[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14472-14475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6393]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 148, 261, 268, 271, and 302

[FRL-6560-4]
RIN 2050-AD59


Organobromine Production Wastes; Identification and Listing of 
Hazardous Waste; Land Disposal Restrictions; Listing of CERCLA 
Hazardous Substances, Reportable Quantities; Final Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is announcing 
the vacature of regulatory provisions governing the identification of 
certain wastes as listed hazardous wastes. EPA is amending its 
regulations to conform with an order issued by the United States Court 
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Cir.) in Great 
Lakes Chemical Corporation v. EPA (No. 98-1312), that vacated Agency 
regulations listing certain organobromine wastes as hazardous wastes 
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
    EPA also is modifying the land disposal restrictions treatment 
standards in 40 CFR part 268 by deleting these wastes and the 
associated treatment standards. In addition, EPA is vacating the 
Reportable Quantity (RQ) requirements for these notifications. Under 
the court's order, and as amended in today's rule, the vacated federal 
hazardous waste listings and regulatory requirements based on those 
listings are to be treated as though they were never in effect. State 
regulations, which may be more stringent than federal rules, were not 
necessarily affected by the court's ruling.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule will be effective on March 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: EPA does not seek comment on this document. EPA will keep 
the official record for this action in paper form. The official record 
of this action is identified by Docket Number F-98-OBLF-FFFFF. The 
public may view supporting materials in the RCRA Information Center 
(RIC), located at EPA, Crystal Gateway #1, 1st Floor, 1235 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. To review 
docket materials, we recommend that you make an appointment by calling 
(703) 603-9230. You may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory 
docket at no charge. Additional copies cost $0.15/page.
    Supporting materials are available for viewing in the RCRA 
Information Center (RIC), Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, US EPA Ariel Rios (5101), 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA Hotline at (800) 424-9346 or TDD (800) 553-7672 (hearing 
impaired). In the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, call (703) 412-
9810 or TDD (703) 412-3323. For information on specific aspects of the 
rule, contact William (Rick) Brandes of the Office of Solid Waste 
(5304W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US EPA Ariel Rios, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. [E-mail address and 
telephone numbers: [email protected], (703) 308-8871.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: . The court order vacating the listing 
determination will be added to Docket Number F-98-OBLF-FFFFF, the 
public docket for the rule that listed the organobromine wastes as 
hazardous. The rule, ``Organobromine Production Wastes; Identification 
and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Land Disposal Restrictions; Listing of 
CERCLA Hazardous Substances, Reportable Quantities,'' was issued in the 
Federal Register at 63 FR 24596 (May 4, 1998). EPA will keep the 
official record for this action in paper form. The official record is 
the paper record maintained at the address in the ADDRESSES section.

Contents of This Final Rule

I. Background
II. Amended Regulations
III. State Authority

[[Page 14473]]

IV. Good Cause Exemption from Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking 
Procedures
V. Administrative Assessments

I. Background

    On May 4, 1998, EPA published in the Federal Register (63 FR 24596) 
a final rule listing as hazardous wastes under RCRA two wastes 
generated by the organobromine production industry. The rule added 
2,4,6-tribromophenol to the list of commercial chemical products that 
are hazardous wastes only when they are discarded. This list is found 
at 40 CFR 261.33 and is divided into acutely hazardous wastes (``P-
wastes'') and other toxic wastes (U-wastes''). 2,4,6-tribromophenol was 
designated waste code U408. Sweepings, off-specification product, and 
spent filter media from the production of 2,4,6-tribromophenol were 
added to the list of hazardous wastes from specific sources and 
designated as waste code K140. As part of the listing determination, 
and in accordance with Agency regulations, EPA also listed in Appendix 
VII of 40 CFR part 261 the hazardous constituents in the wastes upon 
which the listings were based.
    The May 4, 1998 final rule also designated the two organobromine 
wastes as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive, Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9601, and 
added them to the hazardous substance list at 40 CFR 302.4 with 
adjusted reportable quantities (RQs) of 100 pounds. EPA also 
promulgated land disposal restriction (LDR) regulations for the 
organobromine wastes. EPA amended its requirements for approval of 
state hazardous waste programs by adding the organobromine listings and 
LDR regulations to Tables 1 and 2 of 40 CFR 271.1. These tables list 
the regulations that establish the requirements and prohibitions 
applicable to state hazardous waste programs.
    On April 9, 1999, the D.C. Circuit in Great Lakes Chemical 
Corporation v. EPA, ordered that the organobromine listing 
determinations be vacated. Accordingly, EPA is removing from the Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) the listings vacated by the court and all 
references to those listings. Today's document notifies the public that 
EPA is deleting from the lists of hazardous waste found in 40 CFR part 
261, subpart D two wastes previously designated as hazardous waste 
codes K140 and U408. The first waste, previously designated as K140, is 
sweepings, off-speculation product and spent filter media from the 
production of 2,4,6-tribromophenol. The second waste, previously 
designated as U408, is 2,4,6-tribromophenol (commercial chemical 
product). EPA also is deleting 2,4,6-tribromophenol from the list of 
hazardous constituents in Appendix VIII of 40 CFR part 261. In 
addition, EPA is modifying the land disposal restrictions treatment 
standards in 40 CFR part 268 by deleting these wastes and the 
associated treatment standards. EPA also is vacating the Reportable 
Quantity (RQ) requirements for these notifications.
    The effect of vacating the hazardous waste listing determination 
for these wastes is to clarify that these two wastestreams are not 
subject to the hazardous waste management and treatment standards under 
RCRA, as well as not subject to emergency notification requirements for 
releases of hazardous substances to the environment.

II. Amended Regulations

    In 40 CFR 261.32, the following K-waste listing is deleted: K140--
Floor sweepings, off-specification product and spent filter media from 
the production of 2,4,6-tribromophenol.
    In the table in 40 CFR 261.33(f) the following U-waste listing is 
deleted:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Chemical abstracts
Hazardous waste number          number                  Substance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U408..................  118-79-6..............  2,4,6-Tribromophenol.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA also is deleting 2,4,6-tribromophenol from the hazardous 
constituent list in Appendix VII of 40 CFR Part 261. The Agency is 
deleting any mention of the vacated hazardous waste codes in Appendix 
VIII.
    While the regulations for waste management at 40 CFR parts 262 
through 266 are not affected by the court's action with regard to the 
vacature of the hazardous waste listing determinations for K140 and 
U408, it is clear that the regulations are not applicable to the 
vacated hazardous waste listings (unless those wastes exhibit a 
hazardous waste characteristic described in 40 CFR part 261, subpart 
C). However, to the extent that the wastes described in the vacated 
listings were included in federal permits before the ruling, 
appropriate action may need to be taken by permittees and permitting 
authorities to amend the permits. Any need to revise state permits will 
depend on state law. Since state law may be more stringent than federal 
law, there may be circumstances in which a facility managing 
organobromine wastes may be required to retain the state permits.
    The land disposal restriction (LDR) regulations for hazardous 
wastes are amended to remove K140 and U408. Specifically, the Agency is 
amending 40 CFR 268.33 to remove LDR requirements for K140 and U408 and 
amending the table in 40 CFR 268.40 to remove the entries for K140 and 
U408. In addition, 2,4,6-tribromophenol is removed from the Universal 
Treatment Standards table in 40 CFR 268.48.
    Today's final rule also removes the vacated K140 and U408 wastes 
from CERCLA designation as hazardous substances. Accordingly, these 
wastes are removed from the list of CERCLA hazardous substances at 40 
CFR 302.4.

III. State Authority

    The tables in 40 CFR 271.1 are amended to reflect the issuance of 
this document so that states will understand they are not required by 
the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to adopt the 
hazardous waste listings for K140 and U408. Since today's rule does not 
establish any new regulations, no additional requirements or 
obligations are imposed on the states by its promulgation. RCRA section 
3009 provides that states may not issue regulations less stringent than 
those authorized under subtitle C or RCRA. However, section 3009 of 
RCRA also provides that states may impose more stringent requirements 
than those regulations promulgated by EPA under subtitle C. Thus, 
regulations vacated by the court in Great Lakes Chemical Corporation v. 
EPA may be permissible under state law.

IV. Good Cause Exemption from Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking 
Procedures

    The Administrative Procedure Act generally requires agencies to 
provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing 
a final rule (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). Rules are exempt from this requirement 
if the issuing agency finds for good cause that notice and comment are 
unnecessary (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B)).
    EPA has determined that providing prior notice and opportunity for 
comment on the regulations amending the RCRA hazardous waste management 
requirements to comply with the court decision vacating the hazardous 
waste listing determinations for waste codes K140 and U408, is not 
necessary. The regulations are no longer legally in effect by order of 
the federal court of appeals. Thus, amending the hazardous waste 
regulations has no legal impact and only states the current legal 
status of the rules.

[[Page 14474]]

    For the same reasons stated above, EPA believes there is good cause 
for making the amending regulations immediately effective. (See 5 
U.S.C. 553(d))

V. Administrative Assessments

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), today's 
action has no regulatory impact because it merely reflects the current 
legal status of the regulations. This ``regulatory action'' does not 
impose annual costs of $100 million or more and is not a subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget. Because this action only 
amends the CFR to comply with the current legal status of the rules, it 
is not subject to the regulatory flexibility provisions of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or to sections 202, 
204 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public 
Law 104-4). This action will not significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments, as specified in section 203 of UMRA, or communities of 
tribal governments, as specified in Executive Order 13084 (63 FR 27655, 
May 10, 1998). For the same reason, this rule will not have substantial 
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified 
in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This rule also 
is not subject to Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 
1997), because it is not economically significant and because the 
Agency does not have reason to believe the environmental health or 
safety risks addressed by this action present a disproportionate risk 
to children.
    This rule does not involve technical standards; thus, the 
requirements of section 12(c) of the National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required 
by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), 
in issuing this rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate 
drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and 
provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied 
with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining 
the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ``Attorney 
General's Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and 
Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings'' issued under the executive order. 
This rule does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).
    Today's final rule will have no effect upon minority and/or low-
income populations. The amending regulations promulgated today reflect 
current law and are meant only to amend the Code of Federal Regulations 
to comply with the current legal status of the rules. Therefore, 
today's rule is not subject to Executive Order 12898, ``Federal Actions 
to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations.''
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. Section 808 allows the issuing agency to make a rule 
effective sooner than otherwise provided by the CRA if the agency makes 
a good cause finding that notice and public procedure is impracticable, 
unnecessary or contrary to the public interest. This determination must 
be supported by a brief statement. 5 U.S.C. 808(2). As stated 
previously, EPA has made such a good cause finding, including the 
reasons therefor, and established an effective date of March 17, 2000. 
EPA will submit 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 United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 148

    Administrative practice and procedure, Hazardous waste, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Water supply.

40 CFR Part 261

    Environmental protection, Hazardous materials, Waste treatment and 
disposal, Recycling.

40 CFR Part 268

    Environmental protection, Hazardous materials, Waste management, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Land disposal restrictions, 
Treatment standards.

40 CFR Part 271

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Confidential business information, Hazardous material transportation, 
Hazardous waste, Indians-lands, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution control, 
Water supply.

40 CFR Part 302

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, Extremely hazardous 
substances, Hazardous chemicals, Hazardous materials, Hazardous 
materials transportation, Hazardous substances, Hazardous waste, 
Intergovernmental relations, Natural resources, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Waste treatment and disposal, 
Water pollution control, Water supply.

    Dated: March 8, 2000.
Timothy R. Fields, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.


    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 40, chapter 1 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 148--HAZARDOUS WASTE INJECTION RESTRICTIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 148 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 3004, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 
U.S.C. 6901 et seq.


Sec. 148.18  [Amended]

    2. Section 148.18 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph 
(f).

PART 261--IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

    3. The authority citation for part 261 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921, 6922, and 6938.


Sec. 261.32  [Amended]

    4. Section 261.32 is amended in the table under ``Organic 
Chemicals'' by removing the entry for K140.


Sec. 261.33  [Amended]

    5. Section 261.33(f) is amended in the table by removing in its 
entirety the entry for U408 (2,4,6-Tribromophenol).

Appendix VII to Part 261 [Amended]

    6. Appendix VII to Part 261 is amended by removing the entire entry 
for EPA hazardous waste number K140.

[[Page 14475]]

Appendix VIII to Part 261 [Amended]

    7. Appendix VIII to Part 261 is amended by removing the entire 
entry for 2,4,6-Tribromophenol.

PART 268--LAND DISPOSAL RESTRICTIONS

    8. The authority citation for part 268 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921, and 6924.

Subpart C--Prohibitions on Land Disposal


Sec. 268.33  [Amended]

    9. Section 268.33 is removed and reserved.

Subpart D--Treatment Standards


Sec. 268.40  [Amended]

    10. In Sec. 268.40, the table is amended by removing the entire 
entries for K140 and U408.


Sec. 268.48  [Amended]

    11. In Sec. 268.48, the table is amended by removing the entire 
entry for 2,4,6-Tribromophenol.

PART 271--REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORIZATION OF STATE HAZARDOUS WASTE 
PROGRAMS

    12. The authority citation for part 271 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), and 6926.

    13. Section 271.1(j) is amended by adding the following entry to 
Table 1 in chronological order by date of publication in the Federal 
Register, and by adding the following entries to Table 2 in 
chronological order by date of publication in the Federal Register to 
read as follows:


Sec. 271.1  Purpose and scope.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *

               Table 1.--Regulations Implementing the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984
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                                                                    Federal Register
          Promulgation date              Title of regulation           reference              Effective date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
March 17, 2000.......................  Vacated Organobromine    [insert FEDERAL          November 4, 1998.
                                        wastes.                  REGISTER page
                                                                 numbers.].
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Table 2.--Self-Implementing Provisions of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Self-implementing                                  Federal Register
            Effective date                    provision              RCRA citation              reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
November 4, 1998.....................  Prohibition on land      3004(g)(4)(c) and        3/17/00.
                                        disposal of              3004(m).                [insert FR page
                                        organobromine waste                               numbers.].
                                        (Vacated wastes).
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
November 4, 1998.....................  Prohibition on land      3004(m) and              3/17/00.
                                        disposal of              3004(g)(4)(c).          [insert FR page
                                        radioactive waste                                 numbers.].
                                        mixed with the newly
                                        listed and identified
                                        wastes, including soil
                                        and debris (Vacated
                                        organobromine wastes).
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 302--DESIGNATION, REPORTABLE QUANTITIES, AND NOTIFICATION

    14. The authority citation for part 302 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 9602, 9603, and 9604; 33 U.S.C. 1321 and 
1361.

Sec. 302.4  [Amended]

    15. Section 302.4 is amended by removing the entries in Table 
302.4, in their entirety, for ``2,4,6-Tribromophenol,'' and for ``K140 
Floor sweepings, off-specification product and spent filter media from 
the production of 2,4,6-tribromophenol.''

Appendix A to Sec. 302.4 [Amended]

    16. Appendix A to Sec. 302.4--Sequential CAS Registry Number List 
of CERCLA Hazardous Substances is amended by removing the entire entry 
for CAS Registry Number 118796.

[FR Doc. 00-6393 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P