous materials transportation, Hazardous waste, 
Indian lands, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution control, Water supply.

    Authority: This notice is issued under the authority of sections 
2002(a), 3006, and 7004(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, 6974(b)).

    Dated: October 26, 1994.
Patrick M. Tobin,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-27540 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
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