[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42605-42608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18297]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[FRL-7530-9]


Georgia: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management 
Program Revision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Immediate final rule.

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SUMMARY: Georgia has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the 
changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has determined that these changes satisfy 
all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is 
authorizing the State's changes through this immediate final action. 
EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior 
proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not 
expect comments that oppose it. Unless we get written comments which 
oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to 
authorize Georgia's changes to their hazardous waste program will take 
effect. If we get comments that oppose this action, we will publish a 
document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes 
effect and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this 
Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the changes.

[[Page 42606]]


DATES: This Final authorization will become effective on September 16, 
2003 unless EPA receives adverse written comment by August 18, 2003. If 
EPA receives such comment, it will publish a timely withdrawal of this 
immediate final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that 
this authorization will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Narindar M. Kumar, Chief, RCRA 
Programs Branch, Waste Management Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, The Sam Nunn Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960; (404) 562-8440. We must receive your 
comments by August 18, 2003. You can view and copy Georgia's 
application from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Georgia Department of 
Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 2 Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Drive, Suite 1154 East, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4910, and from 
8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. EPA Region 4, Library, The Sam Nunn Atlanta 
Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960, 
Phone number (404) 562-8190, Patricia Strougal, Librarian.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Narindar M. Kumar, Chief, RCRA 
Programs Branch, Waste Management Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, The Sam Nunn Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960; (404) 562-8440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Why Are Revisions to State Programs Necessary?

    States which have received final authorization from EPA under RCRA 
section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), must maintain a hazardous waste 
program that is equivalent to, consistent with, and no less stringent 
than the Federal program. As the Federal program changes, States must 
change their programs and ask EPA to authorize the changes. Changes to 
State programs may be necessary when Federal or State statutory or 
regulatory authority is modified or when certain other changes occur. 
Most commonly, States must change their programs because of changes to 
EPA's regulations in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 124, 
260 through 266, 268, 270, 273 and 279.

B. What Decisions Have We Made in This Rule?

    We conclude that Georgia's application to revise its authorized 
program meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements 
established by RCRA. Therefore, we grant Georgia Final authorization to 
operate its hazardous waste program with the changes described in the 
authorization application. Georgia has responsibility for permitting 
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) within its borders 
and for carrying out the aspects of the RCRA program described in its 
revised program application, subject to the limitations of the 
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA). New Federal 
requirements and prohibitions imposed by Federal regulations that EPA 
promulgates under the authority of HSWA take effect in authorized 
States before they are authorized for the requirements. Thus, EPA will 
implement those requirements and prohibitions in Georgia, including 
issuing permits, until the State is granted authorization to do so.

C. What Is the Effect of Today's Authorization Decision?

    The effect of this decision is that a facility in Georgia subject 
to RCRA will now have to comply with the authorized State requirements 
instead of the equivalent Federal requirements in order to comply with 
RCRA. Georgia has enforcement responsibilities under its State 
hazardous waste program for violations of such program, but EPA retains 
its authority under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, which 
include, among others, authority to:
    [sbull] Do inspections, and require monitoring, tests, analyses or 
reports
    [sbull] Enforce RCRA requirements and suspend or revoke permits
    [sbull] Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State 
has taken its own actions
    This action does not impose additional requirements on the 
regulated community because the regulations for which Georgia is being 
authorized by today's action are already effective, and are not changed 
by today's action.

D. Why Wasn't There a Proposed Rule Before Today's Rule?

    EPA did not publish a proposal before today's rule because we view 
this as a routine program change and do not expect comments that oppose 
this approval. We are providing an opportunity for public comment now. 
In addition to this rule, in the proposed rules section of today's 
Federal Register we are publishing a separate document that proposes to 
authorize the State program changes.

E. What Happens if EPA Receives Comments That Oppose This Action?

    If EPA receives comments that oppose this authorization, we will 
withdraw this rule by publishing a document in the Federal Register 
before the rule becomes effective. EPA will base any further decision 
on the authorization of the State program changes on the proposal 
mentioned in the previous paragraph. We will then address all public 
comments in a later final rule. You may not have another opportunity to 
comment. If you want to comment on this authorization, you must do so 
at this time.
    If we receive comments that oppose only the authorization of a 
particular change to the State hazardous waste program, we will 
withdraw that part of this rule but the authorization of the program 
changes that the comments do not oppose will become effective on the 
date specified above. The Federal Register withdrawal document will 
specify which part of the authorization will become effective, and 
which part is being withdrawn.

F. What Has Georgia Previously Been Authorized for?

    Georgia initially received Final authorization on August 7, 1984, 
effective August 21, 1984 (49 FR 31417), to implement the RCRA 
hazardous waste management program. We granted authorization for 
changes to their program on July 7, 1986, effective September 18, 1986 
(51 FR 24549), July 28, 1988, effective September 26, 1988 (53 FR 
28383), July 24, 1990, effective September 24, 1990 (55 FR 30000), 
February 12, 1991, effective April 15, 1991 (56 FR 5656), May 11, 1992, 
effective July 10, 1992 (57 FR 20055), November 25, 1992, effective 
January 25, 1993 (57 FR 55466), February 26, 1993, effective April 27, 
1993 (58 FR 11539), November 16, 1993, effective January 18, 1994 (58 
FR 60388), April 26, 1994, effective June 27, 1994 (59 FR 21664), May 
10, 1995, effective July 10, 1995 (60 FR 24790), August 30, 1995, 
effective October 30, 1995 (60 FR 45069), March 7, 1996, effective May 
6, 1996 (61 FR 9108), September 18, 1998, effective November 17, 1998 
(63 FR 49852), October 14, 1999, effective December 13, 1999 (64 FR 
55629), November 28, 2000, effective March 30, 2001 (66 FR 8090), July 
16, 2002, effective September 16, 2002 (67 FR 46600), and November 19, 
2002, effective January 21, 2003 (67 FR 69690).

G. What Changes Are We Authorizing With Today's Action?

    On March 31, 2003, Georgia submitted a final complete program 
revision application, seeking authorization of their changes in 
accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. Georgia's revision consists of 
provisions

[[Page 42607]]

promulgated July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001, otherwise known as RCRA 
Cluster XI. The Georgia Board of Natural Resources adopted RCRA Cluster 
XI rules on January 23, 2002, effective February 25, 2002, and December 
4, 2002, effective December 30, 2002. We now make an immediate final 
decision, subject to receipt of written comments that oppose this 
action, that Georgia's hazardous waste program revision satisfies all 
of the requirements necessary to qualify for Final authorization. 
Therefore, we grant Georgia Final authorization for the following 
program changes:

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   Description of Federal                              Analogous State
         requirement            Federal Register        authority \1\
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Checklist 188, NESHAPS:       65 FR 42292-42302, 7/ Rule 391-3-11-
 Final Standards for           10/2000.              .07(1).
 Hazardous Air Pollutants     amended, 66 FR 24270- Rule 391-3-11-
 for Hazardous Waste           24272, 5/14/01.       .22(7)(d).
 Combustors; Technical        amended, 66 FR 35087- Rule 391-3-11-
 Corrections Hazardous Air     35107, 7/3/2001.      .10(2).\2\
 Pollutant Standards;
 Technical Corrections.
Checklist 189, Hazardous      65 FR 67068-67133,    Rule 391-3-11-
 Waste Management System;      11/8/2000.            .07(1).
 Identification and Listing                         Rule 391-3-11-.16.
 of Hazardous Waste;
 Chlorinated Aliphatics
 Production Wastes; Land
 Disposal Restrictions for
 Newly Identified Wastes;
 and CERCLA Hazardous
 Substance Designation and
 Reportable Quantities.
Checklist 190, Deferral of    65 FR 81373-81381,    Rule 391-3-11-.16.
 Phase IV--Standards for       12/26/2000.
 PCBs as a Constituent
 Subject to Treatment in
 Soil. Land Disposal
 Restrictions Phase IV--
 Deferral for PCBs in Soil.
Checklist 191, Storage,       66 FR 27218-27266, 5/ Rule 391-3-11-
 Treatment, Transportation,    16/2001.              .10(3).
 and Disposal of Mixed
 Waste. Mixed Waste Rule.
Checklist 192 A and B,        66 FR 27266-27297, 5/
 Hazardous Waste               16/2001.
 Identification Rule (HWIR):
 Revisions to the Mixture
 and Derived-From Rules.
    A. Mixture and Derived                          Rule 391-3-11-
     from Rules Revisions.                           .07(1).
    B. Land Disposal                                Rule 391-3-11-.16.
     Restrictions
     Corrections.
Checklist 193, Change of      66 FR 34374-34376, 6/ Rule 391-3-11-
 Official EPA Mailing          28/2001.              .02(1).
 Address; Additional
 Technical Amendments and
 Corrections..
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\1\ The Georgia Provisions are from the Georgia Hazardous Waste
  Management Regulations effective February 25, 2002.
\2\ Rule effective December 30, 2002.

H. Where Are the Revised State Rules Different From the Federal Rules?

    There are no State requirements in this program revision considered 
to be more stringent or broader in scope than the Federal requirements.

I. Who Handles Permits After the Authorization Takes Effect?

    Georgia will issue permits for all the provisions for which it is 
authorized and will administer the permits it issues. EPA will continue 
to administer any RCRA hazardous waste permits or portions of permits 
which we issued prior to the effective date of this authorization until 
they expire or are terminated. We will not issue any more new permits 
or new portions of permits for the provisions listed in the Table above 
after the effective date of this authorization. EPA will continue to 
implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Georgia is 
not yet authorized.

J. What Is Codification and Is EPA Codifying Georgia's Hazardous Waste 
Program as Authorized in This Rule?

    Codification is the process of placing the State's statutes and 
regulations that comprise the State's authorized hazardous waste 
program into the Code of Federal Regulations. We do this by referencing 
the authorized State rules in 40 CFR part 272. We reserve the amendment 
of 40 CFR part 272, subpart L for this authorization of Georgia's 
program changes until a later date.

K. Administrative Requirements

    The Office of Management and Budget has exempted this action from 
the requirements of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 
1993), and therefore this action is not subject to review by OMB. This 
action authorizes State requirements for the purpose of RCRA 3006 and 
imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law. 
Accordingly, I certify that this action 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 action 
authorizes pre-existing 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 (Public Law 104-4). For the same reason, 
this action also does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Tribal governments, as specified by Executive Order 
13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action 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 authorizes State requirements as part of the State 
RCRA hazardous waste program without altering the relationship or the 
distribution of power and responsibilities established by RCRA. This 
action also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 
23, 1997), because it is not economically significant and it does not

[[Page 42608]]

make decisions based on environmental health or safety risks. This rule 
is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)) because it is not a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
    Under RCRA section 3006(b), EPA grants a State's application for 
authorization as long as the State meets the criteria required by RCRA. 
It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it 
reviews a State authorization application, to require the use of any 
particular voluntary consensus standard in place of another standard 
that otherwise satisfies the requirements of RCRA. 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, 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.).
    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. EPA will submit a report containing this document 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 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. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Confidential business information, Hazardous waste, Hazardous waste 
transportation, Indians' lands, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: This action is issued under the authority of 42 
U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, 6974(b).

    Dated: July 2, 2003.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 03-18297 Filed 7-17-03; 8:45 am]
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