[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38036-38039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16605]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2010-1086; FRL-9979-68-OLEM]
RIN 2050-AG67


Addition of a Subsurface Intrusion Component to the Hazard 
Ranking System; Corrections

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: On January 9, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency 
published a final rule which added subsurface intrusion component to 
the Superfund Hazard Ranking System. That document inadvertently failed 
to update the Table of Contents and contained a few other typographical 
errors. This document corrects the final regulation.

DATES: This correction is effective August 3, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Jeng, phone: (703) 603-8852, 
email: [email protected], Site Assessment and Remedy Decisions Branch, 
Assessment and Remediation Division, Office of Superfund Remediation 
and Technology Innovation (Mailcode 5204P), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is EPA's erratum to the final rule 
titled Addition of a Subsurface Intrusion Component to the Hazard 
Ranking System, published January 9, 2017 (82 FR 2760). This is the 
second set of corrections. The first set of corrections was published 
in the Federal Register on January 31, 2018 (83 FR 4430). This document 
augments those corrections.
    Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B), provides that, when an agency for good cause finds that 
notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary 
to the public interest, the agency may issue a rule without providing 
notice and an opportunity for public comment. See Utility Solid Waste 
Activities Group v. EPA, 236 F.3d 749, 752 (D.C. Cir. 2001). We have 
determined that there is good

[[Page 38037]]

cause for making these correcting amendments final without prior 
proposal and opportunity for public comment. Notice and comment is 
unnecessary because these administrative or clerical corrections govern 
the methodology of how EPA, rather than the public or industry, 
evaluates contaminated sites under the Hazard Ranking System. 
Similarly, notice and comment is impracticable and contrary to the 
public interest because the correcting amendments will more quickly 
ensure that EPA is following the proper procedures to evaluate 
potential threats to public health from releases of hazardous 
substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Thus, good cause exists to 
proceed without notice and public comment.
    These correcting amendments are effective immediately upon 
publication. Section 553(d) of the APA, 5 U.S.C. 553(d), provides that 
final rules shall not become effective until 30 days after publication 
in the Federal Register, ``except . . . as otherwise provided by the 
agency for good cause,'' among other exceptions. The purpose of this 
provision is to ``give affected parties a reasonable time to adjust 
their behavior before the final rule takes effect.'' Omnipoint Corp. v. 
FCC, 78 F.3d 620, 630 (D.C. Cir. 1996); see also United States v. 
Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d 1099, 1104 (8th Cir. 1977) (quoting legislative 
history). Thus, in determining whether good cause exists to waive the 
30-day delay, an agency should ``balance the necessity for immediate 
implementation against principles of fundamental fairness which require 
that all affected persons be afforded a reasonable amount of time to 
prepare for the effective date of its ruling.'' Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d at 
1105. EPA has determined that there is good cause for making these 
correcting amendments effective immediately because, as stated above, 
the corrections govern how EPA, rather than the public or industry, 
applies the Hazard Ranking System to evaluate potential threats to 
public health from releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants. Accordingly, EPA finds that good cause exists under 
section 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective immediately upon 
publication.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous substances, Hazardous waste, Intergovernmental relations, 
Natural resources, Oil pollution, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water 
supply.

    Dated: June 29, 2018.
Barry N. Breen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Land and Emergency 
Management.

    40 CFR part 300 is corrected as follows:

PART 300--NATIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLLUTION 
CONTINGENCY PLAN

0
1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1321(d); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 13626, 
77 FR 56749, 3 CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 
CFR, 1991 Comp., p.351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., 
p. 193.

0
2. Amend Appendix A to Part 300 by:
0
a. In the Table of Contents revising the entries for ``5.0'' through 
``5.3''; and
0
b. Revising Table 2-5, Table 5-16, and Table 7-1.
    The revisions read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 300--The Hazard Ranking System

Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
* * * * *
    5.0 Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion Pathway.
    5.0.1 Exposure components.
    5.1 Soil exposure component.
    5.1.0 General considerations.
    5.1.1 Resident population threat.
    5.1.1.1 Likelihood of exposure.
    5.1.1.2 Waste characteristics.
    5.1.1.2.1 Toxicity.
    5.1.1.2.2 Hazardous waste quantity.
    5.1.1.2.3 Calculation of waste characteristics factor category 
value.
    5.1.1.3 Targets.
    5.1.1.3.1 Resident individual.
    5.1.1.3.2 Resident population.
    5.1.1.3.2.1 Level I concentrations.
    5.1.1.3.2.2 Level II concentrations.
    5.1.1.3.2.3 Calculation of resident population factor value.
    5.1.1.3.3 Workers.
    5.1.1.3.4 Resources.
    5.1.1.3.5 Terrestrial sensitive environments.
    5.1.1.3.6 Calculation of resident population targets factor 
category value.
    5.1.1.4 Calculation of resident population threat score.
    5.1.2 Nearby population threat.
    5.1.2.1 Likelihood of exposure.
    5.1.2.1.1 Attractiveness/accessibility.
    5.1.2.1.2 Area of contamination.
    5.1.2.1.3 Likelihood of exposure factor category value.
    5.1.2.2 Waste characteristics.
    5.1.2.2.1 Toxicity.
    5.1.2.2.2 Hazardous waste quantity.
    5.1.2.2.3 Calculation of waste characteristics factor category 
value.
    5.1.2.3 Targets.
    5.1.2.3.1 Nearby individual.
    5.1.2.3.2 Population within 1 mile.
    5.1.2.3.3 Calculation of nearby population targets factor 
category value.
    5.1.2.4 Calculation of nearby population threat score.
    5.1.3 Calculation of soil exposure component score.
    5.2 Subsurface intrusion component.
    5.2.0 General considerations.
    5.2.1 Subsurface intrusion component.
    5.2.1.1 Likelihood of exposure.
    5.2.1.1.1 Observed exposure.
    5.2.1.1.2 Potential for exposure.
    5.2.1.1.2.1 Structure containment.
    5.2.1.1.2.2 Depth to contamination.
    5.2.1.1.2.3 Vertical migration.
    5.2.1.1.2.4 Vapor migration potential.
    5.2.1.1.2.5 Calculation of potential for exposure factor value.
    5.2.1.1.3 Calculation of likelihood of exposure factor category 
value.
    5.2.1.2 Waste characteristics.
    5.2.1.2.1 Toxicity/degradation.
    5.2.1.2.1.1 Toxicity.
    5.2.1.2.1.2 Degradation.
    5.2.1.2.1.3 Calculation of toxicity/degradation factor value.
    5.2.1.2.2 Hazardous waste quantity.
    5.2.1.2.3 Calculation of waste characteristics factor category 
value.
    5.2.1.3 Targets.
    5.2.1.3.1 Exposed individual.
    5.2.1.3.2 Population.
    5.2.1.3.2.1 Level I concentrations.
    5.2.1.3.2.2 Level II concentrations.
    5.2.1.3.2.3 Population within area(s) of subsurface 
contamination.
    5.2.1.3.2.4 Calculation of population factor value.
    5.2.1.3.3 Resources.
    5.2.1.3.4 Calculation of targets factor category value.
    5.2.2 Calculation of subsurface intrusion component score.
    5.3 Calculation of the soil exposure and subsurface intrusion 
pathway score.
* * * * *

                            Table 2-5--Hazardous Waste Quantity Evaluation Equations
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                                                                                       Equation  for assigning
            Tier                      Measure                      Units                      value \a\
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A...........................  Hazardous constituent    lb..........................  C.
                               quantity (C).
B \b\.......................  Hazardous wastestream    lb..........................  W/5,000.
                               quantity (W).

[[Page 38038]]

 
C \b\.......................  Volume (V).............
                              Landfill...............  yd\3\.......................  V/2,500.
                              Surface impoundment....  yd\3\.......................  V/2.5.
                              Surface impoundment      yd\3\.......................  V/2.5.
                               (buried/backfilled).
                              Drums \c\..............  gallon......................  V/500.
                              Tanks and containers     yd\3\.......................  V/2.5.
                               other than drums.
                              Contaminated soil......  yd\3\.......................  V/2,500.
                              Pile...................  yd\3\.......................  V/2.5.
                              Other..................  yd\3\.......................  V/2.5.
D \b\.......................  Area (A)...............
                              Landfill...............  ft\2\.......................  A/3,400.
                              Surface impoundment....  ft\2\.......................  A/13.
                              Surface impoundment      ft\2\.......................  A/13.
                               (buried/backfilled).
                              Land treatment.........  ft\2\.......................  A/270.
                              Pile \d\...............  ft\2\.......................  A/13.
                              Contaminated soil......  ft\2\.......................  A/34,000.
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\a\ Do not round to nearest integer.
\b\ Convert volume to mass when necessary: 1 ton = 2,000 pounds = 1 cubic yard = 4 drums = 200 gallons.
\c\ If actual volume of drums is unavailable, assume 1 drum=50 gallons.
\d\ Use land surface area under pile, not surface area of pile.

* * * * *

       Table 5-16--Values for Vapor Pressure and Henry's Constant
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                                                        Assigned  value
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Vapor Pressure (Torr):
    Greater than 10..................................                  3
    1 to 10..........................................                  2
    Less than 1......................................                  0
Henry's Constant (atm-m\3\/mol):
    Greater than 10 -\3\.............................                  3
    Greater than 10 -\4\ to 10 -\3\..................                  2
    10 -\5\ to 10 -\4\...............................                  1
    Less than 10 -\5\................................                  0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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                                                                 Table 7-1--HRS Factors Evaluated Differently for Radionuclides
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                                                                                                                                Subsurface
                                                     Surface water                        Soil exposure                          intrusion
      Ground water  pathway         Status \a\          pathway          Status \a\    component of  SESSI    Status \a\       component of       Status \a\       Air pathway       Status \a\
                                                                                             pathway                           SESSI pathway
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Likelihood of                                     Likelihood of......                     Likelihood of                        Likelihood of                   Likelihood of.....
Release                                           Release............                  Exposure...........                  Exposure..........                 Release...........
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Observed Release................  Yes...........  Observed Release...  Yes...........  Observed             Yes...........  Observed Exposure.  Yes..........  Observed Release..  Yes.
                                                                                        Contamination.
Potential to Release............  No............  Potential to         No............  Attractiveness/      No............  Potential for       Yes..........  Gas Potential to    No.
                                                   Release.                             Accessibility to                     Exposure.                          Release.
                                                                                        Nearby Residents.
Containment.....................  No............  Overland Flow        No............  Area of              No............  Structure           No...........  Gas Containment...  No.
                                                   Containment.                         Contamination.                       Containment.
Net Precipitation...............  No............  Runoff.............  No............  ...................  ..............  Depth to            Yes..........  Gas Source Type...  No.
                                                                                                                             Contamination.
Depth to Aquifer................  No............  Distance to Surface  No............  ...................  ..............  Vertical migration  No...........  Gas Migration       No.
                                                   water.                                                                                                       Potential.
Travel Time.....................  No............  Flood Frequency....  No............  ...................  ..............  Vapor Migration     No...........  Particulate         No.
                                                                                                                             Potential.                         Potential to
                                                                                                                                                                Release.
                                                  Flood Containment..  No............  ...................  ..............  Area of Observed    No...........  Particulate         No.
                                                                                                                             Exposure.                          Containment.
                                                                                                                            Area of Subsurface  No...........  Particulate Source  No.
                                                                                                                             Contamination.                     Type.
                                                                                                                                                               Particulate         No.
                                                                                                                                                                Migration
                                                                                                                                                                Potential.
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[[Page 38039]]

 
Waste                                             Waste..............                  Waste..............                  Waste.............                 Waste.............  .............
Characteristics                                   Characteristics....                  Characteristics....                  Characteristics...                 Characteristics...
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Toxicity........................  Yes...........  Toxicity/            Yes/Yes.......  Toxicity...........  Yes...........  Toxicity/           Yes/Yes......  Toxicity..........  Yes.
                                                   Ecotoxicity.                                                              Degradation.
Mobility........................  No............  Persistence/         Yes/No........  Hazardous Waste      Yes...........  Hazardous Waste     Yes..........  Mobility..........  No.
                                                   Mobility.                            Quantity.                            Quantity.
Hazardous Waste Quantity........  Yes...........  Bioaccumulation      No............  ...................  ..............  ..................  .............  Hazardous Waste     Yes.
                                                   Potential.                                                                                                   Quantity.
                                                  Hazardous Waste      Yes...........
                                                   Quantity.
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Targets                                           Targets............                  Targets............                  Targets...........                 Targets...........
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Nearest Well....................  Yes \b\.......  Nearest Intake.....  Yes \b\.......  Resident Individual  Yes \b\.......  Exposed Individual  Yes \b\......  Nearest Individual  Yes.\b\
Population......................  Yes \b\.......  Drinking Water       Yes \b\.......  Resident Population  Yes \b\.......  Population........  Yes \b\......  Population........  Yes.\b\
                                                   Population.
Resources.......................  No............  Resources..........  No............  Workers............  No............  Resources.........  No...........  Resources.........  No.
Wellhead Protection Area........  No............  Sensitive            Yes \b\.......  Resources..........  No............  ..................  .............  Sensitive           No.
                                                   Environments.                                                                                                Environments.
                                                  Human Food Chain     Yes \b\.......  Terrestrial          No............
                                                   Individual.                          Sensitive
                                                                                        Environments.
                                                  Human Food Chain     Yes \b\.......  Nearby Individual..  No............
                                                   Population.                         Population Within 1  No............
                                                                                        Mile.
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a--Factors evaluated differently are denoted by ``yes''; factors not evaluated differently are denoted by ``no''.
b--Difference is in the determination of Level I and Level II concentrations.

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[FR Doc. 2018-16605 Filed 8-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P