[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 89 (Monday, May 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24990-24996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11706]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[FRL-6338-4]


National Priorities List for Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites, 
Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act (``CERCLA'' or ``the Act''), requires that the National 
Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (``NCP'') 
include a list of national priorities among the known releases or 
threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants throughout the United States. The National Priorities List 
(``NPL'') constitutes this list. The NPL is

[[Page 24991]]

intended primarily to guide the Environmental Protection Agency 
(``EPA'' or ``the Agency'') in determining which sites warrant further 
investigation to assess the nature and extent of public health and 
environmental risks associated with the site and to determine what 
CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be appropriate. This 
rule proposes to add one new site to the Federal Facilities section of 
the NPL. The site is the Alameda Naval Air Station site located in 
Alameda, California.

DATES: Comments regarding any of these proposed listings must be 
submitted (postmarked) on or before July 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: By Postal Mail: Mail original and three copies of comments 
(no facsimiles or tapes) to Docket Coordinator, Headquarters; U.S. EPA; 
CERCLA Docket Office; (Mail Code 5201G); 401 M Street, SW; Washington, 
DC 20460; 703/603-9232.
    By Express Mail: Send original and three copies of comments (no 
facsimiles or tapes) to Docket Coordinator, Headquarters; U.S. EPA; 
CERCLA Docket Office; 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway; Crystal Gateway #1, 
First Floor; Arlington, VA 22202.
    By E-Mail: Comments in ASCII format only may be mailed directly to 
[email protected]. E-mailed comments must be followed up by an 
original and three copies sent by mail or express mail.
    For additional Docket addresses and further details on their 
contents, see section II, ``Public Review/Public Comment,'' of the 
Supplementary Information portion of this preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yolanda Singer, phone (703) 603-8835, 
State, Tribal and Site Identification Center, Office of Emergency and 
Remedial Response (Mail Code 5204G), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20460, or the Superfund 
Hotline, Phone (800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810 in the Washington, DC, 
metropolitan area.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. What are CERCLA and SARA?
    B. What is the NCP?
    C. What is the National Priorities List (NPL)?
    D. How are Sites Listed on the NPL?
    E. What Happens to Sites on the NPL?
    F. How Are Site Boundaries Defined?
    G. How Are Sites Removed From the NPL?
    H. Can Portions of Sites Be Deleted from the NPL as They Are 
Cleaned Up?
    I. What is the Construction Completion List (CCL)?
II. Public Review/Public Comment
    A. Can I Review the Documents Relevant to This Proposed Rule?
    B. How do I Access the Documents?
    C. What Documents Are Available for Public Review at the 
Headquarters Docket?
    D. What Documents Are Available for Public Review at the Region 
9 Docket?
    E. How Do I Submit My Comments?
    F. What Happens to My Comments?
    G. What Should I Consider When Preparing My Comments?
    H. Can I Submit Comments After the Public Comment Period Is 
Over?
    I. Can I View Public Comments Submitted by Others?
    J. Can I Submit Comments Regarding Sites Not Currently Proposed 
to the NPL?
III. Contents of This Proposed Rule
    A. Proposed Additions to the NPL
    B. Status of NPL
IV. Executive Order 12866
    A. What is Executive Order 12866?
    B. Is This Proposed Rule Subject to Executive Order 12866 
Review?
V. Unfunded Mandates
    A. What is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)?
    B. Does UMRA Apply to This Proposed Rule?
VI. Effect on Small Businesses
    A. What is the Regulatory Flexibility Act?
    B. Has EPA Conducted a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for This 
Rule?
VII. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
    A. What is the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act?
    B. Does the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act 
Apply to This Proposed Rule?
VIII. Executive Order 12898
    A. What is Executive Order 12898?
    B. Does Executive Order 12898 Apply to this Proposed Rule?
IX. Executive Order 13045
    A. What is Executive Order 13045?
    B. Does Executive Order 13045 Apply to this Proposed Rule?
X. Paperwork Reduction Act
    A. What is the Paperwork Reduction Act?
    B. Does the Paperwork Reduction Act Apply to this Proposed Rule?
XI. Executive Order 12875
    What is Executive Order 12875 and Is It Applicable to this 
Proposed Rule?
XII. Executive Order 13084
    What is Executive Order 13084 and Is It Applicable to this 
Proposed Rule?

I. Background

A. What Are CERCLA and SARA?

    In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9675 (``CERCLA'' or 
``the Act''), in response to the dangers of uncontrolled releases of 
hazardous substances. CERCLA was amended on October 17, 1986, by the 
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (``SARA''), Pub. L. 99-
499, 100 Stat. 1613 et seq.

B. What Is the NCP?

    To implement CERCLA, EPA promulgated the revised National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (``NCP''), 40 CFR part 
300, on July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180), pursuant to CERCLA section 105 and 
Executive Order 12316 (46 FR 42237, August 20, 1981). The NCP sets 
guidelines and procedures for responding to releases and threatened 
releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants under 
CERCLA. EPA has revised the NCP on several occasions. The most recent 
comprehensive revision was on March 8, 1990 (55 FR 8666).
    As required under section 105(a)(8)(A) of CERCLA, the NCP also 
includes ``criteria for determining priorities among releases or 
threatened releases throughout the United States for the purpose of 
taking remedial action and, to the extent practicable, taking into 
account the potential urgency of such action for the purpose of taking 
removal action.'' (``Removal'' actions are defined broadly and include 
a wide range of actions taken to study, clean up, prevent or otherwise 
address releases and threatened releases 42 U.S.C. 9601(23).)

C. What Is the National Priorities List (NPL)?

    The NPL is a list of national priorities among the known or 
threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants throughout the United States. The list, which is appendix 
B of the NCP (40 CFR part 300), was required under section 105(a)(8)(B) 
of CERCLA, as amended by SARA. Section 105(a)(8)(B) defines the NPL as 
a list of ``releases'' and the highest priority ``facilities'' and 
requires that the NPL be revised at least annually. The NPL is intended 
primarily to guide EPA in determining which sites warrant further 
investigation to assess the nature and extent of public health and 
environmental risks associated with a release of hazardous substances. 
The NPL is only of limited significance, however, as it does not assign 
liability to any party or to the owner of any specific property. 
Neither does placing a site on the NPL mean that any remedial or 
removal action necessarily need be taken. See Report of the Senate 
Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senate Rep. No. 96-848, 96th 
Cong., 2d Sess. 60 (1980), 48 FR 40659 (September 8, 1983).
    For purposes of listing, the NPL includes two sections, one of 
sites that are generally evaluated and cleaned up by EPA (the ``General 
Superfund

[[Page 24992]]

section''), and one of sites that are owned or operated by other 
Federal agencies (the ``Federal Facilities section''). With respect to 
sites in the Federal Facilities section, these sites are generally 
being addressed by other Federal agencies. Under Executive Order 12580 
(52 FR 2923, January 29, 1987) and CERCLA section 120, each Federal 
agency is responsible for carrying out most response actions at 
facilities under its own jurisdiction, custody, or control, although 
EPA is responsible for preparing an HRS score and determining whether 
the facility is placed on the NPL. EPA generally is not the lead agency 
at Federal Facilities Section sites, and its role at such sites is 
accordingly less extensive than at other sites.

D. How Are Sites Listed on the NPL?

    There are three mechanisms for placing sites on the NPL for 
possible remedial action (see 40 CFR 300.425(c) of the NCP): (1) A site 
may be included on the NPL if it scores sufficiently high on the Hazard 
Ranking System (``HRS''), which EPA promulgated as a appendix A of the 
NCP (40 CFR part 300). The HRS serves as a screening device to evaluate 
the relative potential of uncontrolled hazardous substances to pose a 
threat to human health or the environment. On December 14, 1990 (55 FR 
51532), EPA promulgated revisions to the HRS partly in response to 
CERCLA section 105(c), added by SARA. The revised HRS evaluates four 
pathways: Ground water, surface water, soil exposure, and air. As a 
matter of Agency policy, those sites that score 28.50 or greater on the 
HRS are eligible for the NPL; (2) Each State may designate a single 
site as its top priority to be listed on the NPL, regardless of the HRS 
score. This mechanism, provided by the NCP at 40 CFR 300.425(c)(2) 
requires that, to the extent practicable, the NPL include within the 
100 highest priorities, one facility designated by each State 
representing the greatest danger to public health, welfare, or the 
environment among known facilities in the State (see 42 U.S.C. 
9605(a)(8)(B)); (3) The third mechanism for listing, included in the 
NCP at 40 CFR 300.425(c)(3), allows certain sites to be listed 
regardless of their HRS score, if all of the following conditions are 
met:

     The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
(ATSDR) of the U.S. Public Health Service has issued a health 
advisory that recommends dissociation of individuals from the 
release.
     EPA determines that the release poses a significant 
threat to public health.
     EPA anticipates that it will be more cost-effective to 
use its remedial authority than to use its removal authority to 
respond to the release.

EPA promulgated an original NPL of 406 sites on September 8, 1983 (48 
FR 40658). The NPL has been expanded since then, most recently on 
January 19, 1999 (64 FR 2942).

E. What Happens to Sites on the NPL?

    A site may undergo remedial action financed by the Trust Fund 
established under CERCLA (commonly referred to as the ``Superfund'') 
only after it is placed on the NPL, as provided in the NCP at 40 CFR 
300.425(b)(1). (``Remedial actions'' are those ``consistent with 
permanent remedy, taken instead of or in addition to removal actions. * 
* *'' 42 U.S.C. 9601(24).) However, under 40 CFR 300.425(b)(2) placing 
a site on the NPL ``does not imply that monies will be expended.'' EPA 
may pursue other appropriate authorities to remedy the releases, 
including enforcement action under CERCLA and other laws.

F. How Are Site Boundaries Defined?

    The NPL does not describe releases in precise geographical terms; 
it would be neither feasible nor consistent with the limited purpose of 
the NPL (to identify releases that are priorities for further 
evaluation), for it to do so.
    Although a CERCLA ``facility'' is broadly defined to include any 
area where a hazardous substance release has ``come to be located'' 
(CERCLA section 101(9)), the listing process itself is not intended to 
define or reflect the boundaries of such facilities or releases. Of 
course, HRS data (if the HRS is used to list a site) upon which the NPL 
placement was based will, to some extent, describe the release(s) at 
issue. That is, the NPL site would include all releases evaluated as 
part of that HRS analysis.
    When a site is listed, the approach generally used to describe the 
relevant release(s) is to delineate a geographical area (usually the 
area within an installation or plant boundaries) and identify the site 
by reference to that area. As a legal matter, the site is not 
coextensive with that area, and the boundaries of the installation or 
plant are not the ``boundaries'' of the site. Rather, the site consists 
of all contaminated areas within the area used to identify the site, as 
well as any other location to which contamination from that area has 
come to be located, or from which that contamination came.
    In other words, while geographic terms are often used to designate 
the site (e.g., the ``Jones Co. plant site'') in terms of the property 
owned by a particular party, the site properly understood is not 
limited to that property (e.g., it may extend beyond the property due 
to contaminant migration), and conversely may not occupy the full 
extent of the property (e.g., where there are uncontaminated parts of 
the identified property, they may not be, strictly speaking, part of 
the ``site''). The ``site'' is thus neither equal to nor confined by 
the boundaries of any specific property that may give the site its 
name, and the name itself should not be read to imply that this site is 
coextensive with the entire area within the property boundary of the 
installation or plant. The precise nature and extent of the site are 
typically not known at the time of listing. Also, the site name is 
merely used to help identify the geographic location of the 
contamination. For example, the ``Jones Co. plant site,'' does not 
imply that the Jones company is responsible for the contamination 
located on the plant site.
    EPA regulations provide that the ``nature and extent of the threat 
presented by a release'' will be determined by a Remedial 
Investigation/Feasibility Study (``RI/FS'') as more information is 
developed on site contamination (40 CFR 300.5). During the RI/FS 
process, the release may be found to be larger or smaller than was 
originally thought, as more is learned about the source(s) and the 
migration of the contamination. However, this inquiry focuses on an 
evaluation of the threat posed; the boundaries of the release need not 
be exactly defined. Moreover, it generally is impossible to discover 
the full extent of where the contamination ``has come to be located'' 
before all necessary studies and remedial work are completed at a site. 
Indeed, the boundaries of the contamination can be expected to change 
over time. Thus, in most cases, it may be impossible to describe the 
boundaries of a release with absolute certainty.
    Further, as noted above, NPL listing does not assign liability to 
any party or to the owner of any specific property. Thus, if a party 
does not believe it is liable for releases on discrete parcels of 
property, supporting information can be submitted to the Agency at any 
time after a party receives notice it is a potentially responsible 
party.
    For these reasons, the NPL need not be amended as further research 
reveals more information about the location of the contamination or 
release.

G. How Are Sites Removed From the NPL?

    EPA may delete sites from the NPL where no further response is 
appropriate under Superfund, as

[[Page 24993]]

explained in the NCP at 40 CFR 300.425(e). This section also provides 
that EPA shall consult with states on proposed deletions and shall 
consider whether any of the following criteria have been met: (i) 
Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all appropriate 
response actions required; (ii) All appropriate Superfund-financed 
response has been implemented and no further response action is 
required; or (iii) The remedial investigation has shown the release 
poses no significant threat to public health or the environment, and 
taking of remedial measures is not appropriate. As of April 26, 1999, 
the Agency has deleted 184 sites from the NPL.

H. Can Portions of Sites Be Deleted From the NPL as They Are Cleaned 
Up?

    In November 1995, EPA initiated a new policy to delete portions of 
NPL sites where cleanup is complete (60 FR 55465, November 1, 1995). 
Total site cleanup may take many years, while portions of the site may 
have been cleaned up and available for productive use. As of April 26, 
1999, EPA has deleted portions of 16 sites.

I. What Is the Construction Completion List (CCL)?

    EPA also has developed an NPL construction completion list 
(``CCL'') to simplify its system of categorizing sites and to better 
communicate the successful completion of cleanup activities (58 FR 
12142, March 2, 1993). Inclusion of a site on the CCL has no legal 
significance.
    Sites qualify for the CCL when: (1) Any necessary physical 
construction is complete, whether or not final cleanup levels or other 
requirements have been achieved; (2) EPA has determined that the 
response action should be limited to measures that do not involve 
construction (e.g., institutional controls); or (3) The site qualifies 
for deletion from the NPL.
    Of the 184 sites that have been deleted from the NPL, 175 sites 
were deleted because they have been cleaned up (the other 9 sites were 
deleted based on deferral to other authorities and are not considered 
cleaned up). In addition, there are 424 sites also on the NPL CCL. 
Thus, as of February 3, 1999, the CCL consists of 599 sites. For the 
most up-to-date information on the CCL, see EPA's Internet site at 
http://www.epa.gov/superfund.

II. Public Review/Public Comment

A. Can I Review the Documents Relevant to This Proposed Rule?

    Yes, documents that form the basis for EPA's evaluation and scoring 
of the Alameda Naval Air Station site in this rule are contained in 
dockets located both at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC and in the 
Region 9 office in San Francisco, CA.

B. How Do I Access the Documents?

    You may view the documents, by appointment only, in the 
Headquarters or the Region 9 docket after the appearance of this 
proposed rule. The hours of operation for the Headquarters docket are 
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding Federal 
holidays. Please contact the Region 9 docket for hours.
    Following is the contact information for the EPA Headquarters 
docket: Docket Coordinator, Headquarters, U.S. EPA CERCLA Docket 
Office, Crystal Gateway #1, 1st Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, VA 22202, 703/603-9232. (Please note this is a visiting 
address only. Mail comments to EPA Headquarters as detailed at the 
beginning of this preamble.)
    The contact information for the Region 9 docket is as follows: 
Carolyn Douglas, Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU), U.S. EPA, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415/744-2343.
    You may also request copies from EPA Headquarters or the Region 9 
docket. An informal request, rather than a formal written request under 
the Freedom of Information Act, should be the ordinary procedure for 
obtaining copies of any of these documents.

C. What Documents Are Available for Public Review at the Headquarters 
Docket?

    The Headquarters docket for this rule contains: HRS score sheets 
for the proposed site; a Documentation Record for the site describing 
the information used to compute the score; information for any site 
affected by particular statutory requirements or EPA listing policies; 
and a list of documents referenced in the Documentation Record.

D. What Documents Are Available for Public Review at the Regional 9 
Docket?

    The Region 9 docket for this rule contains all of the information 
in the Headquarters docket, plus, the actual reference documents 
containing the data principally relied upon and cited by EPA in 
calculating or evaluating the HRS score for the Alameda Naval Air 
Station site. These reference documents are available only in the 
Region 9 docket.

E. How Do I Submit My Comments?

    Comments must be submitted to EPA Headquarters as detailed at the 
beginning of this preamble in the Addresses section.

F. What Happens to My Comments?

    EPA considers all comments received during the comment period. 
Significant comments will be addressed in a support document that EPA 
will publish concurrently with the Federal Register document if, and 
when, the site is listed on the NPL.

G. What Should I Consider When Preparing My Comments?

    Comments that include complex or voluminous reports, or materials 
prepared for purposes other than HRS scoring, should point out the 
specific information that EPA should consider and how it affects 
individual HRS factor values or other listing criteria (Northside 
Sanitary Landfill v. Thomas, 849 F.2d 1516 (D.C. Cir. 1988)). EPA will 
not address voluminous comments that are not specifically cited by page 
number and referenced to the HRS or other listing criteria. EPA will 
not address comments unless they indicate which component of the HRS 
documentation record or what particular point in EPA's stated 
eligibility criteria is at issue.

H. Can I Submit Comments After the Public Comment Period Is Over?

    Generally, EPA will not respond to late comments. EPA can only 
guarantee that it will consider those comments postmarked by the close 
of the formal comment period. EPA has a policy of not delaying a final 
listing decision solely to accommodate consideration of late comments.

I. Can I View Public Comments Submitted by Others?

    During the comment period, comments are placed in the Headquarters 
docket and are available to the public on an ``as received'' basis. A 
complete set of comments will be available for viewing in the Regional 
docket approximately one week after the formal comment period closes.

J. Can I Submit Comments Regarding Sites Not Currently Proposed to the 
NPL?

    In certain instances, interested parties have written to EPA 
concerning sites which were not at that time proposed to the NPL. If 
those sites are later proposed to the NPL, parties should review their 
earlier concerns and, if still appropriate, resubmit those concerns for 
consideration during the formal

[[Page 24994]]

comment period. Site-specific correspondence received prior to the 
period of formal proposal and comment will not generally be included in 
the docket.

III. Contents of This Proposed Rule

A. Proposed Addition to the NPL

    With today's proposed rule, EPA is proposing to add one site to the 
Federal Facilities section; the Alameda Naval Air Station site in 
Alameda, California. The site is being proposed based on an HRS score 
of 28.50 or above.

B. Status of NPL

    A final rule published elsewhere in today's Federal Register 
finalizes 10 sites to the NPL; resulting in an NPL of 1,212 sites 
(1,056 in the General Superfund section and 156 in the Federal 
Facilities section). With this proposal of one new site, there are now 
63 sites proposed and awaiting final agency action, 56 in the General 
Superfund section and 7 in the Federal Facilities section. (Please note 
there was a separate proposed rule published recently on April 23, 1999 
(64 FR 19968) that proposes to add 12 new sites to the NPL along with a 
reproposal of one site.) Final and proposed sites now total 1,275.

IV. Executive Order 12866

A. What Is Executive Order 12866?

    Under Executive Order 12866, (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)) the 
Agency must determine whether a regulatory action is ``significant'' 
and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the 
Executive Order. The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as 
one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) have an annual 
effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a 
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, 
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, 
local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious 
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by 
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of 
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and 
obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy 
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or 
the principles set forth in the Executive Order.

B. Is This Proposed Rule Subject to Executive Order 12866 Review?

    No, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this 
regulatory action from Executive Order 12866 review.

V. Unfunded Mandates

A. What Is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)?

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 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 by State, local, and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Before EPA promulgates a rule for which a written statement 
is needed, 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, enabling 
officials of affected small governments to have meaningful and timely 
input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant 
Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and 
advising small governments on compliance with the regulatory 
requirements.

B. Does UMRA Apply to This Proposed Rule?

    No, 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 by the 
private sector in any one year. This rule will not impose any federal 
intergovernmental mandate because it imposes no enforceable duty upon 
State, tribal or local governments. Listing a site on the NPL does not 
itself impose any costs. Listing does not mean that EPA necessarily 
will undertake remedial action. Nor does listing require any action by 
a private party or determine liability for response costs. Costs that 
arise out of site responses result from site-specific decisions 
regarding what actions to take, not directly from the act of listing a 
site on the NPL.
    For the same reasons, EPA also has determined that this rule 
contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. In addition, as discussed above, the 
private sector is not expected to incur costs exceeding $100 million. 
EPA has fulfilled the requirement for analysis under the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act.

VI. Effect on Small Businesses

A. What Is the Regulatory Flexibility Act?

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996) whenever an agency is required to publish a notice of 
rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions). 
However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of 
an agency certifies the rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide a 
statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

B. Has EPA Conducted a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for This Rule?

    No. While this rule proposes to revise the NPL, an NPL revision is 
not a typical regulatory change since it does not automatically impose 
costs. As stated above, adding sites to the NPL does not in itself 
require any action by any party, nor does it determine the liability of 
any party for the cost of cleanup at the site. Further, no identifiable 
groups are affected as a whole. As a consequence, impacts on any group 
are hard to predict. A site's inclusion on the NPL could increase the 
likelihood of adverse impacts on responsible parties (in the form of 
cleanup costs), but at this time EPA

[[Page 24995]]

cannot identify the potentially affected businesses or estimate the 
number of small businesses that might also be affected.
    The Agency does expect that placing the sites in this proposed rule 
on the NPL could significantly affect certain industries, or firms 
within industries, that have caused a proportionately high percentage 
of waste site problems. However, EPA does not expect the listing of 
these sites to have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small businesses.
    In any case, economic impacts would occur only through enforcement 
and cost-recovery actions, which EPA takes at its discretion on a site-
by-site basis. EPA considers many factors when determining enforcement 
actions, including not only a firm's contribution to the problem, but 
also its ability to pay. The impacts (from cost recovery) on small 
governments and nonprofit organizations would be determined on a 
similar case-by-case basis.
    For the foregoing reasons, I hereby certify that this proposed 
rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Therefore, this proposed 
regulation does not require a regulatory flexibility analysis.

VII. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

A. What Is the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act?

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 
note), directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its 
regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with 
applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards 
are technical standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, 
sampling procedures, and business practices) that are developed or 
adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA 
to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides 
not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.

B. Does the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act Apply To 
This Proposed Rule?

    No. This proposed rulemaking does not involve technical standards. 
Therefore, EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus 
standards.

VIII. Executive Order 12898

A. What Is Executive Order 12898?

    Under Executive Order 12898, ``Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations,'' as well as through EPA's April 1995, ``Environmental 
Justice Strategy, OSWER Environmental Justice Task Force Action Agenda 
Report,'' and National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, EPA has 
undertaken to incorporate environmental justice into its policies and 
programs. EPA is committed to addressing environmental justice 
concerns, and is assuming a leadership role in environmental justice 
initiatives to enhance environmental quality for all residents of the 
United States. The Agency's goals are to ensure that no segment of the 
population, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, 
bears disproportionately high and adverse human health and 
environmental effects as a result of EPA's policies, programs, and 
activities, and all people live in clean and sustainable communities.

B. Does Executive Order 12898 Apply To This Proposed Rule?

    No. While this rule proposes to revise the NPL, no action will 
result from this proposal that will have disproportionately high and 
adverse human health and environmental effects on any segment of the 
population.

IX. Executive Order 13045

A. What Is Executive Order 13045?

    Executive Order 13045: ``Protection of Children from Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies 
to any rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically significant'' 
as defined under E.O. 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health 
or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may have a 
disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action meets 
both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental health or 
safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the 
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and 
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.

B. Does Executive Order 13045 Apply To 3501 This Proposed Rule?

    This proposed rule is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it is not 
an economically significant rule as defined by E.O. 12866, and because 
the Agency does not have reason to believe the environmental health or 
safety risks addressed by this section present a disproportionate risk 
to children.

X. Paperwork Reduction Act

A. What Is the Paperwork Reduction Act?

    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq., an Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to a collection of information that requires OMB 
approval under the PRA, unless it has been approved by OMB and displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations, after initial display in the preamble of the final rules, 
are listed in 40 CFR Part 9. The information collection requirements 
related to this action have already been approved by OMB pursuant to 
the PRA under OMB control number 2070-0012 (EPA ICR No. 574).

B. Does the Paperwork Reduction Act Apply to This Proposed Rule?

    No. EPA has determined that the PRA does not apply because this 
rule does not contain any information collection requirements that 
require approval of the OMB.

XI. Executive Order 12875

What Is Executive Order 12875 and Is It Applicable to This Proposed 
Rule?

    Under Executive Order 12875, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
not required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a State, local 
or tribal government, unless the Federal government provides the funds 
necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by those 
governments, or EPA consults with those governments. If EPA complies by 
consulting, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to provide to the Office 
of Management and Budget a description of the extent of EPA's prior 
consultation with representatives of affected State, local and tribal 
governments, the nature of their concerns, any written communications 
from the governments, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to develop 
an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of State, local and tribal governments ``to provide 
meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
containing significant unfunded mandates.''
    This proposed rule does not create a mandate on State, local or 
tribal governments. The rule does not impose any enforceable duties on 
these entities. Accordingly, the requirements of

[[Page 24996]]

section 1(a) of Executive Order 12875 do not apply to this rule.

XII. Executive Order 13084

What Is Executive Order 13084 and Is It Applicable to This Proposed 
Rule?

    Under Executive Order 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
not required by statute, that significantly or uniquely affects the 
communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes substantial 
direct compliance costs on those communities, unless the Federal 
government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
costs incurred by the tribal governments, or EPA consults with those 
governments. If EPA complies by consulting, Executive Order 13084 
requires EPA to provide to the Office of Management and Budget, in a 
separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation with 
representatives of affected tribal governments, a summary of the nature 
of their concerns, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop 
an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of Indian tribal governments ``to provide meaningful 
and timely input in the development of regulatory policies on matters 
that significantly or uniquely affect their communities.''
    This proposed rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments because it does not 
significantly or uniquely affect their communities. Accordingly, the 
requirements of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 do not apply to 
this rule.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous substances, hazardous waste, Intergovernmental relations, 
Natural resources, Oil pollution, penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water 
supply.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 
2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.

    Dated: April 30, 1999.
Timothy Fields, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response.
[FR Doc. 99-11706 Filed 5-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P