[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54304-54307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23580]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[EPA-R04-RCRA-2018-0528; FRL- 9985-93-Region 4]


Mississippi: Proposed Authorization of State Hazardous Waste 
Management Program Revisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Mississippi has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program 
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. 
EPA has reviewed Mississippi's application and is proposing to 
determine that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify 
for final authorization. Therefore, we are proposing to authorize the 
State's changes. EPA seeks public comment prior to taking final action.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
RCRA-2018-0528, at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from www.regulations.gov. EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Davis, Materials and Waste 
Management Branch, RCR Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-
8960; telephone number: (404) 562-8562; fax number: (404) 562-9964; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Why are revisions to state programs necessary?

    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 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 268, 270, 273, and 279.
    New federal requirements and prohibitions imposed by federal 
regulations that EPA promulgates pursuant to the Hazardous and Solid 
Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA) take effect in authorized states at the 
same time that they take effect in unauthorized states. Thus, EPA will 
implement those requirements and prohibitions in the states, including 
the issuance of new permits implementing those requirements, until the 
states are granted authorization to do so.

B. What decisions is EPA proposing to make in this rule?

    Mississippi submitted program revision applications, dated 
September 10, 2014 and June 1, 2018, seeking authorization of changes 
to its hazardous waste program that correspond to certain federal rules 
promulgated between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2014 (including RCRA 
Clusters \1\ XV through XXIII). EPA concludes that Mississippi's 
applications to revise its authorized program meet all of the statutory 
and regulatory requirements established by RCRA, as set forth in RCRA 
section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), and 40 CFR part 271. Therefore, EPA 
proposes to grant Mississippi final authorization to operate its 
hazardous waste program

[[Page 54305]]

with the changes described in its authorization applications, and as 
outlined below in Section F of this document.
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    \1\ A ``cluster'' is a grouping of hazardous waste rules that 
EPA promulgates from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the 
following year.
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    Mississippi has responsibility for permitting treatment, storage, 
and disposal facilities within its borders (except in Indian country) 
and for carrying out the aspects of the RCRA program described in its 
revised program applications, subject to the limitations of HSWA, as 
discussed above.

C. What is the effect of this proposed authorization decision?

    If Mississippi is authorized for the changes described in 
Mississippi's authorization applications, these changes will become 
part of the authorized State hazardous waste program, and therefore 
will be federally enforceable. Mississippi will continue to have 
primary enforcement authority and responsibility for its State 
hazardous waste program. EPA would retain its authorities under RCRA 
sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, including its authority to:
     Conduct inspections, and require monitoring, tests, 
analyses or reports;
     Enforce RCRA requirements, including authorized State 
program requirements, and suspend or revoke permits; and
     Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State 
has taken its own actions.
    This action will not impose additional requirements on the 
regulated community because the regulations for which EPA is proposing 
to authorize Mississippi are already effective, and are not changed by 
today's proposed action.

D. What happens if EPA receives comments that oppose this action?

    EPA will evaluate any comments received on this proposed action and 
will make a final decision on approval or disapproval of Mississippi's 
proposed authorization. Our decision will be published in the Federal 
Register. You may not have another opportunity to comment. If you want 
to comment on this authorization, you must do so at this time.

E. What has Mississippi previously been authorized for?

    Mississippi initially received final authorization on June 13, 
1984, effective June 27, 1984 (49 FR 24377), to implement the RCRA 
hazardous waste management program. EPA granted authorization for 
changes to Mississippi's program on August 17, 1988, effective October 
17, 1988 (53 FR 31000); August 10, 1990, effective October 9, 1990 (55 
FR 32624); March 29, 1991, effective May 28, 1991 (56 FR 13079); June 
26, 1991, effective August 27, 1991 (56 FR 29589); May 11, 1992, 
effective July 10, 1992 (57 FR 20056); April 8, 1993, effective June 7, 
1993 (58 FR 18162); October 20, 1993, effective December 20, 1993 (58 
FR 54044); March 18, 1994, effective May 17, 1994 (59 FR 12857); June 
1, 1995, effective July 31, 1995 (60 FR 28539); August 30, 1995, 
effective October 30, 1995 (60 FR 5718); February 23, 2005, effective 
April 25, 2005 (70 FR 8731); and August 4, 2008, effective October 3, 
2008 (73 FR 45170).

F. What changes are we proposing with today's action?

    Mississippi submitted program revision applications, dated 
September 10, 2014 and June 1, 2018, seeking authorization of changes 
to its hazardous waste management program in accordance with 40 CFR 
271.21. The September 10, 2014 application included changes associated 
with Checklists \2\ 206.1, 207.1, 208-215, 217-218, 220, 222-223, and 
225-228. All of these Checklists were resubmitted with Mississippi's 
June 1, 2018 application in response to prior EPA comments. The June 1, 
2018 application also included changes associated with Checklists 229-
232, as well as the non-checklist technical correction published at 72 
FR 35666 (June 29, 2007). EPA proposes to determine, subject to receipt 
of written comments that oppose this action, that Mississippi's 
hazardous waste program revisions are equivalent to, consistent with, 
and no less stringent than the federal program, and therefore satisfy 
all of the requirements necessary to qualify for final authorization. 
Therefore, EPA is proposing to authorize Mississippi for the following 
program changes:
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    \2\ A ``checklist'' is developed by EPA for each federal rule 
amending the RCRA regulations. The checklists document the changes 
made by each federal rule and are presented and numbered in 
chronological order by date of promulgation.

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                                                                                       Analogous State authority
   Description of Federal requirement           Federal Register date and page                    \3\
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Checklist 206.1, Nonwastewaters from     70 FR 35032, 6/16/05........................  R. 1.2.
 Dyes and Pigments (Correction).
Checklist 207.1, Uniform Hazardous       70 FR 35034, 6/16/05........................  R. 1.3, 1.7, and 1.11.
 Waste Manifest Rule (Correction).
Checklist 208, Methods Innovation Rule   70 FR 34538, 6/14/05, 70 FR 44150, 8/1/05...  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.11,
 and SW-846 Final Update IIIB.                                                          1.13, 1.15, 1.16, and
                                                                                        1.22.
Checklist 209, Universal Waste Rule:     70 FR 45508, 8/5/05.........................  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.11,
 Specific Provisions for Mercury                                                        1.15, 1.16, and 1.21.
 Containing Equipment.
Checklist 210, Standardized Permit for   70 FR 53420, 9/8/05.........................  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.14, 1.16,
 RCRA Hazardous Waste Management                                                        and 1.23.
 Facilities.
Checklist 211, Revision of Wastewater    70 FR 57769, 10/4/05........................  R. 1.2.
 Treatment Exemptions for Hazardous
 Waste Mixtures (``Headworks
 exemptions'').
Checklist 212, NESHAP: Final Standards   70 FR 59402, 10/12/05.......................  R. 1.1, 1.7, 1.11, 1.13,
 for Hazardous Waste Combustors (Phase                                                  and 1.16.
 I Final Replacement Standards and
 Phase II).
Checklist 213,\4\ Burden Reduction       71 FR 16862, 4/4/06.........................  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.11,
 Initiative.                                                                            1.13, 1.15, and 1.16.
Checklist 214, Corrections to Errors in  71 FR 40254, 7/14/06........................  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.7,
 the Code of Federal Regulations.                                                       1.11, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15,
                                                                                        1.16, 1.21, and 1.22.
Checklist 215, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)   71 FR 42928, 7/28/06........................  R. 1.1 and 1.2.
 Rule.
Checklist 217, NESHAP: Final Standards   73 FR 18970, 4/8/08.........................  R. 1.7 and 1.13.
 for Hazardous Waste Combustors (Phase
 I Final Replacement Standards and
 Phase II) Amendments.
Checklist 218, F019 Exemption for        73 FR 31756, 6/4/08.........................  R. 1.2.
 Wastewater Treatment Sludges from Auto
 Manufacturing Zinc Phosphating
 Processes.
Checklist 220, Academic Laboratories     73 FR 72912, 12/1/08........................  R. 1.2 and 1.3.
 Generator Standards.

[[Page 54306]]

 
Checklist 222, OECD Requirements;        75 FR 1236, 1/8/10..........................  R. 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.11,
 Export Shipment of Spent Lead-Acid                                                     and 1.13.
 Batteries.
Checklist 223, Hazardous Waste           75 FR 12989 3/18/10, 75 FR 31716 6/4/10.....  R. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5,
 Technical Corrections and                                                              1.7, 1.11, 1.13, 1.15,
 Clarifications.                                                                        and 1.16.
Checklist 225, Removal of Saccharin and  75 FR 78918, 12/17/10.......................  R. 1.2 and 1.15.
 its Salts from the Lists of Hazardous
 Constituents.
Checklist 226, Academic Laboratories     75 FR 79304, 12/20/10.......................  R. 1.3.
 Generator Standards Technical
 Corrections.
Checklist 227, Revision of the Land      76 FR 34147, 6/13/11........................  R. 1.15.
 Disposal Treatment Standards for
 Carbamate Wastes.
Checklist 228, Hazardous Waste           77 FR 22229, 4/13/12........................  R. 1.2 and 1.13.
 Technical Corrections and
 Clarifications.
Checklist 229, Conditional Exclusions    78 FR 46448, 7/31/13........................  R. 1.1 and 1.2.
 for Solvent Contaminated Wipes.
Checklist 230, Conditional Exclusions    79 FR 350, 1/3/14...........................  R. 1.1 and 1.2.
 for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Streams in
 Geologic Sequestration Activities.
Checklist 231, Hazardous Waste           79 FR 7518, 2/7/14..........................  R. 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7,
 Electronic Manifest Rule.                                                              and 1.11.
Checklist 232, Revisions to the Export   79 FR 36220, 6/26/14........................  R. 1.1 and 1.2.
 Provisions of the Cathode Ray Tube
 (CRT) Rule.
Non-Checklist Item Technical Correction  72 FR 35666, 6/29/07........................  R. 1.21.
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\3\ The Mississippi regulatory provisions are from the Mississippi Hazardous Waste Regulations, Title 11, Part
  3, Chapter 1, effective November 17, 2017.
\4\ The National Environmental Performance Track Program referenced in the Burden Reduction Initiative Rule has
  been discontinued.

G. Where are the revised State rules different from the federal rules?

    When revised state rules differ from the federal rules in the RCRA 
state authorization process, EPA determines whether the state rules are 
equivalent to, more stringent than, or broader in scope than the 
federal program. Pursuant to Section 3009 of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6929, 
state programs may contain requirements that are more stringent than 
the federal regulations. Such more stringent requirements can be 
federally authorized and, once authorized, become federally 
enforceable. Although the statute does not prevent states from adopting 
regulations that are broader in scope than the federal program, such 
regulations cannot be authorized and are not federally enforceable. In 
its review of the Mississippi regulations submitted as part of the 
program revision applications that are the subject of this proposed 
rule, EPA did not find any State regulations to be more stringent or 
broader in scope than the federal program.
    EPA cannot delegate certain federal requirements associated with 
the manifest registry system in the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest 
Rule (Checklist 207) or the operation of the electronic manifest system 
in the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Rule (Checklist 231). 
Mississippi has adopted these requirements and appropriately preserved 
EPA's authority to implement them (see 11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 3, Ch. 
1, Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, and 1.11).
    EPA also cannot delegate the federal requirements associated with 
international shipments (i.e., import and export provisions) associated 
with the Cathode Ray Tubes Rule (Checklists 215 and 232) and the OECD 
Requirements for Export Shipments of Spent Lead-Acid Batteries 
(Checklist 222). Mississippi has adopted these requirements and 
appropriately preserved EPA's authority to implement them (see 11 Miss. 
Admin. Code Pt. 3, Ch. 1, Rules 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3).

H. Who handles permits after the final authorization takes effect?

    Mississippi 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 effective date of authorization 
until they expire or are terminated. EPA will not issue any new permits 
or new portions of permits for the provisions listed in the Table above 
after the effective date of the final authorization. EPA will continue 
to implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which 
Mississippi is not yet authorized.

I. How does today's proposed action affect Indian country (18 U.S.C. 
1151) in Mississippi?

    Mississippi is not authorized to carry out its hazardous waste 
program in Indian country within the State, which includes the 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Therefore, this proposed action 
has no effect on Indian Country. EPA will continue to implement and 
administer the RCRA program on these lands.

J. What is codification and will EPA codify Mississippi's hazardous 
waste program as proposed 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. EPA does this by 
referencing the authorized state rules in 40 CFR part 272. EPA is not 
proposing to codify the authorization of Mississippi's changes at this 
time. However, EPA reserves the amendment of 40 CFR part 272, subpart 
Z, for the authorization of Mississippi's program changes at a later 
date.

K. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this action 
from the requirements of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 
1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011). This action proposes to 
authorize State requirements for the purpose of RCRA section 3006 and 
imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law. 
Therefore, this action is not subject to review by OMB. This action is 
not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017) regulatory 
action because actions such as today's proposed authorization of 
Mississippi's revised hazardous waste program under RCRA are exempted 
under Executive Order 12866. 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 proposes to authorize pre-

[[Page 54307]]

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 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538). For the same reason, this action also does 
not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of tribal 
governments, as specified by 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 proposes to authorize 
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 action 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 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 note) do not apply. As required 
by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), 
in proposing 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 this action 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 action does not impose an information collection burden 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). ``Burden'' is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). Executive 
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes federal 
executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision directs 
federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by 
law, to make environmental justice part of their mission by identifying 
and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse 
human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and 
activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the 
United States. Because this action proposes authorization of pre-
existing State rules which are at least equivalent to, and no less 
stringent than existing federal requirements, and imposes no additional 
requirements beyond those imposed by State law, and there are no 
anticipated significant adverse human health or environmental effects, 
this proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 12898.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

    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, and 6974(b).

    Dated: September 27, 2018.
Onis ``Trey'' Glenn, III,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2018-23580 Filed 10-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


