[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51497-51500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20647]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[FRL-9915-97-Region-6; EPA-R06-RCRA-2013-0785]


Oklahoma: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management 
Program Revision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has 
applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (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. The 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 
receive written comments which oppose this authorization during the 
comment period, the decision to authorize Oklahoma's changes to its 
hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive 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.

DATES: This final authorization will become effective on October 28, 
2014 unless the EPA receives adverse written comment by September 29, 
2014. If the 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: Submit your comments by one of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected].
    3. Mail: Alima Patterson, Region 6, Regional Authorization 
Coordinator, State/Tribal Oversight Section (6PD-O), Multimedia 
Planning and Permitting Division, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
    4. Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to Alima 
Patterson, Region 6, Regional Authorization Coordinator, State/Tribal 
Oversight Section (6PD-O), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, 
EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
    Instructions: Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI 
or otherwise protected through regulations.gov, or email. The Federal 
regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means 
the EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you 
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment 
directly to the EPA without going through regulations.gov, your email 
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the 
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that 
you include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read 
your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. 
Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form 
of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
    You can view and copy Oklahoma's application and associated 
publicly

[[Page 51498]]

available materials from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 
the following locations: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 
707 North Robinson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73101-1677, (405) 702-7180 
and EPA, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, phone 
number (214) 665-8533. Interested persons wanting to examine these 
documents should make an appointment with the office at least two weeks 
in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alima Patterson, Region 6, Regional 
Authorization Coordinator, State/Tribal Oversight Section (6PD-O), 
Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, (214) 665-8533, EPA Region 
6 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, and Email address 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Why are revisions to State programs necessary?

    States which have received final authorization from the 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 the 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 the 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 Oklahoma's application to revise its authorized 
program meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements 
established by RCRA. Therefore, we grant Oklahoma Final authorization 
to operate its hazardous waste program with the changes described in 
the authorization application. Oklahoma has responsibility for 
permitting treatment, storage, and disposal facilities within its 
borders. Also section 10211(a) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 (``SAFETEA''), Public Law 
109-59, 119 Statute 1144 (August 10, 2005) provides the State of 
Oklahoma opportunity to request approval from EPA to administer RCRA 
subtitle C 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). The State of Oklahoma did not apply for authorization to 
administer Indian Country in this authorization document. New Federal 
requirements and prohibitions imposed by Federal regulations that the 
EPA promulgates under the authority of HSWA take effect in authorized 
States before they are authorized for the requirements. Thus, the EPA 
will implement those requirements and prohibition in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma has enforcement responsibilities under its State 
hazardous waste program for violations of such program, but the EPA 
retains its authority under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, 
which include, among others, authority to:
     Do inspections, and require monitoring, tests, analyses, 
or reports;
     Enforce RCRA requirements and suspend or revoke permits 
and
     take enforcement actions after notice to and consultation 
with the State.
    This action does not impose additional requirements on the 
regulated community because the regulations for which Oklahoma is being 
authorized by today's action is already effective under State law, and 
are not changed by today's action.

D. Why wasn't there a proposed rule before today's rule?

    The 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 the EPA receives comments that oppose this action?

    If the 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. The 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 only 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 in this document. The 
Federal Register withdrawal document will specify which part of the 
authorization will become effective, and which part is being withdrawn.

F. For what has Oklahoma previously been authorized?

    Oklahoma initially received final Authorization on January 10, 
1985, (49 FR 50362-50363) published December 27, 1984 to implement its 
base hazardous waste management program. We authorized the following 
revisions: Oklahoma received authorization for revisions to its program 
with publication dates: April 17, 1990 (55 FR 14280-14282), effective 
June 18, 1990; September 26, 1990 (55 FR 39274) effective November 27, 
1990; April 2, 1991 (56 FR 13411-13413) effective June 3, 1991; 
September 20, 1991 (56 FR 47675-47677) effective November 19, 1991; 
September 29, 1993 (58 FR 50854-50856) effective November 29, 1993; 
October 12, 1993 (58 FR 52679-52682) effective December 13, 1993; 
October 7, 1994 (59 FR 51116-51122) effective December 21, 1994; 
January 11, 1995 (60 FR 2699-2702) effective April 27, 1995; October 9, 
1996 (61 FR 52884-52886) effective December 23, 1996; Technical 
Correction March 14, 1997 (62 FR 12100-12101) effective March 14, 1997; 
September 22, 1998 (63 FR 50528-50531) effective November 23, 1998; 
March 29, 2000 (65 FR 16528-16532) effective May 30, 2000; May 10, 2000 
(65 FR 29981-29985) effective June 10, 2000; January 2, 2001 (66 FR 28-
33) effective March 5, 2001; April 9, 2003 (68 FR 17308-17311) 
effective June 9, 2003 and February 4, 2009 (74 FR 5994-6001); (66 FR 
18927-18930) effective June 6, 2011, March 15, 2012 (77 FR 15273-15276) 
effective May 14, 2012 and effective July 29, 2013, May 29, 2013 (78 FR 
32161-32165). The authorized Oklahoma RCRA program was incorporated by 
reference into the CFR published on December 9, 1998 (63 FR 67800-
67834) effective February 8, 1999, August 26, 1999 (64 FR 46567-

[[Page 51499]]

46571) effective October 25, 1999, August 27, 2003 (68 FR 51488-51492) 
effective October 27, 2003, August 27, 2010 (75 FR 36546) June 28, 
2010, May 17, 2012 (77 FR 29231-29235) effective July 16, 2012 and May 
29, 2013 (78 FR 32161-32165) effective July 29, 2013. On June 28, 2013, 
Oklahoma submitted a final complete program revision application 
seeking authorization of its program revision in accordance with 40 CFR 
271.21.
    The Oklahoma Hazardous Waste Management Act (``OHWMA'') provides 
the ODEQ with the authority to administer the State Program, including 
the statutory and regulatory provisions necessary to administer the 
provisions of RCRA Cluster XXII, and designates the ODEQ as the State 
agency to cooperate and share information with EPA for purpose of 
hazardous waste regulation. The Oklahoma Environmental Quality Code 
(``Code''), at 27 A O.S. Section 2-7-101 et seq. establishes the 
statutory authority to administer the Hazardous waste management 
program under Subtitle C. The State regulations to manage the Hazardous 
waste management program is at Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) Title 
252 Chapter 205.
    The DEQ adopted applicable Federal hazardous waste regulations as 
amended through July 1, 2011 which became effective July 1, 2013. The 
provisions for which the State of Oklahoma is seeking authorization are 
documented in the Regulatory Documentation For Federal Provisions For 
Which The State Of Oklahoma Is Seeking Authorization, Federal Final 
Rules Published Between July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 RCRA Cluster 
XXII prepared on June 24, 2013.
    The DEQ incorporates the Federal regulations by reference and there 
have been no changes in State or Federal laws or regulations that have 
diminished the DEQ's ability to adopt the Federal regulations by 
reference as set forth in the authorizations at 77 FR 22229 through 
22232 effective May 14, 2012 for RCRA Cluster XXII. The Federal 
Hazardous waste regulations are adopted by reference by the DEQ at OAC 
252:205, Subchapter 3. The DEQ does not adopt Federal regulations 
prospectively.
    The State Oklahoma Hazardous waste program has in place the 
statutory authority and regulations for all required components of 
Hazardous Waste Technical Corrections and Clarification rule (Checklist 
228) in RCRA Cluster XXII. These statutory and regulatory provisions 
were developed to ensure the State program is equivalent to, consistent 
with and no less stringent than the Federal Hazardous waste management 
program.
    The Environmental Quality Act, at 27A O.S. Section 1-3-101(E), 
grants the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (``OCC'') authority to 
regulate certain aspects of the oil and gas production and 
transportation industry in Oklahoma, including certain wastes generated 
by pipelines, bulk fuel sales terminals and certain tank farms, as well 
as underground storage tanks. To clarify areas of environmental 
jurisdiction, the ODEQ and OCC developed an ODEQ/OCC Jurisdictional 
Guidance Document to identify respective areas of jurisdiction. The 
current ODEQ/OCC Jurisdictional Guidance Document was amended and 
signed on January 27, 1999. The revisions to the State Program 
necessary to administer Cluster XXII will not affect the jurisdictional 
authorities of the ODEQ or OCC.
    The ODEQ adopted RCRA Cluster XXII applicable federal hazardous 
waste regulations as amended through July 1, 2012 and became effective 
on July 1, 2013. The rules were also codified at OAC 252:205 et seq., 
Subchapter 3.
    Pursuant to OAC 252:205-3-1, the State's incorporation of Federal 
regulations does not incorporate prospectively future changes to the 
incorporated sections of the 40 CFR, and no other Oklahoma law or 
regulation reduces the scope of coverage or otherwise affects the 
authority provided by these incorporated-by-reference provisions. 
Further, Oklahoma interprets these incorporated provisions to provide 
identical authority to the Federal provisions. Thus, OAC Title 252, 
Chapter 205 provides equivalent and no less stringent authority than 
the Federal Subtitle C program in effect July 1, 2012. The State of 
Oklahoma incorporates by reference the provisions of 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) parts 124 of 40 CFR that are required by 40 CFR 
271.14 (with the addition of 40 CFR 124.19(a) through (c), 124.19(e), 
124.31, 124.32, 124.33 and subpart G); 40 CFR parts 260-268 [with the 
exception of 260.21, 262 subparts E and H, 264.1(f), 264.1(g)(12), 
264.149, 264.150, 264.301(1), 264.1030(d), 264.1050(g), 264.1080(e), 
264.1080(f), 264.1080(g), 265.1(c)(4), 265.1(g)12), 265.149, 265.150, 
265.1030(c), 265.1050(f) 265.1080(e), 265.1080(f), 265.1080(g), 268.5, 
268.6, 268.13, 268.42(b), and 268.44(a) through (g)]; 40 CFR part 270 
[with the exception of 270.1(c)(2)(ix and 270.14(b)(18)]; 40 CFR part 
273; and 40 CFR part 279.
    The DEQ is the lead Department to cooperate and share information 
with the EPA for purpose of hazardous waste regulation.
    Pursuant to 27A O.S. Section 2-7-104, the Executive Director has 
created the Land Protection Division (LPD) to be responsible for 
implementing the State Program. The LPD is staffed with personnel that 
have the technical background and expertise to effectively implement 
the provisions of the State program subtitle C Hazardous waste 
management program.

G. What changes are we approving In today's action?

    On June 28, 2013, the State of Oklahoma submitted final complete 
program applications, seeking authorization of their changes in 
accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. We now make an immediate final decision, 
subject to receipt of written comments that oppose this action that the 
State of Oklahoma's hazardous waste program revision satisfies all of 
the requirements necessary to qualify for final authorization. The 
State of Oklahoma revisions consist of regulations which specifically 
govern Federal Hazardous waste revisions promulgated between July 1, 
2011 through June 30, 2012 which is in (RCRA Cluster XXII). Oklahoma 
requirements are included in a chart with this document.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Federal Register
    Description of Federal        date and page
requirement (include checklist     (and/or RCRA       Analogous state
    #, if relevant)         statutory            authority
                                    authority
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1. Hazardous Waste Technical    77 FR 22229-       Oklahoma Statutes
 Corrections and                 22232, May 14,     Title 27A Section 2-
 Clarifications. (Checklist      2012.              7-101 et seq.,
 228).                                              Oklahoma Hazardous
                                                    Waste Management
                                                    Act, as amended
                                                    effective July 1,
                                                    2013; Oklahoma
                                                    Administrative Code,
                                                    Title 252, Chapter
                                                    205, as amended
                                                    effective July 1,
                                                    2013.
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[[Page 51500]]

H. Where are the revised State rules different from the Federal rules?

    There are no State requirements that are more stringent or broader 
in scope than the Federal requirements.

I. Who handles permits after the authorization takes effect?

    Oklahoma will issue permits for all the provisions for which it is 
authorized and will administer the permits it issues. The 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. We will not issue any more new permits or new portions 
of permits for the provisions listed in the Table in this document 
after the effective date of this authorization. The EPA will continue 
to implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Oklahoma 
is not yet authorized.

J. How does today's action affect Indian country (8 U.S.C. 1151) in 
Oklahoma?

    Section 8 U.S.C. 1151 does not affect the State of Oklahoma because 
under section 10211(a) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act of 2005 (``SAFETEA''), Public Law 109-59, 119 
Statute 1144 (August 10, 2005) provides the State of Oklahoma 
opportunity to request approval from EPA to administer RCRA subtitle C 
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). 
However, the State of Oklahoma is not seeking authorization to 
administer authorization under RCRA Subtitle C in this FR document.

K. What Is codification and is the EPA codifying Oklahoma'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 CFR. We do this by referencing the authorized State 
rules in 40 CFR part 272. We reserve the amendment of 40 CFR part 272, 
subpart LL for this authorization of Oklahoma's program changes until a 
later date. In this authorization application the EPA is not codifying 
the rules documented in this Federal Register notice.

L. Administrative Requirements

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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. The 
reference to Executive Order 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011) is 
also exempt from review under Executive orders 12866 (56 FR 51735, 
October 4, 1993). 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 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 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 
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 3006(b), the 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 the 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, the EPA has taken the necessary steps to 
eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, 
and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. The 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. The 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). This action will be effective October 28, 2014.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

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

     Authority: This 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: August 5, 2014.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2014-20647 Filed 8-28-14; 8:45 am]
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