[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25798-25801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9317]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[FRL-7909-4]


Idaho: Proposed Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management 
Program Revision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Idaho has applied to EPA for final authorization of certain 
changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has reviewed Idaho's application, has 
preliminarily determined that these changes satisfy all requirements 
needed to qualify for final authorization, and is proposing to 
authorize the state's changes.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing by 
June 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jeff Hunt, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 10, Office of Waste and Chemicals (WCM-122), 
1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, Washington 98101, or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. You can view and copy Idaho's application during 
normal business hours at the following addresses: U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 10, Office of Waste and Chemicals, 1200 Sixth 
Ave., Seattle, Washington, contact: Jeff Hunt, phone number: (206) 553-
0256; or Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, 1410 N. Hilton, 
Boise, Idaho, contact: John Brueck, phone number (208) 373-0458.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hunt, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 10, Office of Waste and Chemicals (WCM-122), 
1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, Washington 98101, phone number: (206) 553-
0256, e-mail: [email protected].

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

[[Page 25799]]

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?

    EPA has preliminarily determined that Idaho's application to revise 
its authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory 
requirements established by RCRA. Therefore, we are proposing to grant 
Idaho final authorization to operate its hazardous waste program with 
the changes described in the authorization application. Idaho will have 
responsibility for permitting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal 
Facilities (TSDFs) within its borders (except in Indian country) 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 the states are authorized for the requirements. Thus, EPA 
will implement those requirements and prohibitions in Idaho, including 
issuing permits, until the State is granted authorization to do so.

C. What Will Be the Effect if Idaho Is Authorized for These Changes?

    If Idaho is authorized for these changes, a facility in Idaho 
subject to RCRA will have to comply with the authorized State 
requirements in lieu of the corresponding federal requirements in order 
to comply with RCRA. Additionally, such persons will have to comply 
with any applicable federally-issued requirements, such as, for 
example, HSWA regulations issued by EPA for which the State has not 
received authorization, and RCRA requirements that are not supplanted 
by authorized State-issued requirements. Idaho continues to have 
enforcement responsibilities under its state hazardous waste management 
program for violations of such program, but EPA retains its authority 
under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, which include, among 
others, the authority to:
     Conduct inspections; require monitoring, tests, analyses 
or reports;
     Enforce RCRA requirements; suspend or revoke permits; and
     Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State 
has taken its own actions.
    The action to approve these revisions would not impose additional 
requirements on the regulated community because the regulations for 
which Idaho will be authorized are already effective under State law 
and are not changed by the act of authorization.

D. What Happens if EPA Receives Comments on This Action?

    If EPA receives comments on this action, we will address those 
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.

E. What Has Idaho Previously Been Authorized For?

    Idaho initially received final authorization on March 26, 1990, 
effective April 9, 1990 (55 FR 11015) to implement the RCRA hazardous 
waste management program. EPA granted authorization for changes to 
their program on April 6, 1992, effective June 5, 1992 (57 FR 11580), 
June 11, 1992, effective August 10, 1992 (57 FR 24757), April 12, 1995, 
effective June 11, 1995 (60 FR 18549), October 21, 1998, effective 
January 19, 1999 (63 FR 56086), July 1, 2001, effective July 1, 2001 
(67 FR 44069), and March 10, 2004, effective March 10, 2004 (69 FR 
11322).

F. What Changes Are We Proposing?

    On September 27, 2004, Idaho submitted a final program revision 
application, seeking authorization for all delegable federal hazardous 
waste regulations codified as of July 1, 2003, as incorporated by 
reference in IDAPA 58.01.05.(002)-(016) and 58.01.05.997. We have 
preliminarily determined that Idaho's hazardous waste program revision 
satisfies all of the requirements necessary to qualify for final 
authorization, and EPA is proposing to authorize the state's changes. 
These changes include all delegable regulatory changes to the Federal 
hazardous waste program promulgated between July 1, 2001 and July 1, 
2003, as well as the remaining portions of the October 22, 1998 Federal 
rule ``Standards Applicable to Owners and Operators of Closed and 
Closing Hazardous Waste Management Facilities: Post-Closure Permit 
Requirement and Closure Process; Final Rule'' (63 FR 56710) that were 
not previously authorized.

G. Who Handles Permits After the Authorization Takes Effect?

    Idaho will continue to issue permits for all the provisions for 
which it is authorized and will administer the permits it issues. If 
EPA issued permits prior to authorizing Idaho for these revisions, 
these permits would continue in force until the effective date of the 
State's issuance or denial of a State hazardous waste permit, at which 
time EPA would modify the existing EPA permit to expire at an earlier 
date, terminate the existing EPA permit for cause, or allow the 
existing EPA permit to otherwise expire by its term, except for those 
facilities located in Indian Country. EPA will not issue new permits or 
new portions of permits for provisions for which Idaho is authorized 
after the effective date of this authorization. EPA will continue to 
implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Idaho is 
not yet authorized.

H. What Is Codification and Is EPA Codifying Idaho'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. This is done by 
referencing the authorized State rules in 40 CFR part 272. Through four 
codification actions dated December 6, 1990 (55 FR 50327), June 11, 
1992 (57 FR 24757), June 25, 1999 (64 FR 34180), and March 8, 2005 (70 
FR 11132) the EPA codified at 40 CFR part 272, subpart N all previous 
authorization actions for the State of Idaho program. EPA is reserving 
the amendment of 40 CFR part 272, subpart N for codification of this 
current revision to Idaho's program at a later date.

I. How Would Authorizing Idaho for These Revisions Affect Indian 
Country (18 U.S.C. 1151) in Idaho?

    Idaho is not authorized to carry out its hazardous waste program in 
Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. Indian country includes:
    1. All lands within the exterior boundaries of Indian reservations 
within or abutting the State of Idaho;
    2. Any land held in trust by the U.S. for an Indian tribe; and
    3. Any other land, whether on or off an Indian reservation that 
qualifies as Indian country. Therefore, this action has no effect on 
Indian country. EPA will continue to implement and administer the RCRA 
program in these lands.

J. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

1. Executive Order 12866

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), the 
Agency

[[Page 25800]]

must determine whether the 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. It has been determined that this 
proposed Rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the 
terms of Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB 
review.

2. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq., is intended 
to minimize the reporting and recordkeeping burden on the regulated 
community, as well as to minimize the cost of Federal information 
collection and dissemination. In general, the Act requires that 
information requests and record-keeping requirements affecting ten or 
more non-Federal respondents be approved by OPM. 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.).

3. Regulatory Flexibility

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq., generally requires Federal agencies to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment 
rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any 
other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions. For purposes of assessing the impacts of 
today's rule on small entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small 
business, as codified in the Small Business Size Regulations at 13 CFR 
part 121; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of 
a city, county, town, school district or special district with a 
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is 
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated 
and is not dominant in its field. EPA has determined that this action 
will not have a significant impact on small entities because the 
proposed Rule will only have the effect of authorizing pre-existing 
requirements under State law. After considering the economic impacts of 
today's proposed rule, I certify that this action will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
We continue to be interested in the potential impacts of the proposed 
rule on small entities and welcome comments on issues related to such 
impacts.

4. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 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 to State, local and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
year. Before promulgating an EPA 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 the 
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.
    This proposed rule contains no Federal mandates (under the 
regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local or 
tribal governments or the private sector. The proposed rule authorizes 
pre-existing requirements under State law and imposes no new 
enforceable duty on any State, local or tribal governments or the 
private sector. Similarly, EPA has also determined that this proposed 
rule contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or 
uniquely affect small government entities. Thus, the requirements of 
section 203 of the UMRA do not apply to this rule.

5. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' 
``Policies that have federalism implications'' defined in the Executive 
Order to include regulations that 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 
various levels of government.''
    This proposed rule does not have federalism implications. It 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 various levels of government, as 
specified in Executive Order 13132. This proposed rule only authorizes 
existing State rules as part of the State hazardous waste program.

6. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have tribal implications.'' This proposed rule does not 
have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175. The 
rule proposes to authorize existing state rules and does not establish 
any regulatory policy with tribal implications. Thus, Executive Order 
13175 does not apply to this proposed

[[Page 25801]]

rule. EPA welcomes comment on this proposed rule from tribal officials.

7. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    Executive Order 13045 applies to any rule that: (1) Is determined 
to be ``economically significant'' as defined under Executive Order 
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.
    This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because 
it is not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866 
and because the Agency does not have reason to believe the 
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this proposed action 
present a disproportionate risk to children.

8. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    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'' as defined under Executive Order 
12866.

9. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (``NTAA''), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 
272) 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 bodies. The NTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, 
through the OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use 
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. Under RCRA 
3006(b), EPA grants a State's application for authorization as long as 
the State meets 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.

10. Executive Order 12988

    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.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

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

    Authority: This proposed action is issued under the authority of 
sections 2002(a), 3006 and 7004(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act 
as amended 42 U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, 6974(b).

    Dated: April 28, 2005.
Julie Hagensen,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 05-9317 Filed 5-13-05; 8:45 am]
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