[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66153-66154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27622]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7402-3; CWA-HQ-2002-6001; EPCRA-HQ-2002-6001; CAA-HQ-2002-6001; 
RCRA-HQ-2002-6001]


Clean Water Act Class II: Proposed Administrative Settlement, 
Penalty Assessment and Opportunity To Comment Regarding NEXTEL 
Communications, Inc., et. al. and NII Holdings, Inc.

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has entered into a consent agreement with NEXTEL 
Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and NII Holdings, Inc., 
collectively referred to as ``NEXTEL'', to resolve violations of the 
Clean Water Act (``CWA''), the Clean Air Act (``CAA''), the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA''), and the Emergency Planning 
and Community Right-to-Know Act (``EPCRA'') and their implementing 
regulations.
    The Administrator, as required by CWA section 311(b)(6)(C), 33 
U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(C), is hereby providing public notice of, and an 
opportunity for interested persons to comment on, this consent 
agreement and proposed final order. EPA is also providing public notice 
of, and opportunity for interested parties to comment on, the CAA, 
RCRA, and EPCRA portions of this consent agreement.
    NEXTEL failed to prepare Spill Prevention Control and 
Countermeasure (``SPCC'') plans for forty-eight facilities where they 
stored diesel oil in above ground tanks. EPA, as authorized by CWA 
section 311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6), has assessed a civil penalty 
for these violations.
    NEXTEL failed to obtain the appropriate operating permits or 
exemptions at eight facilities in violation of CAA section 110, 42 
U.S.C. 7410, and various state implementation plan (``SIP'') 
requirements for emergency generators. EPA, as authorized by CAA 
section 113(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(1), has assessed a civil penalty 
for these violations.
    NEXTEL failed to file an emergency planning notification with the 
State Emergency Response Commission (``SERC'') and to provide the name 
of an emergency contact to the Local Emergency Planning Committee 
(``LEPC''). NEXTEL failed to submit Material Safety Data Sheets 
(``MSDS'') or a list of chemicals to the LEPC, the SERC, and the fire 
department with jurisdiction over each facility for seventy-five 
facilities in violation of EPCRA section 311, 42 U.S.C. 11021. At 
sixty-six facilities, NEXTEL failed to submit an Emergency and 
Hazardous Chemical Inventory form to the LEPC, the SERC, and the fire 
department with jurisdiction over each facility in violation of EPCRA 
section 312, 42 U.S.C. 11022. EPA, as authorized by EPCRA section 325, 
42 U.S.C. 11045, has assessed a civil penalty for these violations.
    NEXTEL failed to make a hazardous waste determination and 
improperly disposed of hazardous waste at one facility in violation of 
9 VAC 20-60-261(A), [40 CFR 261.5(g)(1) and (g)(3)]. NEXTEL violated 
RCRA section 9003(d), 42 U.S.C. 6991b(d) when the insurance policy for 
underground storage tanks failed to use the terms ``corrective action'' 
or ``sudden, non-sudden or accidental release'' to describe coverage 
for four facilities. At one facility NEXTEL failed to notify the State 
or local agency or department of the existence of an underground 
storage tank in violation of RCRA section 9002(a), 42 U.S.C. 
6991(a)(1). NEXTEL failed to follow all of the relevant underground 
storage tank regulations in violation of RCRA section 9003, 42 U.S.C. 
6991b at one facility.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Docket Office, Enforcement and 
Compliance Docket and Information Center (2201T), Docket Number EC-
2002-021, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room B133, Washington, DC 20460 (in triplicate 
if possible.)
    Please use a font size no smaller than 12. Comments may also be 
sent electronically to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 566-1511. 
Attach electronic comments as a text file and try to avoid the use of 
special characters and any forms of encryption. Please be sure to 
include the Docket Number EC-2002-021 on your document.
    In person, deliver comments to U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room B133, Washington, 
DC 20460. Parties interested in reviewing docket information may do so 
by calling (202) 566-1512 or (202) 566-1513. A reasonable fee may be 
charged by EPA for copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Cavalier, Multimedia Enforcement 
Division (2248-A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-
3271; fax: (202) 564-9001; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Copies: Electronic copies of this 
document are available from the EPA Home Page under the link ``Laws and 
Regulations'' at the Federal Register--Environmental Documents entry 
(http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr).

I. Background

    NEXTEL Communications, Inc., its subsidiaries, and NII Holdings, 
Inc. are telecommunications companies incorporated in the States of 
Delaware, Georgia, and Texas. NEXTEL is located at 2001 Edmond Halley 
Drive, Reston, Virginia, 20191 and NII Holdings, Inc. is located at 
10700 Parkridge Boulevard, Suite 600, Reston, Virginia, 20191. NEXTEL 
disclosed, pursuant to the EPA ``Incentives for Self-Policing: 
Discovery, Disclosures, Correction and Prevention of Violations'' 
(``Audit Policy''), 65 FR 19618 (April 11, 2000), that they failed to 
prepare SPCC plans for forty-eight facilities where they stored diesel 
oil in above ground storage tanks, in violation of the CWA section 
311(b)(3) and 40

[[Page 66154]]

CFR part 112. NEXTEL disclosed that for eight facilities they had 
failed to obtain operating permits or exemptions in violation of CAA 
section 110, 42 U.S.C. 7410, and various SIP requirements for emergency 
generators. Nextel disclosed that at seventy-two facilities they had 
failed to file emergency planning notifications with the SERC and 
failed to provide the name of an emergency contact to the LEPC, in 
violation of EPCRA sections 302 and 393, 42 U.S.C. 7413(a)(1). Nextel 
further disclosed that at seventy-five facilities they had failed to 
submit MSDS' or a list of chemicals to the LEPC, SERC, and the fire 
departments with jurisdiction over the facilities, in violation of 
EPCRA section 311, 42 U.S.C. 11021; and that at sixty-six facilities 
had failed to submit an Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory for 
the LEPC, SERC, and fire departments with jurisdiction over the 
facilities, in violation of EPCRA section 312, 42 U.S.C. 11022. At four 
facilities Nextel failed to ensure that the language in their financial 
assurance insurance policies for underground storage tanks was not 
exactly as required by regulation, in violation of RCRA section 
9003(d), 42 U.S.C. 6991(d). Nextel violated RCRA section 9002(a)(1), 42 
U.S.C. 6991(a)(1) when it failed to notify the state of the existence 
of an underground storage tank at one facility; and Nextel violated 
RCRA section 9003, 42 U.S.C. 6991b and all of the relevant underground 
storage tank regulations at one facility. Nextel failed to make a 
hazardous waste determination and improperly disposed of hazardous 
waste at one facility in violation of 9-VAC 20-60-261(A).
    EPA determined that Nextel met the criteria set out in the Audit 
Policy for a 100% waiver of the gravity component of the penalty. As a 
result, EPA waived the gravity based penalty ($1,994,810) and proposed 
a settlement penalty amount of thirty-five thousand and four dollars 
($35,004). This is the amount of the economic benefit gained by Nextel, 
attributable to their delayed compliance with the CWA, CAA, RCRA, and 
EPCRA regulations. Nextel Communications, Inc. has agreed to pay this 
amount. EPA and Nextel negotiated and signed an administrative consent 
agreement, following the Consolidated Rules of Practice, 40 CFR 
22.13(b), on October 18, 2002 (In Re: Nextel Communications, Inc et. 
al. and NII Holdings, Inc., Docket Nos. CWA-HQ-2002-6001, EPCRA-HQ-
2002-6001, CAA-HQ-2002-6001, and RCRA-HQ-2002-6001). This consent 
agreement is subject to public notice and comment under CWA section 
311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6). EPA is expanding this opportunity for 
public comment to all other aspects of this consent agreement.
    Under CWA section 311(b)(6)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1321 (b)(6)(A), any 
owner, operator, or person in charge of a vessel, onshore facility, or 
offshore facility from which oil is discharged in violation of the CWA 
section 311(b)(3), 33 U.S.C. 1321 (b)(3), or who fails or refuses to 
comply with any regulations that have been issued under CWA section 
311(j), 33 U.S.C. 1321(j), may be assessed an administrative civil 
penalty of up to $137,500 by EPA. Class II proceedings under CWA 
section 311(b)(6) are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR part 22.
    Under CAA section 113(d), the Administrator may issue an 
administrative order assessing a civil penalty against any person who 
has violated an applicable implementation plan or any other requirement 
of the Act, including any rule, order, waiver, permit or plan. 
Proceedings under CAA section 113(d) are conducted in accordance with 
40 CFR part 22.
    Under EPCRA section 325, the Administrator may issue an 
administrative order assessing a civil penalty against any person who 
has violated applicable emergency planning or right to know 
requirements, or any other requirement of the Act. Proceedings under 
EPCRA section 325 are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR part 22.
    Under RCRA section 3008, the Administrator may issue an 
administrative order assessing a civil penalty against any person who 
has violated applicable underground storage tank or hazardous waste 
requirements, or any other requirement of the Act. Proceedings under 
RCRA section 3008 are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR part 22.
    The procedures by which the public may comment on a proposed Class 
II penalty order, or participate in a Clean Water Act Class II penalty 
proceeding, are set forth in 40 CFR 22.45. The deadline for submitting 
public comment on this proposed final order is November 29, 2002. All 
comments will be transferred to the Environmental Appeals Board 
(``EAB'') of EPA for consideration. The powers and duties of the EAB 
are outlined in 40 CFR 22.4(a).
    Pursuant to CWA section 311(b)(6)(C), EPA will not issue an order 
in this proceeding prior to the close of the public comment period.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.

    Dated: October 24, 2002.
Rosemarie A. Kelley,
Acting Director, Multimedia Enforcement Division, Office of Enforcement 
and Compliance Assurance.
[FR Doc. 02-27622 Filed 10-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P