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EPA ID: [EPA-RO3-RCRA-2008-0256; FRL-8548-9]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Virginia: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: Virginia has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the revisions of its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has determined that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is authorizing the State's revisions through this immediate final action. EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the revisions 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 that oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Virginia'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.
SUMMARY: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision; Virginia,
States that have received final authorization from 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 is revised, States must revise their programs and ask EPA to authorize the revisions. Revisions 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 revise their programs because of revisions to EPA's regulations in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 124, 260 through 266, 268, 270, 273 and 279.
We conclude that Virginia's program revision application of October 10, 2007, to revise its authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by RCRA. Therefore, we grant Virginia Final authorization to operate its hazardous waste program with the revisions described in the authorization application, except as described in Sections H. 1, 3, and 4 of this immediate final rule. Virginia has responsibility for permitting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) within its borders 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). New Federal requirements and prohibitions imposed by Federal regulations that EPA promulgates under the authority of HSWA take effect in authorized States even before they are authorized for the requirements. Thus, EPA will implement those requirements and prohibitions in Virginia, including issuing permits, until the State is granted authorization to do so.
The effect of this decision is that a facility in Virginia subject
to RCRA will have to comply with the authorized revised State
requirements instead of the equivalent Federal requirements in order to
comply with RCRA. While Virginia has enforcement responsibilities under
its State hazardous waste program for violations of such program, EPA
nevertheless retains its authority under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, which include, among others, authority to:
This action does not impose additional requirements on the regulated community because the regulations for which Virginia is being authorized by today's action are already effective, and are not changed by today's action.
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 EPA Receives Comments That Oppose This Action?
If 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. EPA will base any further decision on the authorization of the revised State program 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 revision to the State hazardous waste program, we will withdraw that part of this rule but the authorization of the program revisions that the comments do not oppose will become effective on the date specified above. The Federal Register withdrawal document will specify which part of the authorization will become effective, and which part is being withdrawn.
Initially, Virginia received final authorization to implement its hazardous waste management program effective December 18, 1984 (49 FR 47391). EPA granted authorization for revisions to Virginia's regulatory program effective August 13, 1993 (58 FR 32855); September 29, 2000 (65 FR 46607); June 20, 2003 (68 FR 36925); and July 10, 2006 (71 FR 27216).
On October 10, 2007, Virginia submitted a program revision application, seeking authorization of revisions to its program in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. Virginia's revision application includes various regulations that are equivalent to, and no less stringent than, revisions to the Federal hazardous waste program, as published in the Federal Register from July 1, 2004 through July 19, 2006, as well as miscellaneous changes to its previously authorized program. We now make an immediate final decision, subject to receipt of written comments that oppose this action, that Virginia's hazardous waste program revisions set forth in its October 10, 2007 application satisfy all of the requirements necessary to qualify for final authorization except as described in sections H. 1, 3, and 4 of this immediate final rule. Therefore, EPA grants Virginia final authorization for the following program revisions.
Virginia seeks authority to administer the Federal requirements
that are listed in Table 1. Virginia incorporates by reference these
Federal provisions, in accordance with the dates specified in Title 9,
Virginia Administrative Code (9 VAC 206018). Table 1 also lists
Virginia's requirements that are being recognized as no less stringent
than the analogous Federal requirements. The Virginia Waste Management
Act (VWMA), enacted by the 1986 session of Virginia's General Assembly
and recodified in 1988 as Chapter 14, Title 10.1, Code of Virginia, forms the basis
[[Page 18174]]
of the Virginia program. The regulatory references are to Title 9,
Virginia Administrative Code (9 VAC) effective May 22, 2006.
Table 1.Virginia's Analogs to the Federal Requirements
Description of federal
requirement (revision Federal Register Analogous Virginia
checklists\1\) authority RCRA Cluster XV,\2\ NonHSWA
National Environmental 69 FR 62217, 10/ Title 9, Virginia
Performance Track Program; 25/04. Code (9 VAC) Sec.
Corrections, Checklist 204. Sec. 206018 and
2060262 A. RCRA Cluster XV, HSWA
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 9138, 2/24/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste; Dyes and/or 05. 6018, 2060261 A,
Pigments Production Wastes; and 2060268 A. Land Disposal Restrictions
for Newly Identified Wastes;
CERCLA Hazardous Substance
Designation and Reportable
Quantities; Designation of
Five Chemicals as Appendix
VIII Constituents; Addition
of Four Chemicals to the
Treatment Standards of F039
and the Universal Treatment
Standards, Checklist 206.
RCRA Cluster XV, HSWA/NonHSWA
Modification of the Hazardous 70 FR 10776, 3/4/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Waste Manifest System, 05. 6018, 2060260 A,
Checklist 207. 2060261 A, 2060
262 A, 2060263 A,
2060264 A, and 20
60265 A.
Testing and Monitoring 70 FR 34538, 6/14/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Activities; Final Rule: 05. 6018, 2060260 A,
Methods Innovation Rule and 2060261 A, 2060
SW846 Final Update IIIB, 264 A, 2060265 A,
Checklist 208. 2060266 A, 2060
268 A, 2060270 A,
and 2060279 A.
Modification of the Hazardous 70 FR 35034, 6/16/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Waste Manifest System, 05. 6018, 2060262 A,
Checklist 207. 2060264 A, and 20
60265 A.
Methods Innovation Rule and SW 70 FR 44150, 8/1/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
846 Update, Checklist 208. 05. 6018, 2060261 A,
and 2060264 A. RCRA Cluster XVI, NonHSWA
Universal Waste Rule: Specific 70 FR 45508, 8/5/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Provisions for Mercury 05. 6018, 2060260 A,
Containing Equipment, 2060261 A, 2060
Checklist 209. 264 A, 2060265 A,
2060270 A, and 20
60273 A.
Standardized Permit for RCRA 70 FR 53420, 9/8/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste Management 05. 6018, 20124 A, 20
Facilities, Checklist 210. 260 A, 20261 A, 20
267 A, and 20270 A.
Revision of Wastewater 70 FR 57769, 10/4/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Treatment Exemptions for 05. 6018, and 2060261 Hazardous Waste Mixtures, A.
Checklist 211.
RCRA Cluster XVI, HSWA/NonHSWA
National Emission Standards 70 FR 59402, 10/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
for Hazardous Air Pollutants: 12/05. 6018, 2060260 A,
Final Standards for Hazardous 2060264 A, 2060
Air Pollutants for Hazardous 265 A, 2060266 A,
Waste Combustors (Phase I and 2060270 A. Final Replacement Standards
and Phase II), Checklist 212.
RCRA Burden Reduction 71 FR 16862, 4/4/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Initiative, Checklist 213. 06. 6018, 9 VAC 2060
260 A, 9 VAC 2060
261 A, 9 VAC 2060
264 A, 9 VAC 2060
265 A, 9 VAC 2060
266 A, 9 VAC 2060
268 A, 9 VAC 2060 270 A.
Other
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 21153, 4/25/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste Final 05. 6018, and 2060261 Exclusion. A.
Identification and Listing of 69 FR 56357, 9/21/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste. 04. 6018, and 2060261 A.
Identification and Listing of 69 FR 60557, 10/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste. 12/04. 6018 and 2060261 A.
Nonwaste waters from 70 FR 35032,6/16/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Productions of Dyes, 05. 6018, 2060261 A,
Pigments, and Food, Drug, and and 2060268 A. Cosmetic Colorants.
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 42499, 7/25/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste; Final 05. 6018, and 2060261 Exclusion. A.
Final Exclusion for 70 FR 44496, 8/3/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Identification and Listing 05. 6018, and 2060261 Hazardous Waste. A.
SiteSpecific Treatment 70 FR 44505, 8/3/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Variances for Heritage 05. 6018, and 2060268 Environmental Services LLC A.
and Chemical Waste
Management, Chemical
Services, Inc.
Final Exclusion for 70 FR 49187, 8/23/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Identification and Listing 05. 6018, and 2060261 Hazardous Waste. A.
Hazardous Waste Management 70 FR 51638, 8/31/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
System; Identification and 05. 6018, and 2060261 Listing of Hazardous Waste; A.
Final Amendment.
[[Page 18175]]
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 60217, 10/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste. 17/05. 6018, and 2060261 A.
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 71002, 11/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste; Amendment. 25/05. 6018 and 2060261 A.
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 71002, 11/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste; Final 25/05. 6018 and 2060261 Exclusion. A.
Identification and Listing of 70 FR 76168, 12/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
Hazardous Waste; Final 23/05. 6018 and 2060261 Exclusion. A.
SiteSpecific Variance From 71 FR 6209, 2/7/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
the Land Disposal 06. 6018 and 2060268 Restrictions Treatment A.
Standard for 1,3
Phenylenediamine (1,3PDA).
Hazardous Waste Management 71 FR 9723, 2/27/ 9 VAC Sec. Sec. 20
System; Identification and 06. 6018 and 2060261 Listing of Hazardous Waste; A.
Final Amendment.
\1\ A Revision Checklist is a document that addresses the specific
revisions made to the Federal regulations by one or more related final
rules published in the Federal Register. EPA develops these checklists
as tools to assist States in developing their authorization
applications and in documenting specific State analogs to the Federal
Regulations. For more information see EPA's RCRA State Authorization
web page at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/state.
\2\ A RCRA ``Cluster'' is a set of Revision Checklists for Federal
rules, typically promulgated over a 12month period starting on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the following year.
H. Where Are the Revised Virginia Rules Different From the Federal Rules?
1. Virginia Requirements That Are Broader in Scope Than the Federal Program
The Virginia hazardous waste program contains certain provisions
that are beyond the scope of the Federal program. Virginia's statutory
provision Sec. 10.11426 F, which is related to the Federal
Regulations at 40 CFR 261.5 and 261.4(b)(1), explains the requirements
allowing local or state agencies to collect hazardous waste from exempt
small quantity generators. The Virginia code is broader in scope
because there is not a corresponding part of the Federal program that
has such a restriction. These broader in scope provisions are not part
of the program being authorized by today's action. EPA cannot enforce
requirements that are broader in scope, although compliance with such provisions is required by Virginia law.
2. Virginia Requirements That Are More Stringent Than the Federal Program
The Virginia hazardous waste program contains no new provisions
that are more stringent than those required by the RCRA program as
codified in the July 1, 2006 edition of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
3. Virginia's Adoption of EPA's SiteSpecific Delisting and Variance Decisions
In its regulations, Virginia has adopted EPA's decisions relative
to the sitespecific delistings published between September 21, 2004
and February 27, 2006 (69 FR 56357, 69 FR 60557, 70 FR 21153, 70 FR
42499, 70 FR 44496, 70 FR 49187, 70 FR 51638, 70 FR 71002, 70 FR 71002,
70 FR 76168, 71 FR 9723), as well as the site specific treatment
variances from the Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) treatment standards
published on August 3, 2005 (70 FR 44505) and February 7, 2006 (71 FR
6209). EPA today is not authorizing Virginia to delist wastes or to
grant treatment variances. With regard to waste delisted as a hazardous
waste by EPA, the authority of the Department of Environmental Quality
is limited to recognition of the waste as a delisted waste in Virginia,
and the supervision of waste management activities for the delisted
waste when the activities occur within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia is not authorized to delist wastes on behalf of the EPA, or to
otherwise administer any case decision to issue, revoke, or continue a
delisting of a waste by EPA. Similarly, while Virginia is recognizing
EPA's decision regarding the sitespecific treatment variances, the authority to grant such variances remains with the EPA.
4. EPA Is Not Authorizing Portions of the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest Rule (70 FR 10776)
Virginia has adopted the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest Rule (70
FR 10776, March 4, 2005) without exception; however, there are non
delegable Federal functions addressed in that Rule. Specifically,
authority must be left with the federal government as set forth in 40
CFR 262.21, 262.60(e), 263.20(g)(4), 264.71(a)(3), and 265.71(a)(3). In
its incorporation by reference of 40 CFR Part 263, Virginia
appropriately does not substitute the term ``U.S. Customs Official''
that appears in 40 CFR 263.20(g)(4). As a result, this provision is
herein included in Virginia's authorized program. However, Virginia
must make the following modifications to its incorporation by reference
of 40 CFR parts 262, 264, and 265 in order to clarify that the
enforcement authority for the nondelegable provisions in those parts remains with EPA:
Because these provisions have not yet been amended, EPA is not authorizing them at this time. EPA will authorize Virginia to administer the above regulations after they are modified accordingly. I. Who Handles Permits After the Authorization Takes Effect?
After authorization, Virginia will issue permits for all the
provisions for which it is authorized and will administer the permits
it issues. EPA will continue to administer any RCRA hazardous waste
permits or portions of permits which EPA issued prior to the [[Page 18176]]
effective date of this authorization until the timing and process for
effective transfer to the State are mutually agreed upon. EPA and
Virginia agree to coordinate the administration of permits in order to maintain consistency.
EPA will not issue any more new permits or new portions of permits
for the provisions included in this revised authorization after the
effective date of this authorization. EPA will continue to implement
and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Virginia is not yet authorized.
J. How Does This Action Affect Indian Country (18 U.S.C. 115) in Virginia?
Virginia is not seeking authorization to operate the program on
Indian lands, since there are no Federallyrecognized Indian lands in Virginia.
K. What is Codification and Is EPA Codifying Virginia'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 Code of Federal Regulations. We do this by referencing the authorized State rules in 40 CFR part 272. We reserve the amendment of 40 CFR part 272, subpart VV for this authorization of Virginia's revised program until a later date.
The Office of Management and Budget 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. 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. 1044). For the same reason, this action would not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of Tribal governments, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). In any case, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule since there are no Federally recognized tribes in Region 3.
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 that may disproportionately affect children. 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), 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 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, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. 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. 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. Although this action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2), this action will be effective June 2, 2008.
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: March 18, 2008.
William T. Wisniewski,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region III.
[FR Doc. E86724 Filed 4208; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Thomas UyBarreta, Mailcode 3WC21, RCRA State Programs Branch, U.S. EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 191032029. Telephone 2158142953.
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 26 CFR Part 1 50 CFR Part 679 33 CFR Part 117 40 CFR Part 180 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 17 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 50 CFR Part 622 26 CFR Part 301 39 CFR Part 111 44 CFR Part 65 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 40 CFR Part 271 14 CFR Part 23 47 CFR Part 76 40 CFR Part 300 21 CFR Part 522 50 CFR Part 660 50 CFR Part 229 47 CFR Part 64 7 CFR Part 301 14 CFR Part 25