[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 208 (Friday, October 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55223-55225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27479]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[FRL-5638-9]


Montana: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management 
Program Revision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

Action: Immediate final rule.

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SUMMARY: Montana has applied for final authorization of revisions to 
its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act (RCRA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 
reviewed Montana's application and has made a decision, subject to 
public review and comment, that Montana's hazardous waste program 
revision satisfies all of the requirements necessary to qualify for 
final authorization. Thus, EPA intends to approve Montana's hazardous 
waste program revisions. Montana's application for program revision is 
available for public review and comment.

DATES: Final authorization for Montana shall be effective December 24, 
1996, unless EPA publishes a prior Federal Register action withdrawing 
this immediate final rule. All comments on Montana's program revision

[[Page 55224]]

application must be received by the close of business November 25, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Montana's program revision application are 
available during regular business hours at the following addresses for 
inspection and copying: Permitting and Compliance Division, Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality, 2209 Phoenix Ave., Helena, Montana 
59601, Phone: 406/444-1430 and U.S. EPA Region VIII, Montana Office, 
301 S. Park, Federal Building, Helena, MT 59626, Phone: 406/441-1130. 
Written comments should be sent to: Eric Finke, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 301 S. Park, Drawer 10096, Helena, MT 59626.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Finke, Waste and Toxics Team 
Leader, U.S. EPA, 301 S. Park, Drawer 10096, Helena, MT 59626, Phone: 
(406) 441-1130 x239.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    States with final authorization under Section 3006(b) of the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA'' or the ``the Act''), 
42 U.S.C. 6929(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 EPA's regulations in 40 CFR Parts 260-268, 
124, 270, and 279. These regulatory changes are grouped into clusters.

B. Montana

    Montana received partial Phase I Interim authorization in February, 
1981. Complete Phase I authorization was received in February, 1982. 
Final authorization of the ``base program'' was received in July, 1984. 
Montana received final authorization of its first update, known as Non-
HSWA clusters I through IV in March 1994. A draft program revision 
application was submitted in August 1992 and the final application on 
February 27, 1995. Today Montana is seeking approval of its program 
revision in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21(b)(3). Specific provisions 
which are included in the Montana program authorization revision sought 
today are listed in the Table below.
    EPA has reviewed Montana's application and has made an immediate 
final decision that Montana'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 Montana. The public may submit 
written comments on EPA's immediate final decision until November 25, 
1996. Copies of Montana's application for program revision are 
available for inspection and copying at the locations indicated in the 
``Addresses'' section of this notice.
    Approval of Montana's program revision shall become effective in 60 
days unless a comment opposing the authorization revision 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. Upon the effective date of this 
approval, Montana will be authorized to carry out, in lieu of the 
Federal program, those provisions of the State's program which are 
analogous to the following provisions of the Federal program:

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       HSWA or FR Reference                 State Equivalent \1\        
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Identification and listing of      75-10-403, 75-10-405, MCA.           
 Hazardous Waste; Treatability                                          
 Studies Sample Exemption, 53 FR                                        
 27290, 07/19/88.                                                       
Hazardous Waste Management         75-10-405, MCA.                      
 System; Standards for Hazardous                                        
 Waste Storage and Treatment Tank                                       
 Systems, 53 FR 34079, 09/02/88.                                        
Identification and Listing of      75-10-405, MCA                       
 Hazardous Waste; and                                                   
 Designation, Reportable                                                
 Quantities, and Notification, 53                                       
 FR 35412, 09/13/88.                                                    
Permit Modifications for           75-10-405, 75-10-406, MCA            
 Hazardous Waste Management                                             
 Facilities, 53 FR 37912, 09/28/                                        
 88; and 53 FR 41649, 10/24/88.                                         
Statistical Methods for            75-10-405, MCA.                      
 Evaluation ground Water                                                
 Monitoring data from Hazardous                                         
 Waste Facilities, 53 FR 39720,                                         
 10/11/88.                                                              
Identification and Listing of      75-10-405, MCA.                      
 Hazardous Waste; Removal of Iron                                       
 Dextran from the List of                                               
 Hazardous Wastes, 53 FR 43878,                                         
 10/31/88.                                                              
Identification and Listing of      75-10-405, MCA.                      
 Hazardous Waste; Removal of                                            
 Strontium Sulfide from the List                                        
 of Hazardous Wastes, 53 FR                                             
 43881, 10/31/88.                                                       
Hazardous Waste Miscellaneous      75-10-405, MCA.                      
 Units; Standards Applicable to                                         
 Owners and Operators (Technical                                        
 Correction), 54 FR 615, 01/09/89.                                      
Amendment to Requirements for      75-10-405, MCA.                      
 Hazardous Waste Incinerator                                            
 Permits, 54 FR 4286, 01/30/89.                                         
Changes to Interim Status          75-10-404 and 75-10-405, MCA.        
 Facilities for Hazardous Waste                                         
 Management Permits;                                                    
 Modifications of Hazardous Waste                                       
 Permits; Procedures for Post-                                          
 Closure Permitting, 54 FR 9596,                                        
 03/07/89.                                                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ References are to the Administrative Rules of Montana, revised      
  September 30, 1995 and the Montana Code as Annotated (MCA).           

Indian Reservations

    The program revision does not extend to ``Indian Country'' as 
defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 1151, including lands within the exterior 
boundaries of the following Indian reservations located within the 
State of Montana.
    1. Blackfeet Indian Reservation
    2. Crow Tribe of Montana Indian Reservation
    3. Flathead Indian Reservation
    4. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
    5. Fort Peck Indian Reservation
    6. Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation
    7. Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation
    In excluding Indian Country from the scope of this program 
revision, EPA is not making a determination that the State either has 
adequate jurisdiction or lacks jurisdiction over sources in Indian 
Country. Should the State of Montana

[[Page 55225]]

choose to seek program authorization within Indian Country, it may do 
so without prejudice. Before EPA would approve the State's program for 
any portion of Indian Country, EPA would have to be satisfied that the 
State has authority, either pursuant to explicit Congressional 
authorization or applicable principles of Federal Indian law, to 
enforce its laws against existing and potential pollution sources 
within any geographical area for which it seeks program approval and 
that such approval would constitute sound administrative practice.
    There are no EPA-issued RCRA permits in Indian Country at this 
time.

C. Decision

    I conclude that Montana's application for program revision meets 
all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by RCRA. 
Accordingly, Montana is granted final authorization to operate its 
hazardous waste program as revised by this application.
    Montana has responsibility for permitting treatment, storage, and 
disposal facilities within its borders and carrying out other aspects 
of the RCRA program, subject to the limitation of its revised program 
application and previously approved authorities. Montana also has 
primary enforcement responsibilities, although EPA retains the right to 
conduct inspections under Section 3007 of RCRA and to issue orders 
under Section 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

    EPA has determined that this authorization will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Such small entities which are hazardous waste generators, transporters, 
or which own and/or operate TSDFs are already subject to the regulatory 
requirements under existing State law which are being authorized by 
EPA. EPA's authorization does not impose any additional burdens on 
these small entities. This is because EPA's authorization would simply 
result in an administrative change, rather than a change in the 
substantive requirements imposed on these small entities.
    Therefore, EPA provides the following certification under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act. Pursuant to the provision at 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 approves regulatory requirements under existing State law 
to which small entities are already subject. It does not impose any new 
burdens on small entities. This rule, therefore, does not require a 
regulatory flexibility analysis.

Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office

    Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report 
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, 
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Comptroller General of the 
General Accounting Office prior to publication of the rule in today's 
Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
U.S.C. 804(2).

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 certain regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under sections 202 and 205 of the 
UMRA, EPA generally must prepare a written statement of economic and 
regulatory alternatives analyses for proposed and final rules with 
Federal mandates, as defined by the UMRA, 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. The 
section 202 and 205 requirements do not apply to today's action because 
it is not a ``Federal mandate'' and because it does not impose annual 
costs of $100 million or more.
    Today's rule contains no Federal mandates for State, local or 
tribal governments or the private sector for two reasons. First, 
today's action does not impose new or additional enforceable duties on 
any State, local or tribal governments or the private sector because 
the requirements of the Montana program are already imposed by the 
State and subject to State law. Second, the Act also generally excludes 
from the definition of a ``Federal mandate'' duties that arise from 
participation in a voluntary Federal program. Montana's participation 
in an authorized hazardous waste program is voluntary.
    Even if today's rule did contain a Federal mandate, this rule will 
not result in annual expenditures of $100 million or more for State, 
local, and/or tribal governments in the aggregate, or the private 
sector. Costs to State, local and/or tribal governments already exist 
under the Montana program, and today's action does not impose any 
additional obligations on regulated entities. In fact, EPA's approval 
of state programs generally may reduce, not increase, compliance costs 
for the private sector.
    The requirements of section 203 of UMRA also do not apply to 
today's action. Before EPA establishes any regulatory requirements that 
may significantly or uniquely affect small governments, section 203 of 
the UMRA requires EPA to develop a small government agency plan. This 
rule contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. The Agency recognizes that although 
small governments may be hazardous waste generators, transporters, or 
own and/or operate TSDFs, they are already subject to the regulatory 
requirements under existing state law which are being authorized by 
EPA, and, thus, are not subject to any additional significant or unique 
requirements by virtue of this program approval.

    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 9, 1996.
Jack W. McGraw,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-27479 Filed 10-24-96; 8:45 am]
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