Minnesota: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

Minnesota has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Minnesota has submitted these changes so that it may implement the EPA approved U.S. Filter Recovery Systems (USFRS) XL project. EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is proposing to authorize the State's changes through this proposed final action.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before October 9, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments to Gary Westefer, Minnesota Regulatory Specialist, DM-7J, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Please refer to Docket Number MN-XL1. You can view and copy Minnesota's application from 9 am to 4 pm at the following addresses: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road, North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155, contact Nathan Cooley (651) 297-7544, and EPA Region and EPA Region 5, contact Gary Westefer, Minnesota Regulatory Specialist, U.S. EPA Region 5, DM-7J, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-7450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gary Westefer, Minnesota Regulatory Specialist, U.S. EPA Region 5, DM-7J, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-7450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Why Are Revisions to State Programs Necessary?

States which 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 changes, States must change their programs and ask EPA to authorize the changes. Changes 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 change 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 Decisions Have We Made in This Rule?

We conclude that Minnesota's application to revise its authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements established by RCRA. Therefore, we propose to grant Minnesota Final authorization to operate its hazardous waste program with the changes described in the authorization application. Minnesota has responsibility for permitting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) within its borders (except in Indian Country) 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 before they are authorized for the requirements. Thus, EPA will implement those requirements and prohibitions in Minnesota, including issuing permits, until the State is granted authorization to do so.

C. What Is the Effect of Today's Authorization Decision?

The effect of this decision is to allow Minnesota to carry out the requirements outlined in the U.S. Filter Recovery Services XL Project promulgated in the May 22, 2001 Federal Register (66 FR 28066). On May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282), U.S. EPA issued guidance for XL projects, with the goal of reducing regulatory burden and promoting economic growth, while achieving better environmental and public health protection. XL Projects are required to provide alternative pollution reduction strategies pursuant to eight criteria. These criteria were met and approved in the May 22, 2001 Federal Register. This action merely allows Minnesota to carry out the requirements approved in the May 22, 2001 Federal Register.

Minnesota has enforcement responsibilities under its State hazardous waste program for violations of such program, but EPA retains its authority under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, which include, among others, authority to:

• Do inspections, and require monitoring, tests, analyses or reports.
• Enforce RCRA requirements and suspend or revoke permits.

This action does not impose additional requirements on the regulated community. U.S. EPA believes that this project will result in cost savings and a reduction in the paperwork burden for generators. For more details please see the May 22, 2001 Federal Register (66 FR 28066).

D. What Happens if EPA Receives Comments that Oppose This Action?

If EPA receives comments that oppose this authorization, we will address such comments in a later Federal Register. You may not have another opportunity to comment. If you want to comment on this authorization, you must do it at this time.

E. What Has Minnesota Previously Been Authorized for?

Minnesota initially received Final authorization on January 28, 1985, effective February 11, 1985 (50 FR 3756) to implement the RCRA hazardous waste management program. We granted authorization for changes to their program on July 20, 1987, effective September 18, 1987 (52 FR 27199); on April 24, 1989, effective June 23, 1989 (54 FR 16361) amended June 28, 1989 (54 FR 27170); on June 15, 1990, effective August 14, 1990 (55 FR 24232); on June 24, 1991, effective August 23, 1991 (56 FR 28709); on March 19, 1992, effective May 18, 1992 (57 FR 9501); on March 17, 1993, effective May 17, 1993 (58 FR 14321); on January 20, 1994, effective March 21, 1994 (59 FR 2998); and on May 25, 2000, effective August 23, 2000 (65 FR 33774).

F. What Changes Are We Authorizing With Today's Action?

On April 17, 2002, Minnesota submitted a final complete program revision application, seeking authorization of their changes in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. We now make a final decision, subject to receipt of written comments that oppose this action, that Minnesota's hazardous waste program revision satisfies all of the requirements necessary to qualify for Final authorization. Therefore, we propose to grant Minnesota Final authorization for the following program changes:

G. Where Are the Revised State Rules Different From the Federal Rules?

In the changes currently being made to Minnesota's program, there are no regulations more stringent than the Federal requirements. There are no broader-in-scope provisions in these changes, either.

H. Who Handles Permits After the Authorization Takes Effect?

Minnesota will issue permits for all the provisions for which it is authorized and will administer the permits it issues. EPA will continue to implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Minnesota is not yet authorized. As the XL project involves new permits, Minnesota will issue any new permits or new portions of permits for the provisions listed in the Table above. EPA or Minnesota may enforce compliance with those permits.

I. How Does Today's Action Affect Indian Country (18 U.S.C. 1151) in Minnesota?

Minnesota is not authorized to carry out its hazardous waste program in Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. This includes:

1. All lands within the exterior boundaries of Indian Reservations within or abutting the State of Minnesota, including:

a. Bois Forte Indian Reservation

b. Fond Du Lac Indian Reservation

c. Grand Portage Indian Reservation

d. Leech Lake Indian Reservation

e. Lower Sioux Indian Reservation

f. Mille Lacs Indian Reservation

g. Prairie Island Indian Reservation

h. Red Lake Indian Reservation

i. Shakopee Mdewankanton Indian Reservation

j. Upper Sioux Indian Reservation

k. White Earth Indian Reservation

2. Any land held in trust by the U.S. for an Indian tribe, and

3. Any other land, whether on or off a reservation that qualifies as Indian country.

Therefore, this action has no effect on Indian country. EPA will continue to implement and administer the RCRA program in these lands.

J. What Is Codification and Is EPA Codifying Minnesota'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 Y for this authorization of Minnesota's program changes until a later date.

K. Administrative Requirements

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 section 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 pre-existing 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 (Public Law 104-4). This action also does not have Tribal implications within the meaning of Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). 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. 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. This action does not include environmental justice issues that require consideration under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

Under RCRA section 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) 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 final 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. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

• Environmental protection
• Administrative practice and procedure
• Confidential business information
• Hazardous materials transportation
• Hazardous waste
• Indians-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).