[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 9108-9110] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-4960] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 271 [FRL-5438-8] Georgia; Final Authorization of Revisions to State Hazardous Waste Management Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Immediate final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Georgia has applied for final authorization of revisions to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Georgia's revisions consist of the provisions contained in rules promulgated between July 1, 1993, and June 30, 1994, otherwise known as RCRA Cluster IV. These requirements are listed in section B of this document. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed Georgia's application and has made a decision, subject to public review and comment, that Georgia's hazardous waste program revisions satisfy all of the requirements necessary to qualify for final authorization. Thus, EPA intends to approve Georgia's hazardous waste program revisions. Georgia's application for program revisions is available for public review and comment. DATES: Final authorization for Georgia's program revisions shall be effective May 6, 1996 unless EPA publishes a prior Federal Register action withdrawing this immediate final rule. All comments on Georgia's program revision application must be received by the close of business, April 8, 1996. ADDRESSES: Copies of Georgia's program revision application are available during normal business hours at the following addresses for inspection and copying: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Floyd Towers East, Room 1154, 205 Butler Street, SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30334; U.S. EPA Region 4, Library, 345 Courtland Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30365; (404) 347-4216. 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 (Public Law 98-616, November 8, 1984, hereinafter ``HSWA'') allows 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 [[Page 9109]] EPA's regulations in 40 CFR Parts 260-268 and 124 and 270. B. Georgia Georgia initially received final authorization for its base RCRA program effective on August 21, 1984. Georgia has received authorization for revisions to its program through RCRA Cluster III on July 10, 1995. On October 30, 1995, Georgia received final authorization for the Boilers and Industrial Furnace (BIF) provisions of RCRA I, II, and III. Today, Georgia is seeking approval of its program revisions in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21(b)(3). EPA has reviewed Georgia's application and has made an immediate final decision that Georgia'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 Georgia. The public may submit written comments on EPA's immediate final decision up until April 8, 1996. Copies of Georgia'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 Georgia's program revisions shall become effective May 6, 1996, 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. Georgia is today seeking authority to administer the following Federal requirements promulgated between July 1, 1993--June 30, 1994. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checklist Description FR date and page State rule ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 125................... Revised Guidelines 58 FR 38816, 7/20/93............. 391-3-11-.02, 391-3-11-.10, 12- Air Quality Models. 8-62, 12-8-64, 12-8-65 126................... Third Edition of 58 FR 46040, 8/31/93............. 391-3-11-.02, 391-3-11-.07, SW846. 391-3-11-.10, 391-3-11-.16, 391-3-11-.11, 12-8-62, 12-8- 64, 12-8-65. 127................... Burning of Hazardous 58 FR 59598, 11/9/93............. 391-3-11-.10, 12-8-64, 12-8- Waste in Boilers and 65, 12-8-66. Industrial Furnaces (BIF). 128................... Wastes from Wood 59 FR 458, 1/4/94................ 391-3-11-.02, 391-3-11-.07, 12- Surface Protection. 8-62, 12-8-64, 12-8-65. 129................... Revision of 59 FR 8362, 2/18/94.............. 391-3-11-.07, 12-8-62, 12-8- Conditional 64, 12-8-65. Exemption for Small Scale Treatability Studies from Subtitle C of RCRA. 130................... Recycled Used Oil 59 FR 10550, 3/4/94.............. 391-3-11-.17, 12-8-62, 12-8- Management Standards. 64, 12-8-65, 12-8-66. 131................... Recordkeeping for 59 FR 13891, 3/24/94............. 391-3-11-.10, 12-8-64, 12-8- TSDFs, BIFs, and 65, 12-8-66. Miscellaneous Units. 132................... Wastes from Wood 59 FR 28484, 6/2/94.............. 391-3-11-.02, 12-8-62, 12-8- Surface Protection; 64, 12-8-65. Correction. 133................... Amendments to Letter 59 FR 29958, 6/10/94............. 391-3-11-.05, 12-8-64, 12-8- of Credit. 65, 12-8-66. 134................... Listing of PO 15 59 FR 31551, 6/20/94............. 391-3-11-.07, 391-3-11-.16, 12- Beryllium Powder: 8-62, 12-8-64, 12-8-65. Correction. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Decision I conclude that Georgia's application for these program revisions meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by RCRA. Accordingly, Georgia is granted final authorization to operate its hazardous waste program as revised. Georgia 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. Georgia also has primary enforcement responsibilities, although EPA retains the right to conduct inspections under Section 3007 of RCRA and to take enforcement actions under Section 3008, 3013, and 7003 of RCRA. [[Page 9110]] 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. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), P.L. 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. When a written statement is needed for an EPA rule, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205 do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why that alternative was not adopted. Before EPA establishes any regulatory requirements that may significantly or uniquely affect small governments, including tribal governments, it must have developed under section 203 of the UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must provide for notifying potentially affected small governments, giving them meaningful and timely input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and advising them on compliance with the regulatory requirements. EPA has determined that this rule does not contain a Federal mandate that may result in expenditures of $100 million or more for State, local and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector in any one year. EPA does not anticipate that the approval of Georgia's hazardous waste program referenced in today's notice will result in annual costs of $100 million or more. EPA's approval of state programs generally has a deregulatory effect on the private sector because once it is determined that a state hazardous waste program meets the requirements of RCRA section 3006(b) and the regulations promulgated thereunder at 40 CFR Part 271, owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facilities (TSDFs) may take advantage of the flexibility that an approved state may exercise. Such flexibility will reduce, not increase compliance costs for the private sector. Thus, today's rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA. EPA has determined that this rule contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments. The Agency recognizes that small governments may own and/ or operate TSDFs that will become subject to the requirements of an approved state hazardous waste program. However, such small governments which own and/or operate TSDFs are already subject to the requirements in 40 CFR Parts 264, 265, and 270. Once EPA authorizes a state to administer its own hazardous waste program and any revisions to that program, these same small governments will be able to own and operate their TSDFs with increased levels of flexibility provided under the approved state program. 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 Georgia'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 Environmental protection, 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: February 22, 1996. Phillis P. Harris, Acting Regional Administrator. [FR Doc. 96-4960 Filed 3-6-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P