[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32854-32855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15135]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[9977-46-OEI]


Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: Authorized Program Revision 
Approval, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's approval of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts' request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized 
programs to allow electronic reporting.

DATES: EPA approves the authorized program revision for the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' National Primary Drinking Water 
Regulations Implementation as of August 15, 2018, if no timely request 
for a public hearing is received and accepted by the Agency. EPA 
approves the other authorized program revisions/modifications as of 
July 16, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Devon Martin, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Mail Stop 
2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566-
2603, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media 
Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) was published in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of title 40 of the CFR. 
CROMERR establishes electronic reporting as an acceptable regulatory 
alternative to paper reporting and establishes requirements to assure 
that electronic documents are as legally dependable as their paper 
counterparts. Subpart D of CROMERR requires that state, tribal or local 
government agencies that receive, or wish to begin receiving, 
electronic reports under their EPA-authorized programs must apply to 
EPA for a revision or modification of those programs and obtain EPA 
approval. Subpart D provides standards for such approvals based on 
consideration of the electronic document receiving systems that the 
state, tribe, or local government will use to implement the electronic 
reporting. Additionally, Sec.  3.1000(b) through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, 
subpart D provides special procedures for program revisions and 
modifications to allow electronic reporting, to be used at the option 
of the state, tribe or local government in place of procedures 
available under existing program-specific authorization regulations. An 
application submitted under the subpart D procedures must show that the 
state, tribe or local government has sufficient legal authority to 
implement the electronic reporting components of the programs covered 
by the application and will use electronic document receiving systems 
that meet the applicable subpart D requirements.
    On September 8, 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental 
Protection (MassDEP) submitted an application titled ``EEA ePLACE 
Platform'' for revisions/modifications to its EPA-approved programs 
under title 40 CFR to allow new electronic reporting. EPA reviewed 
MassDEP's request to revise/modify its EPA-authorized programs and, 
based on this review, EPA determined that the application met the 
standards for approval of authorized program revisions/modifications 
set out in 40 CFR part 3, subpart D. In accordance with 40 CFR 
3.1000(d), this notice of EPA's decision to approve Massachusetts's 
request to revise/modify its following EPA-authorized programs to allow 
electronic reporting under 40 CFR parts 50-52, 61-63, 65, 70, 141, 144, 
146, 240-259, 260-270, 272-279, and 280, is being published in the 
Federal Register:

    Part 52--Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
    Part 61--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants, Subpart M, Asbestos;
    Part 62--Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated 
Facilities and Pollutants;
    Part 63--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants for Source Categories;
    Part 70--State Operating Permit Programs;
    Part 142--National Primary Drinking Water Regulations 
Implementation;
    Part 145--State Underground Injection Control Programs;
    Part 239--Requirements for State Permit Program Determination of 
Adequacy;
    Part 271--Requirements for Authorization of State Hazardous: 
Waste Program; and
    Part 281--Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements 
for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks.

    Specifically, EPA has approved the state's authorized program 
revisions for electronic submissions that include a handwritten 
signature on a separate paper submission report instead of an 
electronic signature.
    MassDEP was notified of EPA's determination to approve its 
application with respect to the authorized programs listed above.
    Also, in this notice, EPA is informing interested persons that they 
may request a public hearing on EPA's action to approve the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' request to revise its National Primary 
Drinking Water Regulations implementation program under 40 CFR part 
142, in accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(f), to allow for electronic 
reporting. Requests for a hearing must be submitted to EPA within 30 
days of publication of today's Federal Register notice. Such requests 
should include the following information: (1) The name, address and 
telephone number of the individual,

[[Page 32855]]

organization or other entity requesting a hearing; (2) A brief 
statement of the requesting person's interest in EPA's determination, a 
brief explanation as to why EPA should hold a hearing, and any other 
information that the requesting person wants EPA to consider when 
determining whether to grant the request; (3) The signature of the 
individual making the request, or, if the request is made on behalf of 
an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible 
official of the organization or other entity.
    In the event a hearing is requested and granted, EPA will provide 
notice of the hearing in the Federal Register not less than 15 days 
prior to the scheduled hearing date. Frivolous or insubstantial 
requests for hearing may be denied by EPA. Following such a public 
hearing, EPA will review the record of the hearing and issue an order 
either affirming today's determination or rescinding such 
determination. If no timely request for a hearing is received and 
granted, EPA's approval of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' request 
to revise its part 142--National Primary Drinking Water Regulations 
Implementation program to allow electronic reporting will become 
effective 30 days after today's notice is published, pursuant to 
CROMERR section 3.1000(f)(4).

Matthew Leopard,
Director, Office of Information Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-15135 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
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