[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 136 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43702-43704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17872]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 62

[KS 105-1105a; FRL-6733-9]


Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated 
Facilities and Pollutants; Control of Emissions From Hospital/Medical/
Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWI); State of Kansas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving the state of Kansas' section 111(d) plan for 
controlling emissions from existing HMIWIs. The plan was submitted to 
fulfill the requirements of sections 111 and 129 of the Clean Air Act 
(CAA). The state plan establishes emission limits and controls for 
sources constructed on or before June 20, 1996.

DATES: This rule is effective on September 12, 2000 without further 
notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by August 14, 2000. If EPA 
receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the 
direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that 
the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to Wayne Kaiser, Air 
Planning and Development Branch, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, 
Kansas 66101.
    Copies of documents relative to this action are available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at the above listed 
Region 7 location. The interested persons wanting to examine these 
documents should make an appointment with the office at least 24 hours 
in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Kaiser at (913) 551-7603.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we, us, 
or our'' is used, we mean EPA. This section provides additional 
information by addressing the following questions:
    What are the requirements of section 129 of the CAA?
    What is a section 111(d) state plan?
    What is Subpart Ce?
    What are the requirements for the HMIWI state plan? What is 
contained in the Kansas state plan?
    What are the approval criteria for the state plan?

What Are the Requirements of Section 129 of the CAA?

    Section 129 of the CAA Amendments of 1990 requires us to set air 
emission standards and emission guidelines (EG) under the authority of 
section 111 of the CAA to reduce pollution from incinerators that burn 
solid waste. Incinerators that burn medical waste are classified as 
solid waste incinerators and therefore must be regulated.

What Is a Section 111(d) State Plan?

    Section 111(d) of the CAA, ``Standards of Performance for New 
Stationary Sources,'' authorizes us to set air emissions standards for 
certain categories of sources. These standards are called new source 
performance standards (NSPS). When an NSPS is promulgated for new 
sources, we also publish an EG applicable to the control of the same 
pollutant from existing (designated) facilities. States with designated 
facilities must then develop a state plan to adopt the EG into its body 
of regulations and submit it to us for approval. The state plan is 
called a 111(d) plan.

What Is Subpart Ce?

    We issued regulations to reduce air pollution from incinerators 
that are used to burn hospital waste and/or medical/infectious waste. 
The NSPS at 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ec, and the EG, Subpart Ce, were 
promulgated by us on September 15, 1997 (62 FR 48374). These rules 
apply to new and existing incinerators used by hospitals and health 
care facilities, as well as to incinerators used by commercial waste 
disposal companies to burn hospital waste and/or medical/infectious 
waste. The EG applies to existing HMIWIs that commenced construction on 
or before June 20, 1996.
    The Subpart Ce EG is not a direct Federal regulation but is a 
``guideline'' for states to use in regulating existing HMIWIs. The EG 
requires states to submit for our approval a section 111(d) state plan 
containing air emission regulations and compliance schedules for 
existing HMIWIs.

What Are the Requirements for the HMIWI State Plan?

    A section 111(d) state plan submittal must meet the requirements of 
40 CFR Part 60, Subpart B, sections 60.23 through 60.26, and 40 CFR 
Part Ce. Subpart B addresses public participation, legal authority, 
emission standards and other emission limitations, compliance 
schedules,

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emission inventories, source surveillance, and compliance assurance and 
enforcement requirements. The technical requirements for existing HMIWI 
sources are contained in Subpart Ce. A state will generally address the 
HMIWI technical requirements by adopting by reference Subpart Ce. The 
section 111(d) state plan is required to be submitted within one year 
of the EG promulgation date, i.e., by September 15, 1998.
    Prior to submittal to us, the state must make available to the 
public the state plan and provide opportunity for public comment. If a 
state fails to have an approvable plan in place by September 15, 1999, 
sources will be subject to a Federal plan when it is promulgated.

What Is Contained in the Kansas State Plan?

    The state of Kansas submitted its section 111(d) state plan to us 
for approval on May 4, 2000. The state adopted the EG requirements into 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) rules at Kansas 
Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.) Article 19, rules 28-19-729 through 
28-19-729h. The state effective date of these rules is May 5, 2000. The 
section 111(d) state plan contains:
    1. A demonstration of the state's legal authority to implement the 
section 111(d) state plan. Pages one and two of the plan list 15 
separate Kansas statutes which provide the basis for Kansas' authority 
to adopt and implement the 111(d) plan.
    2. State rules K.A.R. 28-19-729 through 28-19-729h, as the 
enforceable mechanism. The specific rules are:
     28-19-729--Standards for ``hospital/medical/infectious 
waste incinerators.''
     28-19-729a--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; definitions.
     28-19-729b--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; emission standards.
     28-19-729c--Standards for ``Hospital/medical/infections 
waste incinerators''; compliance schedule.
     28-19-729d--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; operation, operator training, and qualification 
standards.
     28-19-729e--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; waste management plan.
     28-19-729f--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; inspections.
     28-19-729g--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; compliance, performance testing, and monitoring 
guidelines.
     28-19-729h--``Hospital/medical/infections waste 
incinerators''; reporting and recordkeeping.
    3. An inventory of sources in Appendix A.
    4. An emissions inventory on pages six through eleven, and in Table 
2 of the plan.
    5. Emission limits, as protective as the EG, are contained in rule 
28-19-729b and Table 1 of the rule.
    6. A final compliance date of September 15, 2002, which is 
specified in rule 28-19-729c(b)(2).
    7. Testing, monitoring, and inspection requirements, which are 
contained in rule 28-19-729g.
    8. Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, which are contained in 
rule 28-19-729h.
    9. Operator training and qualification requirements, which are 
contained in rule 28-19-729d.
    10. Requirements for the development of waste management plans, 
which are contained in rule 28-19-729e.
    11. A record of the public notice and hearing requirements is 
provided starting on page 14 of the plan.
    12. Provisions for progress reports to EPA is discussed on page 15 
of the plan.
    13. Title V permit application due date requirements are specified 
on page 13 of the plan. Title V permit applications must be submitted 
no later than September 15, 2000.
    14. A final compliance date of September 15, 2002, is specified in 
the plan on page 13 and in rule 28-19-729c.

What Are the Approval Criteria for the State Plan?

    The state plan was reviewed for approval against the following 
criteria: 40 CFR 60.23 through 60.26, Subpart B, ``Adoption and 
Submittal of State Plans for Designated Facilities,'' and 40 CFR 60, 
60.30e through 60.39e, Subpart Ce, ``Emission Guidelines and Compliance 
Times for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators.'' A detailed 
discussion of our evaluation of the state plan is included in our 
technical support document (TSD) located in the official file for this 
action and available from the EPA contact listed above. The state plan 
meets all of the applicable approval criteria.

Final Action

    Based on the rationale discussed above and in further detail in the 
TSD associated with this action, EPA is approving Kansas' May 4, 2000, 
section 111(d) state plan for the control of HMIWI emissions, except 
for those facilities located in Indian country. Any facilities located 
in Indian country will be subject to a Federal plan. In Kansas there 
are no known HMIWIs in Indian country. Nothing in this action should be 
construed as making any determinations or expressing any position with 
regard to Kansas' audit law (K.S.A. 60-3332, et seq.), and this action 
does not express or imply any viewpoint regarding any legal 
deficiencies in this or any other Federally authorized, deleted, or 
approved program resulting from the effect of Kansas's audit law.
    EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the 
Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no 
adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this 
Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate document 
that will serve as the proposal to approve the state plan should 
adverse comments be filed. This rule will be effective September 12, 
2000 without further notice unless the Agency receives adverse comments 
by August 14, 2000.
    If EPA receives such comments, then EPA will publish a document 
withdrawing the final rule and informing the public that the rule will 
not take effect. All public comments received will then be addressed in 
a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not 
institute a second comment period. Parties interested in commenting 
should do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public 
is advised that this rule will be effective on September 12, 2000 and 
no further action will be taken on the proposed rule.

Administrative Requirements

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. This action 
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes 
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. 
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because 
this rule approves preexisting requirements under state law and does 
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by 
state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4). For the same reason, this 
rule also does not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of 
tribal governments, as

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specified by Executive Order 13084 (63 FR 27655, May 10, 1998). 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), because it merely approves a state rule implementing a 
Federal standard, and does not alter the relationship or the 
distribution of power and responsibilities established in the CAA. This 
rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 
23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
    In reviewing state plan submissions, our role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this 
context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the state 
to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), we have no authority to 
disapprove a state plan submission for failure to use VCS. It would 
thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a 
state plan submission, to use VCS in place of a state plan submission 
that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the CAA. Thus, the 
requirements of section 12(d) 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, we have 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.).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. section 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. We will submit a report containing this 
rule and other required information to the United States Senate, the 
United States House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of 
the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal 
Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is 
published in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. section 804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by September 12, 2000. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does 
it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be 
filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. 
This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its 
requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects 40 CFR Part 62

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Hydrocarbons, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, 
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur 
oxides.

    Dated: June 20, 2000.
Michael Sanderson,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 7.

    Chapter I, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended 
as follows:

PART 62--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 62 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart R--Kansas

    2. Subpart R is amended by adding Sec. 62.4179 and an undesignated 
center heading to read as follows:

Air Emissions From Existing Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste 
Incinerators


Sec. 62.4179  Identification of plan.

    (a) Identification of plan. Kansas plan for the control of air 
emissions from hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators submitted 
by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on May 4, 2000.
    (b) Identification of sources. The plan applies to existing 
hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators constructed on or before 
June 20, 1996.
    (c) Effective date. The effective date of the plan is September 12, 
2000.

[FR Doc. 00-17872 Filed 7-13-00; 8:45 am]
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