National Priorities List, Final Rule No. 59, 56515-56522 [2014-22429]
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EPA-APPROVED REGULATIONS IN THE WEST VIRGINIA SIP
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BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA–HQ–SFUND–2013–0635, 0319, 0320,
0321, and 0322; FRL–9916–74–OSWER]
National Priorities List, Final Rule No.
59
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
Final rule.
The Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(‘‘CERCLA’’ or ‘‘the Act’’), as amended,
requires that the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (‘‘NCP’’) include a list
of national priorities among the known
releases or threatened releases of
hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants throughout the United
States. The National Priorities List
(‘‘NPL’’) constitutes this list. The NPL is
intended primarily to guide the
Environmental Protection Agency (‘‘the
EPA’’ or ‘‘the agency’’) in determining
which sites warrant further
investigation. These further
investigations will allow the EPA to
assess the nature and extent of public
health and environmental risks
associated with the site and to
determine what CERCLA-financed
remedial action(s), if any, may be
appropriate. This rule adds five sites to
the General Superfund section of the
NPL.
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SUMMARY:
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The effective date for this
amendment to the NCP is October 22,
2014.
ADDRESSES: Contact information for the
EPA Headquarters:
• Docket Coordinator, Headquarters;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
CERCLA Docket Office; 1301
Constitution Avenue NW; William
Jefferson Clinton Building West, Room
3334, Washington, DC 20004, 202/566–
0276.
The contact information for the
regional dockets is as follows:
• Holly Inglis, Region 1 (CT, ME, MA,
NH, RI, VT), U.S. EPA, Superfund
Records and Information Center, 5 Post
Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA
02109–3912; 617/918–1413.
• Ildefonso Acosta, Region 2 (NJ, NY,
PR, VI), U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, New
York, NY 10007–1866; 212/637–4344.
• Lorie Baker (ASRC), Region 3 (DE,
DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), U.S. EPA,
Library, 1650 Arch Street, Mailcode
3HS12, Philadelphia, PA 19103; 215/
814–3355.
• Todd Quesada, Region 5 (IL, IN, MI,
MN, OH, WI), U.S. EPA Superfund
Division Librarian/SFD Records
Manager SRC–7J, Metcalfe Federal
Building, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, IL 60604; 312/886–4465.
• Brenda Cook, Region 6 (AR, LA,
NM, OK, TX), U.S. EPA, 1445 Ross
Avenue, Suite 1200, Mailcode 6SFTS,
Dallas, TX 75202–2733; 214/665–7436.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terry Jeng, phone: (703) 603–8852,
email: jeng.terry@epa.gov, 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,
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DC 20460; or the Superfund Hotline,
phone (800) 424–9346 or (703) 412–
9810 in the Washington, DC,
metropolitan area.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. What are CERCLA and SARA?
B. What is the NCP?
C. What is the National Priorities List
(NPL)?
D. How are sites listed on the NPL?
E. What happens to sites on the NPL?
F. Does the NPL define the boundaries of
sites?
G. How are sites removed from the NPL?
H. May the EPA delete portions of sites
from the NPL as they are cleaned up?
I. What is the Construction Completion List
(CCL)?
J. What is the sitewide ready for
anticipated use measure?
K. What is state/tribal correspondence
concerning NPL listing?
II. Availability of Information to the Public
A. May I review the documents relevant to
this final rule?
B. What documents are available for review
at the headquarters docket?
C. What documents are available for review
at the regional dockets?
D. How do I access the documents?
E. How may I obtain a current list of NPL
sites?
III. Contents of This Final Rule
A. Additions to the NPL
B. What did the EPA do with the public
comments it received?
C. Site Name Change
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
1. What is Executive Order 12866?
2. Is this final rule subject to Executive
Order 12866 review?
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
1. What is the paperwork reduction act?
2. Does the paperwork reduction act apply
to this final rule?
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
1. What is the regulatory flexibility act?
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2. How has the EPA complied with the
regulatory flexibility act?
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
1. What is the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (UMRA)?
2. Does UMRA apply to this final rule?
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
1. What is Executive Order 13132?
2. Does Executive Order 13132 apply to
this final rule?
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
1. What is Executive Order 13175?
2. Does Executive Order 13175 apply to
this final rule?
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
1. What is Executive Order 13045?
2. Does Executive Order 13045 apply to
this final rule?
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
1. What is Executive Order 13211?
2. Does Executive Order 13211 apply to
this final rule?
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
1. What is the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act?
2. Does the National Technology Transfer
and Advancement Act apply to this final
rule?
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
To Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
1. What is Executive Order 12898?
2. Does Executive Order 12898 apply to
this final rule?
K. Congressional Review Act
1. Has the EPA submitted this rule to
Congress and the Government
Accountability Office?
2. Could the effective date of this final rule
change?
3. What could cause a change in the
effective date of this rule?
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I. Background
A. What are CERCLA and SARA?
In 1980, Congress enacted the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601–9675 (‘‘CERCLA’’ or
‘‘the Act’’), in response to the dangers of
uncontrolled releases or threatened
releases of hazardous substances, and
releases or substantial threats of releases
into the environment of any pollutant or
contaminant that may present an
imminent or substantial danger to the
public health or welfare. CERCLA was
amended on October 17, 1986, by the
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (‘‘SARA’’), Public
Law 99–499, 100 Stat. 1613 et seq.
B. What is the NCP?
To implement CERCLA, the EPA
promulgated the revised National Oil
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and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (‘‘NCP’’), 40 CFR Part
300, on July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180),
pursuant to CERCLA section 105 and
Executive Order 12316 (46 FR 42237,
August 20, 1981). The NCP sets
guidelines and procedures for
responding to releases and threatened
releases of hazardous substances, or
releases or substantial threats of releases
into the environment of any pollutant or
contaminant that may present an
imminent or substantial danger to the
public health or welfare. The EPA has
revised the NCP on several occasions.
The most recent comprehensive revision
was on March 8, 1990 (55 FR 8666).
As required under section
105(a)(8)(A) of CERCLA, the NCP also
includes ‘‘criteria for determining
priorities among releases or threatened
releases throughout the United States
for the purpose of taking remedial
action and, to the extent practicable,
taking into account the potential
urgency of such action, for the purpose
of taking removal action.’’ ‘‘Removal’’
actions are defined broadly and include
a wide range of actions taken to study,
clean up, prevent or otherwise address
releases and threatened releases of
hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants (42 U.S.C. 9601(23)).
C. What is the National Priorities List
(NPL)?
The NPL is a list of national priorities
among the known or threatened releases
of hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants throughout the United
States. The list, which is appendix B of
the NCP (40 CFR Part 300), was required
under section 105(a)(8)(B) of CERCLA,
as amended. Section 105(a)(8)(B)
defines the NPL as a list of ‘‘releases’’
and the highest priority ‘‘facilities’’ and
requires that the NPL be revised at least
annually. The NPL is intended
primarily to guide the EPA in
determining which sites warrant further
investigation to assess the nature and
extent of public health and
environmental risks associated with a
release of hazardous substances,
pollutants or contaminants. The NPL is
of only limited significance, however, as
it does not assign liability to any party
or to the owner of any specific property.
Also, placing a site on the NPL does not
mean that any remedial or removal
action necessarily need be taken.
For purposes of listing, the NPL
includes two sections, one of sites that
are generally evaluated and cleaned up
by the EPA (the ‘‘General Superfund
section’’) and one of sites that are
owned or operated by other federal
agencies (the ‘‘Federal Facilities
section’’). With respect to sites in the
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Federal Facilities section, these sites are
generally being addressed by other
federal agencies. Under Executive Order
12580 (52 FR 2923, January 29, 1987)
and CERCLA section 120, each federal
agency is responsible for carrying out
most response actions at facilities under
its own jurisdiction, custody or control,
although the EPA is responsible for
preparing a Hazard Ranking System
(‘‘HRS’’) score and determining whether
the facility is placed on the NPL.
D. How are sites listed on the NPL?
There are three mechanisms for
placing sites on the NPL for possible
remedial action (see 40 CFR 300.425(c)
of the NCP): (1) A site may be included
on the NPL if it scores sufficiently high
on the HRS, which the EPA
promulgated as appendix A of the NCP
(40 CFR Part 300). The HRS serves as a
screening tool to evaluate the relative
potential of uncontrolled hazardous
substances, pollutants or contaminants
to pose a threat to human health or the
environment. On December 14, 1990 (55
FR 51532), the EPA promulgated
revisions to the HRS partly in response
to CERCLA section 105(c), added by
SARA. The revised HRS evaluates four
pathways: Ground water, surface water,
soil exposure and air. As a matter of
agency policy, those sites that score
28.50 or greater on the HRS are eligible
for the NPL. (2) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
9605(a)(8)(B), each state may designate
a single site as its top priority to be
listed on the NPL, without any HRS
score. This provision of CERCLA
requires that, to the extent practicable,
the NPL include one facility designated
by each state as the greatest danger to
public health, welfare or the
environment among known facilities in
the state. This mechanism for listing is
set out in the NCP at 40 CFR
300.425(c)(2). (3) The third mechanism
for listing, included in the NCP at 40
CFR 300.425(c)(3), allows certain sites
to be listed without any HRS score, if all
of the following conditions are met:
• The Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the
U.S. Public Health Service has issued a
health advisory that recommends
dissociation of individuals from the
release.
• The EPA determines that the release
poses a significant threat to public
health.
• The EPA anticipates that it will be
more cost-effective to use its remedial
authority than to use its removal
authority to respond to the release.
The EPA promulgated an original NPL
of 406 sites on September 8, 1983 (48 FR
40658) and generally has updated it at
least annually.
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E. What happens to sites on the NPL?
A site may undergo remedial action
financed by the Trust Fund established
under CERCLA (commonly referred to
as the ‘‘Superfund’’) only after it is
placed on the NPL, as provided in the
NCP at 40 CFR 300.425(b)(1).
(‘‘Remedial actions’’ are those
‘‘consistent with a permanent remedy,
taken instead of or in addition to
removal actions. * * *’’ 42 U.S.C.
9601(24).) However, under 40 CFR
300.425(b)(2), placing a site on the NPL
‘‘does not imply that monies will be
expended.’’ The EPA may pursue other
appropriate authorities to respond to the
releases, including enforcement action
under CERCLA and other laws.
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F. Does the NPL define the boundaries
of sites?
The NPL does not describe releases in
precise geographical terms; it would be
neither feasible nor consistent with the
limited purpose of the NPL (to identify
releases that are priorities for further
evaluation), for it to do so. Indeed, the
precise nature and extent of the site are
typically not known at the time of
listing.
Although a CERCLA ‘‘facility’’ is
broadly defined to include any area
where a hazardous substance has ‘‘come
to be located’’ (CERCLA section 101(9)),
the listing process itself is not intended
to define or reflect the boundaries of
such facilities or releases. Of course,
HRS data (if the HRS is used to list a
site) upon which the NPL placement
was based will, to some extent, describe
the release(s) at issue. That is, the NPL
site would include all releases evaluated
as part of that HRS analysis.
When a site is listed, the approach
generally used to describe the relevant
release(s) is to delineate a geographical
area (usually the area within an
installation or plant boundaries) and
identify the site by reference to that
area. However, the NPL site is not
necessarily coextensive with the
boundaries of the installation or plant,
and the boundaries of the installation or
plant are not necessarily the
‘‘boundaries’’ of the site. Rather, the site
consists of all contaminated areas
within the area used to identify the site,
as well as any other location where that
contamination has come to be located,
or from where that contamination came.
In other words, while geographic
terms are often used to designate the site
(e.g., the ‘‘Jones Co. Plant site’’) in terms
of the property owned by a particular
party, the site, properly understood, is
not limited to that property (e.g., it may
extend beyond the property due to
contaminant migration), and conversely
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may not occupy the full extent of the
property (e.g., where there are
uncontaminated parts of the identified
property, they may not be, strictly
speaking, part of the ‘‘site’’). The ‘‘site’’
is thus neither equal to, nor confined by,
the boundaries of any specific property
that may give the site its name, and the
name itself should not be read to imply
that this site is coextensive with the
entire area within the property
boundary of the installation or plant. In
addition, the site name is merely used
to help identify the geographic location
of the contamination, and is not meant
to constitute any determination of
liability at a site. For example, the name
‘‘Jones Co. plant site,’’ does not imply
that the Jones Company is responsible
for the contamination located on the
plant site.
EPA regulations provide that the
remedial investigation (‘‘RI’’) ‘‘is a
process undertaken * * * to determine
the nature and extent of the problem
presented by the release’’ as more
information is developed on site
contamination, and which is generally
performed in an interactive fashion with
the feasibility study (‘‘FS’’) (40 CFR
300.5). During the RI/FS process, the
release may be found to be larger or
smaller than was originally thought, as
more is learned about the source(s) and
the migration of the contamination.
However, the HRS inquiry focuses on an
evaluation of the threat posed and
therefore the boundaries of the release
need not be exactly defined. Moreover,
it generally is impossible to discover the
full extent of where the contamination
‘‘has come to be located’’ before all
necessary studies and remedial work are
completed at a site. Indeed, the known
boundaries of the contamination can be
expected to change over time. Thus, in
most cases, it may be impossible to
describe the boundaries of a release
with absolute certainty.
Further, as noted above, NPL listing
does not assign liability to any party or
to the owner of any specific property.
Thus, if a party does not believe it is
liable for releases on discrete parcels of
property, it can submit supporting
information to the agency at any time
after it receives notice it is a potentially
responsible party.
For these reasons, the NPL need not
be amended as further research reveals
more information about the location of
the contamination or release.
G. How are sites removed from the NPL?
The EPA may delete sites from the
NPL where no further response is
appropriate under Superfund, as
explained in the NCP at 40 CFR
300.425(e). This section also provides
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that the EPA shall consult with states on
proposed deletions and shall consider
whether any of the following criteria
have been met:
(i) Responsible parties or other
persons have implemented all
appropriate response actions required;
(ii) All appropriate Superfundfinanced response has been
implemented and no further response
action is required; or
(iii) The remedial investigation has
shown the release poses no significant
threat to public health or the
environment, and taking of remedial
measures is not appropriate.
H. May the EPA delete portions of sites
from the NPL as they are cleaned up?
In November 1995, the EPA initiated
a policy to delete portions of NPL sites
where cleanup is complete (60 FR
55465, November 1, 1995). Total site
cleanup may take many years, while
portions of the site may have been
cleaned up and made available for
productive use.
I. What is the Construction Completion
List (CCL)?
The EPA also has developed an NPL
construction completion list (‘‘CCL’’) to
simplify its system of categorizing sites
and to better communicate the
successful completion of cleanup
activities (58 FR 12142, March 2, 1993).
Inclusion of a site on the CCL has no
legal significance.
Sites qualify for the CCL when: (1)
Any necessary physical construction is
complete, whether or not final cleanup
levels or other requirements have been
achieved; (2) the EPA has determined
that the response action should be
limited to measures that do not involve
construction (e.g., institutional
controls); or (3) the site qualifies for
deletion from the NPL. For the most upto-date information on the CCL, see the
EPA’s Internet site at https://
www.epa.gov/superfund/cleanup/
ccl.htm.
J. What is the sitewide ready for
anticipated use measure?
The Sitewide Ready for Anticipated
Use measure represents important
Superfund accomplishments and the
measure reflects the high priority the
EPA places on considering anticipated
future land use as part of the remedy
selection process. See Guidance for
Implementing the Sitewide Ready-forReuse Measure, May 24, 2006, OSWER
9365.0–36. This measure applies to final
and deleted sites where construction is
complete, all cleanup goals have been
achieved, and all institutional or other
controls are in place. The EPA has been
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successful on many occasions in
carrying out remedial actions that
ensure protectiveness of human health
and the environment for current and
future land uses, in a manner that
allows contaminated properties to be
restored to environmental and economic
vitality. For further information, please
go to https://www.epa.gov/superfund/
programs/recycle/pdf/sitewide_a.pdf
K. What is state/tribal correspondence
concerning NPL listing?
In order to maintain close
coordination with states and tribes in
the NPL listing decision process, the
EPA’s policy is to determine the
position of the states and tribes
regarding sites that the EPA is
considering for listing. This
consultation process is outlined in two
memoranda that can be found at the
following Web site: https://www.epa.gov/
superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/policy/
govlet.pdf. The EPA is improving the
transparency of the process by which
state and tribal input is solicited. The
EPA is using the Web and where
appropriate more structured state and
tribal correspondence that (1) explains
the concerns at the site and the EPA’s
rationale for proceeding; (2) requests an
explanation of how the state intends to
address the site if placement on the NPL
is not favored; and (3) emphasizes the
transparent nature of the process by
informing states that information on
their responses will be publicly
available.
A model letter and correspondence
from this point forward between the
EPA and states and tribes where
applicable, is available on the EPA’s
Web site at https://www.epa.gov/
superfund/sites/query/queryhtm/
nplstcor.htm.
II. Availability of Information to the
Public
A. May I review the documents relevant
to this final rule?
Yes, documents relating to the
evaluation and scoring of the sites in
this final rule are contained in dockets
located both at the EPA Headquarters
and in the regional offices.
An electronic version of the public
docket is available through https://
www.regulations.gov (see table below
for docket identification numbers).
Although not all docket materials may
be available electronically, you may still
access any of the publicly available
docket materials through the docket
facilities identified below in section II
D.
DOCKET IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS BY SITE
Site name
City/County, state
North Shore Drive ...........................................................................................
Elkhart, IN ..........................................
Delta Shipyard ................................................................................................
Houma, LA .........................................
Pierson’s Creek ..............................................................................................
Newark, NJ ........................................
Baghurst Drive ................................................................................................
Harleysville, PA .................................
Jard Company, Inc. ........................................................................................
Bennington, VT ..................................
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B. What documents are available for
review at the Headquarters docket?
The Headquarters docket for this rule
contains, for each site, the HRS score
sheets, the documentation record
describing the information used to
compute the score, pertinent
information regarding statutory
requirements or the EPA listing policies
that affect the site and a list of
documents referenced in the
documentation record. For sites that
received comments during the comment
period, the Headquarters docket also
contains a support document that
includes the EPA’s responses to
comments.
C. What documents are available for
review at the regional dockets?
The regional dockets contain all the
information in the Headquarters docket,
plus the actual reference documents
Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–SFUND–2014–
0319.
EPA–HQ–SFUND–2014–
0320.
EPA–HQ–SFUND–2013–
0635.
EPA–HQ–SFUND–2014–
0321.
EPA–HQ–SFUND–2014–
0322.
containing the data principally relied
upon by the EPA in calculating or
evaluating the HRS score for the sites
located in their region. These reference
documents are available only in the
regional dockets. For sites that received
comments during the comment period,
the regional docket also contains a
support document that includes the
EPA’s responses to comments.
E. How may I obtain a current list of
NPL sites?
D. How do I access the documents?
III. Contents of This Final Rule
You may view the documents, by
appointment only, after the publication
of this rule. The hours of operation for
the Headquarters docket are from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding federal holidays.
Please contact the regional dockets for
hours. For addresses for the
Headquarters and regional dockets, see
‘‘Addresses’’ section in the beginning
portion of this preamble.
A. Additions to the NPL
You may obtain a current list of NPL
sites via the Internet at https://
www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/
index.htm or by contacting the
Superfund docket (see contact
information in the beginning portion of
this document).
This final rule adds the following five
sites to the General Superfund section of
the NPL. All of the sites included in this
final rulemaking are being added to the
NPL based on HRS scores of 28.50 or
above. The sites are presented in the
table below:
General Superfund section:
State
Site name
City/County
IN ...............................................
LA ...............................................
NJ ...............................................
PA ..............................................
North Shore Drive ..........................................................................................................................
Delta Shipyard ...............................................................................................................................
Pierson’s Creek .............................................................................................................................
Baghurst Drive ...............................................................................................................................
Elkhart.
Houma.
Newark.
Harleysville.
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State
Site name
City/County
VT ..............................................
Jard Company, Inc. .......................................................................................................................
Bennington.
B. What did the EPA do with the public
comments it received?
The EPA reviewed all comments
received on the sites in this rule and
responded to all relevant comments.
Comments on one of the sites, Pierson’s
Creek (formerly called Troy Chem Corp
Inc), in Newark, NJ, proposed December
12, 2013 (78 FR 75534), are addressed
in a response to comment support
document available in the public docket
concurrently with this rule.
Three of the other four sites being
added to the NPL in this rule, which
were proposed May 12, 2014 (79 FR
26922), did not receive any comments.
These sites are Jard Company, Inc. in
Bennington, VT, Baghurst Drive in
Harleysville, PA, and Delta Shipyard in
Houma, LA.
The fourth site, North Shore Drive in
Elkhart, IN, also proposed May 12, 2014,
received one late comment unrelated to
the listing. The comment stated that
EPA rules were unnecessary burdens on
business and were too onerous and
numerous to be rational, the Keystone
Pipeline would be approved, and EPA
should be restructured to maintain
public awareness but eliminate its
ability to fine, tax or punish. In
response, EPA notes these comments are
unrelated to the actual listing of the
North Shore Drive ground water plume.
EPA’s role in general, and specifically
with respect to energy production, has
no bearing on whether this site should
be added to the NPL. Nothing raised in
the comment impacted the HRS score or
the decision to list the North Shore
Drive Site.
C. Site Name Change
The EPA is changing the name of the
Troy Chem Corp Inc site in Newark,
New Jersey to Pierson’s Creek. This site
was proposed for NPL addition on
December 12, 2013 (78 FR 75534).
Please review the Pierson’s Creek
support document (or response to
comment document) for an explanation
for the name change.
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IV. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
1. What is Executive Order 12866?
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735 (October 4, 1993)), the agency
must determine whether a regulatory
action is ‘‘significant’’ and therefore
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subject to Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) review and the
requirements of the Executive Order.
The Order defines ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as one that is likely
to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an
annual effect on the economy of $100
million or more or adversely affect in a
material way the economy, a sector of
the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or
safety, or state, local or tribal
governments or communities; (2) create
a serious inconsistency or otherwise
interfere with an action taken or
planned by another agency; (3)
materially alter the budgetary impact of
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan
programs or the rights and obligations of
recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel
legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President’s priorities or
the principles set forth in the Executive
Order.
2. Is this final rule subject to Executive
Order 12866 review?
No. The listing of sites on the NPL
does not impose any obligations on any
entities. The listing does not set
standards or a regulatory regime and
imposes no liability or costs. Any
liability under CERCLA exists
irrespective of whether a site is listed.
It has been determined that this action
is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
under the terms of Executive Order
12866 and is therefore not subject to
OMB review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
1. What is the Paperwork Reduction
Act?
According to the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq., an agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
that requires OMB approval under the
PRA, unless it has been approved by
OMB and displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The OMB control
numbers for the EPA’s regulations, after
initial display in the preamble of the
final rules, are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
2. Does the Paperwork Reduction Act
apply to this final rule?
This action does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. the EPA has
determined that the PRA does not apply
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because this rule does not contain any
information collection requirements that
require approval of the OMB.
Burden means the total time, effort or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain or disclose
or provide information to or for a federal
agency. This includes the time needed
to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install and utilize technology and
systems for the purposes of collecting,
validating and verifying information,
processing and maintaining information
and disclosing and providing
information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements; train
personnel to be able to respond to a
collection of information; search data
sources; complete and review the
collection of information; and transmit
or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for the EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
1. What is the Regulatory Flexibility
Act?
Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by
the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of
1996) whenever an agency is required to
publish a notice of rulemaking for any
proposed or final rule, it must prepare
and make available for public comment
a regulatory flexibility analysis that
describes the effect of the rule on small
entities (i.e., small businesses, small
organizations and small governmental
jurisdictions). However, no regulatory
flexibility analysis is required if the
head of an agency certifies the rule will
not have a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small
entities. SBREFA amended the
Regulatory Flexibility Act to require
federal agencies to provide a statement
of the factual basis for certifying that a
rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
2. How has the EPA complied with the
Regulatory Flexibility Act?
This rule listing sites on the NPL does
not impose any obligations on any
group, including small entities. This
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rule also does not establish standards or
requirements that any small entity must
meet, and imposes no direct costs on
any small entity. Whether an entity,
small or otherwise, is liable for response
costs for a release of hazardous
substances depends on whether that
entity is liable under CERCLA 107(a).
Any such liability exists regardless of
whether the site is listed on the NPL
through this rulemaking. Thus, this rule
does not impose any requirements on
any small entities. For the foregoing
reasons, I certify that this rule will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
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1. What is the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act (UMRA)?
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on state, local
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
the EPA generally must prepare a
written statement, including a costbenefit analysis, for proposed and final
rules with ‘‘federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures by state, local and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or
by the private sector, of $100 million or
more in any one year. Before the EPA
promulgates a rule where a written
statement is needed, section 205 of the
UMRA generally requires the EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and
adopt the least costly, most costeffective, or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule. The provisions of section
205 do not apply when they are
inconsistent with applicable law.
Moreover, section 205 allows the EPA to
adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective, or least
burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before the EPA
establishes any regulatory requirements
that may significantly or uniquely affect
small governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of the EPA regulatory
proposals with significant federal
intergovernmental mandates and
informing, educating and advising small
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governments on compliance with the
regulatory requirements.
2. Does UMRA apply to this final rule?
This final rule does not contain a
federal mandate that may result in
expenditures of $100 million or more
for state, local and tribal governments,
in the aggregate, or the private sector in
any one year. Listing a site on the NPL
does not itself impose any costs. Listing
does not mean that the EPA necessarily
will undertake remedial action. Nor
does listing require any action by a
private party or determine liability for
response costs. Costs that arise out of
site responses result from site-specific
decisions regarding what actions to take,
not directly from the act of placing a site
on the NPL. Thus, this rule is not
subject to the requirements of section
202 and 205 of UMRA.
This rule is also not subject to the
requirements of section 203 of UMRA
because it contains no regulatory
requirements that might significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. As is
mentioned above, site listing does not
impose any costs and would not require
any action of a small government.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
1. What is Executive Order 13132?
Executive Order 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), requires the EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by state
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ are defined in
the Executive Order to include
regulations that 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.’’
2. Does Executive Order 13132 apply to
this final rule?
This final rule does not have
federalism implications. It 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, because it does
not contain any requirements applicable
to states or other levels of government.
Thus, the requirements of the Executive
Order do not apply to this final rule.
The EPA believes, however, that this
final rule may be of significant interest
to state governments. In the spirit of
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Executive Order 13132, and consistent
with the EPA policy to promote
communications between the EPA and
state and local governments, the EPA
therefore consulted with state officials
and/or representatives of state
governments early in the process of
developing the rule to permit them to
have meaningful and timely input into
its development. All sites included in
this final rule were referred to the EPA
by states for listing. For all sites in this
rule, the EPA received letters of support
either from the governor or a state
official who was delegated the authority
by the governor to speak on their behalf
regarding NPL listing decisions.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
1. What is Executive Order 13175?
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249, November 6, 2000), requires the
EPA to develop an accountable process
to ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input
by tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have tribal
implications’’ are defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations
that have ‘‘substantial direct effects on
one or more Indian tribes, on the
relationship between the federal
government and the Indian tribes, or on
the distribution of power and
responsibilities between the federal
government and Indian tribes.’’
2. Does Executive Order 13175 apply to
this final rule?
This final rule does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000). Listing a site on the NPL does not
impose any costs on a tribe or require
a tribe to take remedial action. Thus,
Executive Order 13175 does not apply
to this final rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
1. What is Executive Order 13045?
Executive Order 13045: ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) Is determined to be ‘‘economically
significant’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
the EPA has reason to believe may have
a disproportionate effect on children. If
the regulatory action meets both criteria,
the agency must evaluate the
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 183 / Monday, September 22, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
environmental health or safety effects of
the planned rule on children, and
explain why the planned regulation is
preferable to other potentially effective
and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the agency.
2. Does Executive Order 13045 apply to
this final rule?
This rule is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 because it is not an
economically significant rule as defined
by Executive Order 12866, and because
the agency does not have reason to
believe the environmental health or
safety risks addressed by this section
present a disproportionate risk to
children.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
1. What is Executive Order 13211?
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001), requires federal agencies to
prepare a ‘‘Statement of Energy Effects’’
when undertaking certain regulatory
actions. A Statement of Energy Effects
describes the adverse effects of a
‘‘significant energy action’’ on energy
supply, distribution, and use,
reasonable alternatives to the action and
the expected effects of the alternatives
on energy supply, distribution, and use.
2. Does Executive Order 13211 apply to
this final rule?
This action is not a ‘‘significant
energy action’’ as defined in Executive
Order 13211, because it is not likely to
have a significant adverse effect on the
supply, distribution or use of energy.
Further, the agency has concluded that
this final rule is not likely to have any
adverse energy impacts because adding
a site to the NPL does not require an
entity to conduct any action that would
require energy use, let alone that which
would significantly affect energy
supply, distribution or usage. Thus,
Executive Order 13211 does not apply
to this action.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
1. What is the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act?
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104–
113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note),
directs the EPA to use voluntary
consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
16:51 Sep 19, 2014
Jkt 232001
2. Does the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act apply to
this final rule?
No. This rulemaking does not involve
technical standards. Therefore, the EPA
did not consider the use of any
voluntary consensus standards.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
1. What is Executive Order 12898?
Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR
7629, Feb. 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.
2. Does Executive Order 12898 apply to
this final rule?
The EPA has determined that this
final rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on minority or low-income populations
because it does not affect the level of
protection provided to human health or
the environment. As this rule does not
impose any enforceable duty upon state,
tribal or local governments, this rule
will neither increase nor decrease
environmental protection.
K. Congressional Review Act
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
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otherwise impractical. Voluntary
consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications,
test methods, sampling procedures and
business practices) that are developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies. The NTTAA directs
the EPA to provide Congress, through
OMB, explanations when the agency
decides not to use available and
applicable voluntary consensus
standards.
1. Has the EPA submitted this rule to
Congress and the Government
Accountability Office?
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
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56521
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. The EPA has
submitted a report containing this rule
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 of the rule in the Federal
Register. A ‘‘major rule’’ cannot take
effect until 60 days after it is published
in the Federal Register. This rule is not
a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
2. Could the effective date of this final
rule change?
Provisions of the Congressional
Review Act (CRA) or section 305 of
CERCLA may alter the effective date of
this regulation.
The EPA has submitted a report under
the CRA for this rule. The rule will take
effect, as provided by law, within 30
days of publication of this document,
since it is not a major rule. NPL listing
is not a major rule because, by itself,
imposes no monetary costs on any
person. It establishes no enforceable
duties, does not establish that the EPA
necessarily will undertake remedial
action, nor does it require any action by
any party or determine liability for site
response costs. Costs that arise out of
site responses result from site-by-site
decisions about what actions to take, not
directly from the act of listing itself.
Section 801(a)(3) provides for a delay in
the effective date of major rules after
this report is submitted.
3. What could cause a change in the
effective date of this rule?
Under 5 U.S.C. 801(b)(1), a rule shall
not take effect, or continue in effect, if
Congress enacts (and the President
signs) a joint resolution of disapproval,
described under section 802.
Another statutory provision that may
affect this rule is CERCLA section 305,
which provides for a legislative veto of
regulations promulgated under
CERCLA. Although INS v. Chadha, 462
U.S. 919,103 S. Ct. 2764 (1983), and Bd.
of Regents of the University of
Washington v. EPA, 86 F.3d 1214,1222
(D.C. Cir. 1996), cast the validity of the
legislative veto into question, the EPA
has transmitted a copy of this regulation
to the Secretary of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
If action by Congress under either the
CRA or CERCLA section 305 calls the
effective date of this regulation into
question, the EPA will publish a
document of clarification in the Federal
Register.
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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: September 10, 2014.
Mathy Stanislaus,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C.
9601–9657; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR,
1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923,
3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
2. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300
is amended by adding entries for ‘‘North
Shore Drive’’, ‘‘Delta Shipyard’’,
‘‘Pierson’s Creek’’, ‘‘Baghurst Drive’’,
and ‘‘Jard Company, Inc.’’ in
alphabetical order by state.
The additions read as follows:
■
40 CFR part 300 is amended as
follows:
PART 300—NATIONAL OIL AND
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN
Appendix B to Part 300—National
Priorities List
1. The authority citation for part 300
continues to read as follows:
■
TABLE 1—GENERAL SUPERFUND SECTION
Notes (a)
State
Site name
*
*
IN ................................................................
*
*
North Shore Drive ......................................
*
Elkhart.
*
*
*
*
LA ...............................................................
*
*
Delta Shipyard ...........................................
*
Houma.
*
*
*
*
NJ ...............................................................
*
*
Pierson’s Creek ..........................................
*
Newark.
*
*
*
*
PA ...............................................................
*
*
Baghurst Drive ...........................................
*
Harleysville.
*
*
*
*
VT ...............................................................
*
*
Jard Company, Inc. ....................................
*
Bennington.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
City/County
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Notes:
(a) A = Based on issuance of health advisory by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (if scored, HRS score need not be greater
than or equal to 28.50).
[FR Doc. 2014–22429 Filed 9–19–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
46 CFR Part 515
[Docket No. 14–08]
RIN 3072–AC56
Procedure for Public Notification of
Ocean Transportation Intermediary
Licensing Activity
Federal Maritime Commission.
Direct final rule; confirmation of
effective date and response to public
comment.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Federal Maritime
Commission (FMC or Commission) is
confirming the effective date of the
direct final rule published on July 24,
2014, and responds to the comment
received. The rule changes the method
the Commission uses to provide public
notice of Ocean Transportation
Intermediary (OTI) license applications,
revocations and suspensions by
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SUMMARY:
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16:51 Sep 19, 2014
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publishing this information on the
FMC’s official public Web site rather
than publishing the same information in
the Federal Register. This change
provides more timely public notification
of official FMC action on OTI licensing
matters, simplifies the Commission’s
business processes, and reduces agency
administrative costs.
DATES: The direct final rule published
July 24, 2014, at 79 FR 42986, is
effective on September 22, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen V. Gregory, Secretary, Federal
Maritime Commission, 800 N. Capitol
Street NW., Washington, DC 20573–
0001, (202) 523–5725, Fax (202) 523–
0014, Email: Secretary@fmc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: While not
statutorily mandated, current
Commission rules require Federal
Register (FR) notice for both OTI license
applications, 46 CFR 515.12, and
revocation or suspension of OTI
licenses, 46 CFR 515.16. The
Commission has historically used the
FR to provide public notice of OTI
licensing activity long before the
emergence and wide-spread use of the
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internet and before courts began to often
treat information on official government
Web sites as proper items for judicial
notice.
Section 19(c) of the Shipping Act, 46
U.S.C. 40903, requires that notice be
provided prior to suspension or
revocation of an OTI license. The
Administrative Procedures Act (APA), 5
U.S.C. 558, provides that an agency
must, when acting to withdraw, or
annul a license required by law, provide
notice in writing of (1) the facts or
conduct warranting the action, and (2)
opportunity for the licensee to
demonstrate compliance with the law.
Neither the APA, nor the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(1)(A),
specify that notice must be published in
the FR. Nonetheless, current
Commission rules require FR notice for
both OTI license applications, 46 CFR
515.12, and revocation or suspension of
OTI licenses, 46 CFR 515.12.
Consequently, in the direct final rule
published July 24, 2014 (79 FR 42986)
the Commission amended its
regulations to change the method by
which it provides notice of OTI
E:\FR\FM\22SER1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56515-56522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22429]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2013-0635, 0319, 0320, 0321, and 0322; FRL-9916-74-OSWER]
National Priorities List, Final Rule No. 59
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (``CERCLA'' or ``the Act''), as amended, requires
that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan (``NCP'') include a list of national priorities among the known
releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants throughout the United States. The National Priorities List
(``NPL'') constitutes this list. The NPL is intended primarily to guide
the Environmental Protection Agency (``the EPA'' or ``the agency'') in
determining which sites warrant further investigation. These further
investigations will allow the EPA to assess the nature and extent of
public health and environmental risks associated with the site and to
determine what CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be
appropriate. This rule adds five sites to the General Superfund section
of the NPL.
DATES: The effective date for this amendment to the NCP is October 22,
2014.
ADDRESSES: Contact information for the EPA Headquarters:
Docket Coordinator, Headquarters; U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency; CERCLA Docket Office; 1301 Constitution Avenue NW;
William Jefferson Clinton Building West, Room 3334, Washington, DC
20004, 202/566-0276.
The contact information for the regional dockets is as follows:
Holly Inglis, Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT), U.S. EPA,
Superfund Records and Information Center, 5 Post Office Square, Suite
100, Boston, MA 02109-3912; 617/918-1413.
Ildefonso Acosta, Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI), U.S. EPA, 290
Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866; 212/637-4344.
Lorie Baker (ASRC), Region 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV),
U.S. EPA, Library, 1650 Arch Street, Mailcode 3HS12, Philadelphia, PA
19103; 215/814-3355.
Todd Quesada, Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI), U.S. EPA
Superfund Division Librarian/SFD Records Manager SRC-7J, Metcalfe
Federal Building, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604; 312/
886-4465.
Brenda Cook, Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX), U.S. EPA, 1445
Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Mailcode 6SFTS, Dallas, TX 75202-2733; 214/
665-7436.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Jeng, phone: (703) 603-8852,
email: jeng.terry@epa.gov, 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;
or the Superfund Hotline, phone (800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810 in the
Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. What are CERCLA and SARA?
B. What is the NCP?
C. What is the National Priorities List (NPL)?
D. How are sites listed on the NPL?
E. What happens to sites on the NPL?
F. Does the NPL define the boundaries of sites?
G. How are sites removed from the NPL?
H. May the EPA delete portions of sites from the NPL as they are
cleaned up?
I. What is the Construction Completion List (CCL)?
J. What is the sitewide ready for anticipated use measure?
K. What is state/tribal correspondence concerning NPL listing?
II. Availability of Information to the Public
A. May I review the documents relevant to this final rule?
B. What documents are available for review at the headquarters
docket?
C. What documents are available for review at the regional
dockets?
D. How do I access the documents?
E. How may I obtain a current list of NPL sites?
III. Contents of This Final Rule
A. Additions to the NPL
B. What did the EPA do with the public comments it received?
C. Site Name Change
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
1. What is Executive Order 12866?
2. Is this final rule subject to Executive Order 12866 review?
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
1. What is the paperwork reduction act?
2. Does the paperwork reduction act apply to this final rule?
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
1. What is the regulatory flexibility act?
[[Page 56516]]
2. How has the EPA complied with the regulatory flexibility act?
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
1. What is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)?
2. Does UMRA apply to this final rule?
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
1. What is Executive Order 13132?
2. Does Executive Order 13132 apply to this final rule?
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With
Indian Tribal Governments
1. What is Executive Order 13175?
2. Does Executive Order 13175 apply to this final rule?
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
1. What is Executive Order 13045?
2. Does Executive Order 13045 apply to this final rule?
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
1. What is Executive Order 13211?
2. Does Executive Order 13211 apply to this final rule?
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
1. What is the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act?
2. Does the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
apply to this final rule?
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
1. What is Executive Order 12898?
2. Does Executive Order 12898 apply to this final rule?
K. Congressional Review Act
1. Has the EPA submitted this rule to Congress and the
Government Accountability Office?
2. Could the effective date of this final rule change?
3. What could cause a change in the effective date of this rule?
I. Background
A. What are CERCLA and SARA?
In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9675 (``CERCLA'' or
``the Act''), in response to the dangers of uncontrolled releases or
threatened releases of hazardous substances, and releases or
substantial threats of releases into the environment of any pollutant
or contaminant that may present an imminent or substantial danger to
the public health or welfare. CERCLA was amended on October 17, 1986,
by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (``SARA''), Public
Law 99-499, 100 Stat. 1613 et seq.
B. What is the NCP?
To implement CERCLA, the EPA promulgated the revised National Oil
and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (``NCP''), 40 CFR
Part 300, on July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180), pursuant to CERCLA section
105 and Executive Order 12316 (46 FR 42237, August 20, 1981). The NCP
sets guidelines and procedures for responding to releases and
threatened releases of hazardous substances, or releases or substantial
threats of releases into the environment of any pollutant or
contaminant that may present an imminent or substantial danger to the
public health or welfare. The EPA has revised the NCP on several
occasions. The most recent comprehensive revision was on March 8, 1990
(55 FR 8666).
As required under section 105(a)(8)(A) of CERCLA, the NCP also
includes ``criteria for determining priorities among releases or
threatened releases throughout the United States for the purpose of
taking remedial action and, to the extent practicable, taking into
account the potential urgency of such action, for the purpose of taking
removal action.'' ``Removal'' actions are defined broadly and include a
wide range of actions taken to study, clean up, prevent or otherwise
address releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances,
pollutants or contaminants (42 U.S.C. 9601(23)).
C. What is the National Priorities List (NPL)?
The NPL is a list of national priorities among the known or
threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants
throughout the United States. The list, which is appendix B of the NCP
(40 CFR Part 300), was required under section 105(a)(8)(B) of CERCLA,
as amended. Section 105(a)(8)(B) defines the NPL as a list of
``releases'' and the highest priority ``facilities'' and requires that
the NPL be revised at least annually. The NPL is intended primarily to
guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation
to assess the nature and extent of public health and environmental
risks associated with a release of hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants. The NPL is of only limited significance, however, as it
does not assign liability to any party or to the owner of any specific
property. Also, placing a site on the NPL does not mean that any
remedial or removal action necessarily need be taken.
For purposes of listing, the NPL includes two sections, one of
sites that are generally evaluated and cleaned up by the EPA (the
``General Superfund section'') and one of sites that are owned or
operated by other federal agencies (the ``Federal Facilities
section''). With respect to sites in the Federal Facilities section,
these sites are generally being addressed by other federal agencies.
Under Executive Order 12580 (52 FR 2923, January 29, 1987) and CERCLA
section 120, each federal agency is responsible for carrying out most
response actions at facilities under its own jurisdiction, custody or
control, although the EPA is responsible for preparing a Hazard Ranking
System (``HRS'') score and determining whether the facility is placed
on the NPL.
D. How are sites listed on the NPL?
There are three mechanisms for placing sites on the NPL for
possible remedial action (see 40 CFR 300.425(c) of the NCP): (1) A site
may be included on the NPL if it scores sufficiently high on the HRS,
which the EPA promulgated as appendix A of the NCP (40 CFR Part 300).
The HRS serves as a screening tool to evaluate the relative potential
of uncontrolled hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants to
pose a threat to human health or the environment. On December 14, 1990
(55 FR 51532), the EPA promulgated revisions to the HRS partly in
response to CERCLA section 105(c), added by SARA. The revised HRS
evaluates four pathways: Ground water, surface water, soil exposure and
air. As a matter of agency policy, those sites that score 28.50 or
greater on the HRS are eligible for the NPL. (2) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
9605(a)(8)(B), each state may designate a single site as its top
priority to be listed on the NPL, without any HRS score. This provision
of CERCLA requires that, to the extent practicable, the NPL include one
facility designated by each state as the greatest danger to public
health, welfare or the environment among known facilities in the state.
This mechanism for listing is set out in the NCP at 40 CFR
300.425(c)(2). (3) The third mechanism for listing, included in the NCP
at 40 CFR 300.425(c)(3), allows certain sites to be listed without any
HRS score, if all of the following conditions are met:
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) of the U.S. Public Health Service has issued a health advisory
that recommends dissociation of individuals from the release.
The EPA determines that the release poses a significant
threat to public health.
The EPA anticipates that it will be more cost-effective to
use its remedial authority than to use its removal authority to respond
to the release.
The EPA promulgated an original NPL of 406 sites on September 8,
1983 (48 FR 40658) and generally has updated it at least annually.
[[Page 56517]]
E. What happens to sites on the NPL?
A site may undergo remedial action financed by the Trust Fund
established under CERCLA (commonly referred to as the ``Superfund'')
only after it is placed on the NPL, as provided in the NCP at 40 CFR
300.425(b)(1). (``Remedial actions'' are those ``consistent with a
permanent remedy, taken instead of or in addition to removal actions. *
* *'' 42 U.S.C. 9601(24).) However, under 40 CFR 300.425(b)(2), placing
a site on the NPL ``does not imply that monies will be expended.'' The
EPA may pursue other appropriate authorities to respond to the
releases, including enforcement action under CERCLA and other laws.
F. Does the NPL define the boundaries of sites?
The NPL does not describe releases in precise geographical terms;
it would be neither feasible nor consistent with the limited purpose of
the NPL (to identify releases that are priorities for further
evaluation), for it to do so. Indeed, the precise nature and extent of
the site are typically not known at the time of listing.
Although a CERCLA ``facility'' is broadly defined to include any
area where a hazardous substance has ``come to be located'' (CERCLA
section 101(9)), the listing process itself is not intended to define
or reflect the boundaries of such facilities or releases. Of course,
HRS data (if the HRS is used to list a site) upon which the NPL
placement was based will, to some extent, describe the release(s) at
issue. That is, the NPL site would include all releases evaluated as
part of that HRS analysis.
When a site is listed, the approach generally used to describe the
relevant release(s) is to delineate a geographical area (usually the
area within an installation or plant boundaries) and identify the site
by reference to that area. However, the NPL site is not necessarily
coextensive with the boundaries of the installation or plant, and the
boundaries of the installation or plant are not necessarily the
``boundaries'' of the site. Rather, the site consists of all
contaminated areas within the area used to identify the site, as well
as any other location where that contamination has come to be located,
or from where that contamination came.
In other words, while geographic terms are often used to designate
the site (e.g., the ``Jones Co. Plant site'') in terms of the property
owned by a particular party, the site, properly understood, is not
limited to that property (e.g., it may extend beyond the property due
to contaminant migration), and conversely may not occupy the full
extent of the property (e.g., where there are uncontaminated parts of
the identified property, they may not be, strictly speaking, part of
the ``site''). The ``site'' is thus neither equal to, nor confined by,
the boundaries of any specific property that may give the site its
name, and the name itself should not be read to imply that this site is
coextensive with the entire area within the property boundary of the
installation or plant. In addition, the site name is merely used to
help identify the geographic location of the contamination, and is not
meant to constitute any determination of liability at a site. For
example, the name ``Jones Co. plant site,'' does not imply that the
Jones Company is responsible for the contamination located on the plant
site.
EPA regulations provide that the remedial investigation (``RI'')
``is a process undertaken * * * to determine the nature and extent of
the problem presented by the release'' as more information is developed
on site contamination, and which is generally performed in an
interactive fashion with the feasibility study (``FS'') (40 CFR 300.5).
During the RI/FS process, the release may be found to be larger or
smaller than was originally thought, as more is learned about the
source(s) and the migration of the contamination. However, the HRS
inquiry focuses on an evaluation of the threat posed and therefore the
boundaries of the release need not be exactly defined. Moreover, it
generally is impossible to discover the full extent of where the
contamination ``has come to be located'' before all necessary studies
and remedial work are completed at a site. Indeed, the known boundaries
of the contamination can be expected to change over time. Thus, in most
cases, it may be impossible to describe the boundaries of a release
with absolute certainty.
Further, as noted above, NPL listing does not assign liability to
any party or to the owner of any specific property. Thus, if a party
does not believe it is liable for releases on discrete parcels of
property, it can submit supporting information to the agency at any
time after it receives notice it is a potentially responsible party.
For these reasons, the NPL need not be amended as further research
reveals more information about the location of the contamination or
release.
G. How are sites removed from the NPL?
The EPA may delete sites from the NPL where no further response is
appropriate under Superfund, as explained in the NCP at 40 CFR
300.425(e). This section also provides that the EPA shall consult with
states on proposed deletions and shall consider whether any of the
following criteria have been met:
(i) Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all
appropriate response actions required;
(ii) All appropriate Superfund-financed response has been
implemented and no further response action is required; or
(iii) The remedial investigation has shown the release poses no
significant threat to public health or the environment, and taking of
remedial measures is not appropriate.
H. May the EPA delete portions of sites from the NPL as they are
cleaned up?
In November 1995, the EPA initiated a policy to delete portions of
NPL sites where cleanup is complete (60 FR 55465, November 1, 1995).
Total site cleanup may take many years, while portions of the site may
have been cleaned up and made available for productive use.
I. What is the Construction Completion List (CCL)?
The EPA also has developed an NPL construction completion list
(``CCL'') to simplify its system of categorizing sites and to better
communicate the successful completion of cleanup activities (58 FR
12142, March 2, 1993). Inclusion of a site on the CCL has no legal
significance.
Sites qualify for the CCL when: (1) Any necessary physical
construction is complete, whether or not final cleanup levels or other
requirements have been achieved; (2) the EPA has determined that the
response action should be limited to measures that do not involve
construction (e.g., institutional controls); or (3) the site qualifies
for deletion from the NPL. For the most up-to-date information on the
CCL, see the EPA's Internet site at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/cleanup/ccl.htm.
J. What is the sitewide ready for anticipated use measure?
The Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use measure represents important
Superfund accomplishments and the measure reflects the high priority
the EPA places on considering anticipated future land use as part of
the remedy selection process. See Guidance for Implementing the
Sitewide Ready-for-Reuse Measure, May 24, 2006, OSWER 9365.0-36. This
measure applies to final and deleted sites where construction is
complete, all cleanup goals have been achieved, and all institutional
or other controls are in place. The EPA has been
[[Page 56518]]
successful on many occasions in carrying out remedial actions that
ensure protectiveness of human health and the environment for current
and future land uses, in a manner that allows contaminated properties
to be restored to environmental and economic vitality. For further
information, please go to https://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/
recycle/pdf/sitewidea.pdf
K. What is state/tribal correspondence concerning NPL listing?
In order to maintain close coordination with states and tribes in
the NPL listing decision process, the EPA's policy is to determine the
position of the states and tribes regarding sites that the EPA is
considering for listing. This consultation process is outlined in two
memoranda that can be found at the following Web site: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/policy/govlet.pdf. The EPA is
improving the transparency of the process by which state and tribal
input is solicited. The EPA is using the Web and where appropriate more
structured state and tribal correspondence that (1) explains the
concerns at the site and the EPA's rationale for proceeding; (2)
requests an explanation of how the state intends to address the site if
placement on the NPL is not favored; and (3) emphasizes the transparent
nature of the process by informing states that information on their
responses will be publicly available.
A model letter and correspondence from this point forward between
the EPA and states and tribes where applicable, is available on the
EPA's Web site at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/query/queryhtm/nplstcor.htm.
II. Availability of Information to the Public
A. May I review the documents relevant to this final rule?
Yes, documents relating to the evaluation and scoring of the sites
in this final rule are contained in dockets located both at the EPA
Headquarters and in the regional offices.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through
https://www.regulations.gov (see table below for docket identification
numbers). Although not all docket materials may be available
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available
docket materials through the docket facilities identified below in
section II D.
Docket Identification Numbers by Site
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site name City/County, state Docket ID No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Shore Drive...................... Elkhart, IN............... EPA-HQ-SFUND-2014-0319.
Delta Shipyard......................... Houma, LA................. EPA-HQ-SFUND-2014-0320.
Pierson's Creek........................ Newark, NJ................ EPA-HQ-SFUND-2013-0635.
Baghurst Drive......................... Harleysville, PA.......... EPA-HQ-SFUND-2014-0321.
Jard Company, Inc...................... Bennington, VT............ EPA-HQ-SFUND-2014-0322.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. What documents are available for review at the Headquarters docket?
The Headquarters docket for this rule contains, for each site, the
HRS score sheets, the documentation record describing the information
used to compute the score, pertinent information regarding statutory
requirements or the EPA listing policies that affect the site and a
list of documents referenced in the documentation record. For sites
that received comments during the comment period, the Headquarters
docket also contains a support document that includes the EPA's
responses to comments.
C. What documents are available for review at the regional dockets?
The regional dockets contain all the information in the
Headquarters docket, plus the actual reference documents containing the
data principally relied upon by the EPA in calculating or evaluating
the HRS score for the sites located in their region. These reference
documents are available only in the regional dockets. For sites that
received comments during the comment period, the regional docket also
contains a support document that includes the EPA's responses to
comments.
D. How do I access the documents?
You may view the documents, by appointment only, after the
publication of this rule. The hours of operation for the Headquarters
docket are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding federal holidays. Please contact the regional dockets for
hours. For addresses for the Headquarters and regional dockets, see
``Addresses'' section in the beginning portion of this preamble.
E. How may I obtain a current list of NPL sites?
You may obtain a current list of NPL sites via the Internet at
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/index.htm or by contacting the
Superfund docket (see contact information in the beginning portion of
this document).
III. Contents of This Final Rule
A. Additions to the NPL
This final rule adds the following five sites to the General
Superfund section of the NPL. All of the sites included in this final
rulemaking are being added to the NPL based on HRS scores of 28.50 or
above. The sites are presented in the table below:
General Superfund section:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Site name City/County
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN...................................... North Shore Drive........................ Elkhart.
LA...................................... Delta Shipyard........................... Houma.
NJ...................................... Pierson's Creek.......................... Newark.
PA...................................... Baghurst Drive........................... Harleysville.
[[Page 56519]]
VT...................................... Jard Company, Inc........................ Bennington.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. What did the EPA do with the public comments it received?
The EPA reviewed all comments received on the sites in this rule
and responded to all relevant comments. Comments on one of the sites,
Pierson's Creek (formerly called Troy Chem Corp Inc), in Newark, NJ,
proposed December 12, 2013 (78 FR 75534), are addressed in a response
to comment support document available in the public docket concurrently
with this rule.
Three of the other four sites being added to the NPL in this rule,
which were proposed May 12, 2014 (79 FR 26922), did not receive any
comments. These sites are Jard Company, Inc. in Bennington, VT,
Baghurst Drive in Harleysville, PA, and Delta Shipyard in Houma, LA.
The fourth site, North Shore Drive in Elkhart, IN, also proposed
May 12, 2014, received one late comment unrelated to the listing. The
comment stated that EPA rules were unnecessary burdens on business and
were too onerous and numerous to be rational, the Keystone Pipeline
would be approved, and EPA should be restructured to maintain public
awareness but eliminate its ability to fine, tax or punish. In
response, EPA notes these comments are unrelated to the actual listing
of the North Shore Drive ground water plume. EPA's role in general, and
specifically with respect to energy production, has no bearing on
whether this site should be added to the NPL. Nothing raised in the
comment impacted the HRS score or the decision to list the North Shore
Drive Site.
C. Site Name Change
The EPA is changing the name of the Troy Chem Corp Inc site in
Newark, New Jersey to Pierson's Creek. This site was proposed for NPL
addition on December 12, 2013 (78 FR 75534). Please review the
Pierson's Creek support document (or response to comment document) for
an explanation for the name change.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
1. What is Executive Order 12866?
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)), the
agency must determine whether a regulatory action is ``significant''
and therefore subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review
and the requirements of the Executive Order. The Order defines
``significant regulatory action'' as one that is likely to result in a
rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million
or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of
the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public
health or safety, or state, local or tribal governments or communities;
(2) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency; (3) materially alter the
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs
or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel
legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's
priorities or the principles set forth in the Executive Order.
2. Is this final rule subject to Executive Order 12866 review?
No. The listing of sites on the NPL does not impose any obligations
on any entities. The listing does not set standards or a regulatory
regime and imposes no liability or costs. Any liability under CERCLA
exists irrespective of whether a site is listed. It has been determined
that this action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB
review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
1. What is the Paperwork Reduction Act?
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq., an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information that requires OMB
approval under the PRA, unless it has been approved by OMB and displays
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for the
EPA's regulations, after initial display in the preamble of the final
rules, are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
2. Does the Paperwork Reduction Act apply to this final rule?
This action does not impose an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
the EPA has determined that the PRA does not apply because this rule
does not contain any information collection requirements that require
approval of the OMB.
Burden means the total time, effort or financial resources expended
by persons to generate, maintain, retain or disclose or provide
information to or for a federal agency. This includes the time needed
to review instructions; develop, acquire, install and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for the
EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
1. What is the Regulatory Flexibility Act?
Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.,
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
(SBREFA) of 1996) whenever an agency is required to publish a notice of
rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small
businesses, small organizations and small governmental jurisdictions).
However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of
an agency certifies the rule will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the
Regulatory Flexibility Act to require federal agencies to provide a
statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
2. How has the EPA complied with the Regulatory Flexibility Act?
This rule listing sites on the NPL does not impose any obligations
on any group, including small entities. This
[[Page 56520]]
rule also does not establish standards or requirements that any small
entity must meet, and imposes no direct costs on any small entity.
Whether an entity, small or otherwise, is liable for response costs for
a release of hazardous substances depends on whether that entity is
liable under CERCLA 107(a). Any such liability exists regardless of
whether the site is listed on the NPL through this rulemaking. Thus,
this rule does not impose any requirements on any small entities. For
the foregoing reasons, I certify that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
1. What is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)?
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for federal agencies to assess the
effects of their regulatory actions on state, local and tribal
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the
EPA generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``federal
mandates'' that may result in expenditures by state, local and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more in any one year. Before the EPA promulgates a rule
where a written statement is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally
requires the EPA to identify and consider a reasonable number of
regulatory alternatives and adopt the least costly, most cost-
effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule. The provisions of section 205 do not apply when they are
inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, section 205 allows the EPA
to adopt an alternative other than the least costly, most cost-
effective, or least burdensome alternative if the Administrator
publishes with the final rule an explanation why that alternative was
not adopted. Before the EPA establishes any regulatory requirements
that may significantly or uniquely affect small governments, including
tribal governments, it must have developed under section 203 of the
UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must provide for
notifying potentially affected small governments, enabling officials of
affected small governments to have meaningful and timely input in the
development of the EPA regulatory proposals with significant federal
intergovernmental mandates and informing, educating and advising small
governments on compliance with the regulatory requirements.
2. Does UMRA apply to this final rule?
This final rule does not contain a federal mandate that may result
in expenditures of $100 million or more for state, local and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector in any one year.
Listing a site on the NPL does not itself impose any costs. Listing
does not mean that the EPA necessarily will undertake remedial action.
Nor does listing require any action by a private party or determine
liability for response costs. Costs that arise out of site responses
result from site-specific decisions regarding what actions to take, not
directly from the act of placing a site on the NPL. Thus, this rule is
not subject to the requirements of section 202 and 205 of UMRA.
This rule is also not subject to the requirements of section 203 of
UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. As is mentioned
above, site listing does not impose any costs and would not require any
action of a small government.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
1. What is Executive Order 13132?
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999), requires the EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by state and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' are defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations that 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.''
2. Does Executive Order 13132 apply to this final rule?
This final rule does not have federalism implications. It 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, because it does not contain any
requirements applicable to states or other levels of government. Thus,
the requirements of the Executive Order do not apply to this final
rule.
The EPA believes, however, that this final rule may be of
significant interest to state governments. In the spirit of Executive
Order 13132, and consistent with the EPA policy to promote
communications between the EPA and state and local governments, the EPA
therefore consulted with state officials and/or representatives of
state governments early in the process of developing the rule to permit
them to have meaningful and timely input into its development. All
sites included in this final rule were referred to the EPA by states
for listing. For all sites in this rule, the EPA received letters of
support either from the governor or a state official who was delegated
the authority by the governor to speak on their behalf regarding NPL
listing decisions.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
1. What is Executive Order 13175?
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000),
requires the EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that
have tribal implications'' are defined in the Executive Order to
include regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on one or
more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the federal government
and the Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities between the federal government and Indian tribes.''
2. Does Executive Order 13175 apply to this final rule?
This final rule does not have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). Listing a site
on the NPL does not impose any costs on a tribe or require a tribe to
take remedial action. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to
this final rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health and Safety Risks
1. What is Executive Order 13045?
Executive Order 13045: ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies
to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be ``economically significant''
as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that the EPA has reason to believe
may have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory
action meets both criteria, the agency must evaluate the
[[Page 56521]]
environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule on children,
and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to other
potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives considered
by the agency.
2. Does Executive Order 13045 apply to this final rule?
This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is not
an economically significant rule as defined by Executive Order 12866,
and because the agency does not have reason to believe the
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this section present
a disproportionate risk to children.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use
1. What is Executive Order 13211?
Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use'' (66 FR 28355,
May 22, 2001), requires federal agencies to prepare a ``Statement of
Energy Effects'' when undertaking certain regulatory actions. A
Statement of Energy Effects describes the adverse effects of a
``significant energy action'' on energy supply, distribution, and use,
reasonable alternatives to the action and the expected effects of the
alternatives on energy supply, distribution, and use.
2. Does Executive Order 13211 apply to this final rule?
This action is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in
Executive Order 13211, because it is not likely to have a significant
adverse effect on the supply, distribution or use of energy. Further,
the agency has concluded that this final rule is not likely to have any
adverse energy impacts because adding a site to the NPL does not
require an entity to conduct any action that would require energy use,
let alone that which would significantly affect energy supply,
distribution or usage. Thus, Executive Order 13211 does not apply to
this action.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
1. What is the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act?
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272
note), directs the EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its
regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with
applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards
are technical standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods,
sampling procedures and business practices) that are developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs the
EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the agency
decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus
standards.
2. Does the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act apply to
this final rule?
No. This rulemaking does not involve technical standards.
Therefore, the EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus
standards.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
1. What is Executive Order 12898?
Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629, Feb. 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.
2. Does Executive Order 12898 apply to this final rule?
The EPA has determined that this final rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not
affect the level of protection provided to human health or the
environment. As this rule does not impose any enforceable duty upon
state, tribal or local governments, this rule will neither increase nor
decrease environmental protection.
K. Congressional Review Act
1. Has the EPA submitted this rule to Congress and the Government
Accountability Office?
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. The EPA has submitted a report containing this rule 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 of the rule in the Federal Register. A ``major rule''
cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
2. Could the effective date of this final rule change?
Provisions of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) or section 305 of
CERCLA may alter the effective date of this regulation.
The EPA has submitted a report under the CRA for this rule. The
rule will take effect, as provided by law, within 30 days of
publication of this document, since it is not a major rule. NPL listing
is not a major rule because, by itself, imposes no monetary costs on
any person. It establishes no enforceable duties, does not establish
that the EPA necessarily will undertake remedial action, nor does it
require any action by any party or determine liability for site
response costs. Costs that arise out of site responses result from
site-by-site decisions about what actions to take, not directly from
the act of listing itself. Section 801(a)(3) provides for a delay in
the effective date of major rules after this report is submitted.
3. What could cause a change in the effective date of this rule?
Under 5 U.S.C. 801(b)(1), a rule shall not take effect, or continue
in effect, if Congress enacts (and the President signs) a joint
resolution of disapproval, described under section 802.
Another statutory provision that may affect this rule is CERCLA
section 305, which provides for a legislative veto of regulations
promulgated under CERCLA. Although INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919,103 S.
Ct. 2764 (1983), and Bd. of Regents of the University of Washington v.
EPA, 86 F.3d 1214,1222 (D.C. Cir. 1996), cast the validity of the
legislative veto into question, the EPA has transmitted a copy of this
regulation to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.
If action by Congress under either the CRA or CERCLA section 305
calls the effective date of this regulation into question, the EPA will
publish a document of clarification in the Federal Register.
[[Page 56522]]
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: September 10, 2014.
Mathy Stanislaus,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
40 CFR part 300 is amended 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(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; 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. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300 is amended by adding entries for
``North Shore Drive'', ``Delta Shipyard'', ``Pierson's Creek'',
``Baghurst Drive'', and ``Jard Company, Inc.'' in alphabetical order by
state.
The additions read as follows:
Appendix B to Part 300--National Priorities List
Table 1--General Superfund Section
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Site name City/County Notes (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
IN................................... North Shore Drive....... Elkhart.................
* * * * * * *
LA................................... Delta Shipyard.......... Houma...................
* * * * * * *
NJ................................... Pierson's Creek......... Newark..................
* * * * * * *
PA................................... Baghurst Drive.......... Harleysville............
* * * * * * *
VT................................... Jard Company, Inc....... Bennington..............
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Notes:
(a) A = Based on issuance of health advisory by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (if scored, HRS
score need not be greater than or equal to 28.50).
[FR Doc. 2014-22429 Filed 9-19-14; 8:45 am]
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