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CFR Citation: 40 CFR Part 271

FRL ID: [FRL-7781-8]

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

ACTION: Hazardous waste program authorizations:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed rule and notice of informational meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Connecticut: Proposed Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before August 5, 2004. Comments submitted electronically will be considered timely submitted if they are received by 11:59 p.m. (eastern time) on the deadline date. An informational meeting relating to the proposed authorization will be held on July 21, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in Hartford, Connecticut.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The State of Connecticut has applied to EPA for Final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The revisions consist of State regulations which update the State's program to meet federal requirements through January 1, 2001. The revisions cover the EPA RCRA Clusters Non
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HSWA VI, HSWA I, HSWA II, and RCRA I through XI, and include such important rules as Corrective Action, land disposal restrictions, toxicity characteristic amendments, burning hazardous waste in boilers and industrial furnaces, recycled used oil, universal wastes, and the expanded RCRA public participation rule. EPA proposes to grant final authorization to Connecticut for these revisions to its hazardous waste program. EPA has determined that these State regulations meet the requirements for authorization as set forth in the RCRA statute and EPA's regulations.

SUMMARY: Connecticut,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Informational meeting. The EPA and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) will hold an informational meeting in order to address questions related to authorization, including the implementation and transition of the Corrective Action program to the CTDEP. EPA and State personnel will also be available to discuss other program elements. This meeting will not be a public hearing in which comments are formally entered into the administrative record. Instead, all comments related to this proposed action must be submitted in writing, and must be received by the EPA in accordance with the procedures specified above.

A. Why Are Revisions to State Programs Necessary?

States with final authorization under section 3006(b) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), have a continuing obligation to maintain a hazardous waste program that is equivalent to, consistent with, and no less stringent than the Federal hazardous waste program. As the Federal hazardous waste program changes, the States must revise their programs and apply for authorization of the revisions. Revisions to State hazardous waste programs may be necessary when Federal or State statutory or regulatory authority is modified or when certain other changes occur. Most commonly, States must revise 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 Has Connecticut Previously Been Authorized for Under RCRA?

The State of Connecticut received Final Authorization on December 17, 1990, effective December 31, 1990 (55 FR 51707), to implement its base hazardous waste management program. This previously authorized program generally tracks Federal hazardous waste requirements through July 1, 1989.
C. What Decisions Is the EPA Proposing To Make in This Rule?

We believe that the State of Connecticut's application to revise its authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by RCRA. Therefore, we propose to grant Connecticut Final authorization to operate its hazardous waste program with the changes described in the authorization application. D. What Happens if EPA Receives Written Comments That Oppose This Action?

If EPA receives written comments that oppose this authorization, we will evaluate and address them prior to issuing any final rule. You may not have another opportunity to comment. If you want to comment on this authorization, you should do so at this time.
E. What Changes Is the EPA Proposing To Authorize With Today's Action?

The EPA is proposing to authorize Connecticut regulations which update the State's hazardous waste program to meet federal requirements through January 1, 2001. The revisions track the following federal rules in RCRA Clusters NonHSWA VI, HSWA I, HSWA II, and RCRA I through

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Robin Biscaia, Hazardous Waste Unit, EPA Region I, One Congress St., Suite 1100 (CHW), Boston, MA 02114 2023, tel: (617) 9181642, email: biscaia.robin@epa.gov.