[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 80722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31876]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 271 and 272

[EPA-R06-RCRA-2015-0110; FRL-9939-50-Region 6]


Texas: Final Authorization of State-initiated Changes and 
Incorporation by Reference of State Hazardous Waste Management Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: During a review of Texas' regulations, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) identified a variety of State-initiated changes 
to Texas' hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act, as amended (RCRA), for which the State had not previously 
sought authorization. The EPA proposes to authorize the State for the 
program changes. In addition, the EPA proposes to codify in the 
regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management 
Programs, ``Texas' authorized hazardous waste program''. The EPA will 
incorporate by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
those provisions of the State regulations that are authorized and that 
the EPA will enforce under RCRA.

DATES: Send your written comments by January 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit any comments identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R06-
RCRA-2015-0110 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. Direct your 
comment to Docket No. EPA-R06-RCRA-2015-0109. 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 Texas' application and associated publicly available materials 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following 
location: 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 at (214) 665-8533 or 
Julia Banks at (214) 665-8178, State/Tribal Oversight Section (6PD-O), 
Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross 
Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, (214) 665-8533) and Email address 
[email protected] and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of 
this Federal Register, EPA is authorizing the changes by direct final 
rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the direct final rule 
because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect 
comments that oppose it. We have explained the reasons for this 
authorization in the preamble to the direct final rule. Unless we get 
written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment 
period, the direct final rule will become effective 60 days after 
publication and we will not take further action on this proposal. If we 
receive comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw the direct 
final rule and it will not take effect. We will then respond to public 
comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. You may not have 
another opportunity for comment. If you want to comment on this action, 
you must do so at this time.
    The purpose of this Federal Register document is to codify Texas' 
base hazardous waste management program and its revisions to that 
program through RCRA Cluster XXI (see 79 FR 52220; September 3, 2014). 
The EPA provided notices and opportunity for comments on the Agency's 
decisions to authorize the Texas program, and the EPA is not now 
reopening the decisions, nor requesting comments, on the Texas 
authorizations as published in FR notices specified in Section I.F of 
the direct final rule FR document.
    This document incorporates by reference Texas' hazardous waste 
statutes and regulations and clarifies which of these provisions are 
included in the authorized and federally enforceable program. By 
codifying Texas' authorized program and by amending the Code of Federal 
Regulations, the public will be more easily able to discern the status 
of federally approved requirements of the Texas hazardous waste 
management program.

    Dated: October 1, 2015.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2015-31876 Filed 12-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P