Vermont: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions, 13034-13038 [2023-04148]
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13034
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 41 / Thursday, March 2, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
published in the FR on July 29, 2020,
VA also added to new regulations for
the SELRP, a program which serves as
an incentive for physicians starting or
currently in residency programs in
medical specialties, for which VA has
determined that recruitment and
retention of qualified personnel is
difficult, to work at VA facilities that
need more physicians within that
medical specialty after the individual
completes their residency program. See
85 FR 45532.
Both of those rulemakings contained
provisions constituting collections of
information subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).
See 38 CFR 17.528 and 17.643. The
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
requires that VA consider the impact of
paperwork and other information
collection burdens imposed on the
public. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a), an
agency may not collect or sponsor the
collection of information, nor may it
impose an information collection
requirement unless it displays a
currently valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number. See
also 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)(vi). As required
by 44 U.S.C. 3507(d), VA submitted the
information collections associated with
§§ 17.528 and 17.643 to OMB for its
review. After both final rules were
published, these information collections
were approved by OMB and assigned
OMB control number 2900–0879. This
document revises §§ 17.528 and 17.643
by adding the approved OMB control
number at the end of each of those
sections.
Revisions to 38 CFR 17.4600
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Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Dental health,
Government contracts, Health care,
Health facilities, Health professions,
Health records, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements,
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Consuela Benjamin,
Regulations Development Coordinator, Office
of Regulation Policy & Management, Office
of General Counsel, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Department of Veterans
Affairs amends 38 CFR part 17 as
follows:
PART 17—MEDICAL
1. The authority citation for part 17
continues to read in part as follows:
■
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in
specific sections.
*
*
*
*
*
2. Amend § 17.528 by revising the
parenthetical information collection
sentence at the end of the section to
read as follows:
■
§ 17.528
Application.
*
*
*
*
*
(The Office of Management and
Budget has approved the information
collection requirement in this section
under control number 2900–0879.)
■ 3. Amend § 17.643 by adding a
parenthetical information collection
sentence at the end of the section to
read as follows:
§ 17.643
Application for the PREL.
*
*
*
*
*
(The Office of Management and
Budget has approved the information
collection requirement in this section
under control number 2900–0879.).
§ 17.4600
[Amended]
4. Amend § 17.4600 by redesignating
paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) as
paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii).
■
In a document published in the FR on
June 5, 2019, VA amended its medical
regulations by granting eligible veterans
access to urgent care from qualifying
non-VA entities or providers without
prior approval from VA. 84 FR 25998.
Current paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B)
of § 17.4600 were incorrectly numbered
as they should have been designated as
paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii),
respectively. We are now revising
§ 17.4600 to correct the numbering of
paragraph (c)(1) with no substantive
changes to the regulation text.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17
Scholarships and fellowships, Travel
and transportation expenses, Veterans.
[FR Doc. 2023–04144 Filed 3–1–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 271
[EPA–R01–RCRA–2022–0864; FRL 10508–
02–R1]
Vermont: Final Authorization of State
Hazardous Waste Management
Program Revisions
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
Vermont has applied to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
for final authorization of revisions to its
SUMMARY:
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hazardous waste program under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA), as amended. The EPA has
reviewed Vermont’s application and has
determined that these revisions satisfy
all requirements needed to qualify for
final authorization. Therefore, we are
taking direct final action to authorize
the State’s changes. In the ‘‘Proposed
Rules’’ section of this issue of the
Federal Register, the EPA is also
publishing a separate document that
serves as the proposal to authorize these
revisions. Unless the EPA receives
written comments that oppose this
authorization during the comment
period, the decision to authorize
Vermont’s revisions to its hazardous
waste program will take effect.
DATES: This final authorization will
become effective on May 1, 2023, unless
the EPA receives adverse written
comments by April 3, 2023. If the EPA
receives any such comment, the EPA
will publish a timely withdrawal of this
direct final rule in the Federal Register
and inform the public that this
authorization will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R01–
RCRA–2022–0864, at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from
www.regulations.gov. The EPA may
publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit
electronically any information you
consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the
primary submission (i.e., on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon Leitch, RCRA Waste
Management, UST and Pesticides
Section; Land, Chemicals and
Redevelopment Division; EPA Region 1,
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (Mail
code 07–1), Boston, MA 02109–3912;
telephone number: (617) 918–1647;
email address: leitch.sharon@epa.gov.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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A. Why are revisions to State programs
necessary?
States that have received final
authorization from the EPA under RCRA
section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), must
maintain a hazardous waste program
that is equivalent to, consistent with,
and no less stringent than the Federal
program. As the Federal program
changes, states must change their
programs and ask the EPA to authorize
the changes. Changes to state programs
may be necessary when Federal or state
statutory or regulatory authority is
modified or when certain other changes
occur. Most commonly, states must
change their programs because of
changes to the EPA’s regulations in 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts
124, 260 through 268, 270, 273, and 279.
New Federal requirements and
prohibitions imposed by Federal
regulations that the EPA promulgates
pursuant to the Hazardous and Solid
Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA)
take effect in authorized states at the
same time that they take effect in
unauthorized states. Thus, the EPA will
implement those requirements and
prohibitions in Vermont, including the
issuance of new permits implementing
those requirements, until Vermont is
granted authorization to do so.
B. What decisions has the EPA made in
this rule?
November 29, 2022, Vermont
submitted a complete program revision
application seeking authorization of
revisions to its hazardous waste
program. The EPA concludes that
Vermont’s application to revise its
authorized program meets all of the
statutory and regulatory requirements
established by RCRA, as set forth in
RCRA Section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C
6926(b), and 40 CFR part 271. Therefore,
the EPA grants final authorization to
Vermont to operate its hazardous waste
program with the revisions described in
its authorization application, and as
listed below in Section G of this
document.
The Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation (VTDEC)
has responsibility for permitting
treatment, storage, and disposal
facilities within its borders and for
carrying out the aspects of the RCRA
program described in its application,
subject to the limitations of HSWA, as
discussed above.
C. What is the effect of this
authorization decision?
This decision serves to authorize
Vermont for the revisions to its
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authorized hazardous waste program
described in its authorization
application. These changes will become
part of the authorized State hazardous
waste program and will therefore be
Federally enforceable. Vermont will
continue to have primary enforcement
authority and responsibility for its State
hazardous waste program. The EPA
would maintain its authorities under
RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and
7003, including its authority to:
• Conduct inspections, and require
monitoring, tests, analyses and reports;
• Enforce RCRA requirements,
including authorized State program
requirements, and suspend or revoke
permits; and
• Take enforcement actions regardless
of whether the State has taken its own
actions.
This action will not impose additional
requirements on the regulated
community because the regulations for
which the EPA is authorizing Vermont
are already effective under state law and
are not changed by this action.
D. Why wasn’t there a proposed rule
before this rule?
Along with this direct final rule, the
EPA is publishing a separate document
in the ‘‘Proposed Rules’’ section of this
issue of the Federal Register that serves
as the proposal to authorize Vermont’s
program revisions. The EPA did not
publish a proposal before this rule
because the EPA views this as a routine
program change and does not expect
comments that oppose this approval.
The EPA is providing an opportunity for
public comment now, as described in
Section E of this document.
E. What happens if the EPA receives
comments that oppose this action?
If the EPA receives comments that
oppose this authorization, the EPA will
withdraw this direct final rule by
publishing a document in the Federal
Register before the rule becomes
effective. The EPA will base any further
decision on the authorization of
Vermont’s program revisions on the
proposal mentioned in the previous
section, after considering all comments
received during the comment period.
The EPA will then address all such
comments in a later final rule. You may
not have another opportunity to
comment. If you want to comment on
this authorization, you must do so at
this time.
If the EPA receives comments that
oppose only the authorization of a
particular revision to Vermont’s
hazardous waste program, the EPA will
withdraw that part of this rule, but the
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authorization of the program revisions
that the comments do not oppose will
become effective on the date specified
above. The Federal Register withdrawal
document will specify which part of the
authorization will become effective, and
which part is being withdrawn.
F. What has Vermont previously been
authorized for?
The State of Vermont initially
received Final authorization on January
7, 1985, with an effective date of
January 21, 1985 (50 FR 775) to
implement the RCRA hazardous waste
management program. The EPA granted
authorization for revisions to Vermont’s
regulatory program on the following
dates: May 3, 1993 (58 FR 26242),
effective August 6, 1993 (58 FR 31911);
September 24, 1999 (64 FR 51702),
effective November 23, 1999; October
26, 2000, effective December 26, 2000
(65 FR 64164); June 23, 2005 (70 FR
36350), effective on August 22, 2005;
March 16, 2007 (72 FR 12568), effective
May 15, 2007; December 31, 2013 (78
FR 79615), effective March 3, 2014; and
April 20, 2015 (80 FR 21650), effective
June 19, 2015.
G. What revisions is the EPA proposing
with this proposed action?
On November 29, 2022, Vermont
submitted a final complete program
revision application, seeking
authorization of additional revisions to
its program in accordance with 40 CFR
271.21. Vermont seeks authority to
administer the Federal requirements
that are listed in Table 1 below. This
table lists Vermont’s analogous
requirements that are being recognized
as no less stringent than the analogous
Federal requirements.
Vermont’s regulatory references are to
chapter 7 of the Vermont Environmental
Protection Rules, the Vermont
Hazardous Waste Management
Regulations (VHWMR), Sub-chapters 1–
10, as amended effective February 1,
2022. Vermont’s statutory authority to
operate its hazardous waste program is
found at 10 V.S.A. section 6603(9).
The EPA proposes to determine,
subject to public review and comment,
that Vermont’s hazardous waste
program revisions are equivalent to,
consistent with, and no less stringent
than the Federal program, and therefore
satisfy all of the requirements necessary
to qualify for final authorization.
Therefore, the EPA is proposing to
authorize Vermont for the following
program revisions:
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TABLE 1—VERMONT’S ANALOGS TO THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
Federal requirement
Analogous state authority
Checklist (CL) 228: Hazardous Waste Technical
Corrections and Clarifications.
CL 229: Conditional Exclusions for Solvent Contaminated Wipes.
77 FR 22229; April 13,
2012.
Appendix I and 7–607.
78 FR 46448; July 31,
2013.
CL 232: Revisions to the
Export Provisions of the
Cathode Ray Tube
(CRT) Rule.
CL 236: Imports and Exports of Hazardous
Waste.
79 FR 36220; June 26,
2014.
7–103 and 7–203(w).
More stringent provisions: 7–203(w)(5) and 7–203(w)(7)(C).
Partially broader in scope provision: 7–103, the definition of contaminated wipe includes wipes contaminated with state-only VT02 wastes.
7–103; 7–912(k)(2).
CL 237: Hazardous Waste
Generator Improvements
Rule.
CL 238: Confidentiality Determinations for Hazardous Waste Export
and Import Documents.
CL240: Safe Management
of Recalled Airbags.
CL 241: Management
Standards for Hazardous
Waste Pharmaceuticals
and Amendment to the
P075 Listing for Nicotine.
CL 242: Universal Waste
Regulations: Addition of
Aerosol Cans.
CL 243: Modernizing Ignitable Liquids Determinations.
Special Consolidated
Checklist for the Hazardous Waste Electronic
Manifest Rules (Checklists 231 and 239).
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Federal Register page
and date
81 FR 85696; November
28, 2016, as amended
August 29, 2017 (82 FR
41015) and August 6,
2018 (83 FR 38263).
81 FR 85732; November
28, 2016.
7–103; 7–106(a); 7–109(b)(2); 7–109(b)(4); 7–202(b); 7–202(c); 7–204(a)(1); 7–204(f); 7–214; 7–215; 7–
219(d); 7–301(a); 7–301(b); 7–301(c); 7–301(g); 7–302(d); 7–302(e); 7–303; 7–304(a); 7–304(b); 7–
304(c); 7–305; 7–306(a); 7–306(b); 7–306(c); 7–306(c)(1)(A); 7–306(c)(1)(D); 7–306(c)(2); 7–
306(c)(2)(A) through (I); 7–306(d); 7–306(e); 7–307(a); 7–307(c); 7–307(c)(1); 7–307(c)(2); 7–307(c)(3);
7–307(c)(4); 7–307(c)(6); 7–307(c)(7); 7–307(c)(9); 7–307(c)(10); 7–307(c)(11); 7–307(c)(12); 7–
307(c)(13); 7–307(e); 7–307(f); 7–308(a); 7–308(b); 7–308(c); 7–308(d); 7–309(a); 7–309(b)(1); 7–
309(b)(2)(A); 7–309(b)(4); 7–309(b)(5); 7–309(b)(6); 7–309(b)(8); 7–310(a)(1); 7–310(a)(2); 7–310(b); 7–
311(b)(1); 7–311(c); 7–311(f); 7–311(g); 7–311(h); 7–312(a); 7–312(b); 7–402(a); 7–402(b); 7–404(a)(5);
7–404(b); 7–502; 7–502(g); 7–502(l); 7–502(o); 7–504(e)(1); 7–504(e)(2); 7–504(e)(5); 7–510(c)(1); 7–
605(a); 7–606(a); 7–702(b); 7–702(c); 7–708(a); 7–708(b); 7–708(c); 7–709; 7–901(b); 7–916(b)(2).
More stringent provisions: 7–306(c), VT Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) are subject to notification, container and tank management, and waste storage area design standards that are not required
federally. In addition, VSQGs are limited to specified hazardous waste disposal options and are prohibited from disposing of hazardous waste in Vermont solid waste landfills; 7–306(b) a VSQG exceeding
the limit for acute wastes or any other waste raises the VSQG into at least the Small Quantity Generator
(SQG) category, VT did not adopt the conditions for an exemption found in 262.14(a)(3); No state analog to 262.16(c) for SQGs transporting waste over 200 miles; 7–308(b)(17)(B) Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) must submit a notification prior to commencing closure of a specific unit (i.e., partial closure)
or for closure of the entire facility; 7–308(b)(17)(C) an LQG may be required to submit a closure plan; 7–
308(b)(17)(D) an LQG must follow specific requirements for closure; 7–308(b)(17)(E)(ii) certification of
closure from an independent professional engineer may be required on a case-by-case basis; 7–
308(b)(17)(F) if the generator was an LQG within five years prior to closure it must close as an LQG regardless of generator status at time of closure; 7–311(d)(2) SQGs and LQGs must maintain a log documenting weekly inspections of short-term storage areas.
7–109(b)(5); 7–912(k)(2)(A); 7–912(k)(2)(B).
83 FR 60894; December
26, 2017.
83 FR 61552; November
30, 2018.
84 FR 5816; February 22,
2019.
7–103; 7–203(y); 7–306(c)(2)(G).
84 FR 67202; December
9, 2019.
7–103; 7–106; 7–203(s); 7–502(j)(9); 7–901(a); 7–903(b)(2); 7–910; 7–911; 7–912(c)(3)(D); 7–
912(d)(3)(C)(iii); 7–912(d)(3)(C)(iv); 7–912(d)(9); 7–912(e)(10).
85 FR 40594; July 7, 2020
7–205(a)(1); 7–205(a)(3); 7–205(a)(4); 7–205(a)(4)(A); 7–205(a)(4)(D); 7–219(d).
79 FR 7518; February 7,
2014, and 83 FR 420;
January 3, 2018.
7–103; 7–504(e)(1); 7–510(c)(1); 7–701(b); 7–701(c)(1); 7–701(c)(2); 7–702(a)(1); 7–702(a)(2); 7–703(a);
7–703(b); 7–703(c); 7–703(k)(1); 7–703(k)(2); 7–703(k)(3); 7–704(b); 7–704(c); 7–704(d).
EPA is also authorizing Vermont for
the following universal waste rule
provisions for postconsumer paint: 7–
909; 7–911; 7–912(d)(8); and 7–
912(e)(9). Since postconsumer paint is
an appropriate universal waste and the
rules allow the States the flexibility to
add additional wastes to their list of
universal wastes, EPA is therefore
reauthorizing the existing universal
waste regulations as they are applied to
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7–103; 7–109(b)(5); 7–203(i)(1); 7–203(i)(4); 7–203(i)(5); 7–204(f)(3); 7–204(f)(4); 7–204(g)(1); 7–219(d);
7–301(g); 7–304(c); 7–402; 7–504(e)(1); 7–510(c)(1); 7–604(d); 7–703(b); 7–703(e); 7–703(h); 7–703(i);
7–703(j); 7–704(e); 7–704(g); 7–708(a)(3); 7–912(k)(1); 7–912(k)(2); 7–912(j)(2)(A); 7–912(j)(2)(B); 7–
913(g); 7–914(c)(1); 7–915.
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7–106(a) 7–203(b); 7–203(j)(4); 7–215(c); Appendix IV; 7–301(e); 7–301(f); 7–305(d)(10); 7–306(c)(2)(I)(i);
7–306(c)(2)(I)(ii); 7–502(l); 7–916(a)(1); 7–916(a)(4); 7–1001 through 7–1011.
the paint wastes. In addition, EPA is
also authorizing Vermont for the other
revisions to the universal waste
regulations found at 7–911 and 7–912,
relating to the definition of pesticide
and storage container requirements,
respectively.
EPA cannot delegate certain federal
requirements associated with the federal
manifest registry system, the electronic
manifest system, and international
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shipments (i.e., import and export
provisions). Vermont has adopted these
requirements and appropriately
preserved the EPA’s authority to
implement them (see VHWMRs 7–103;
7–109(b)(5); 7–510(c)(1); 7–702(a)(2)(B);
7–703(b); 7–704(d)(5); and 7–915).
There are several Federal rules that
have been vacated, withdrawn, or
superseded. As a result, authorization of
these rules may be moot. However, for
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purposes of completeness, these rule
checklists are included here with an
explanation as to the rule’s status in
Vermont. These checklists include: CL
216: Exclusion of Oil-Bearing Secondary
Materials Processed in a Gasification
System to Produce Synthetic Gas (73 FR
57, January 2, 2008); CL 221: Expansion
of RCRA Comparable Fuel Exclusion (73
FR 77954, December 19, 2008); CL 224:
Withdrawal of the Emission Comparable
Fuel Exclusion (75 FR 33712, June 15,
2010); and CL 234: Vacatur of the
Comparable Fuels Rule and the
Gasification Rule (80 FR 18777, April 8,
2015)—CLs 216, 221, and 224 have been
vacated. CL 234 implements the vacatur
of these provisions. Vermont did not
adopt the exclusions contained in CLs
216, 221, or 224; therefore, the adoption
of CL 234 in Vermont would be
inconsequential. Vermont’s authorized
program continues to be equivalent to
and no less stringent than the Federal
program without having to make any
conforming changes pursuant to these
rule checklists.
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H. Where are the revised State rules
different from the Federal rules?
When revised state rules differ from
the Federal rules in the RCRA state
authorization process, EPA determines
whether the state rules are equivalent to,
more stringent than, or broader in scope
than the Federal program. Pursuant to
RCRA section 3009, 42 U.S.C. 6929,
state programs may contain
requirements that are more stringent
than the Federal regulations. Such more
stringent requirements can be federally
authorized and, once authorized,
become federally enforceable. Although
the statute does not prevent states from
adopting regulations that are broader in
scope than the Federal program, states
cannot receive federal authorization for
such regulations, and they are not
federally enforceable.
1. Vermont’s Requirements That Are
Broader in Scope
Vermont’s hazardous waste program
contains certain provisions that are
broader than the scope of the Federal
program. These broader in scope
provisions are not part of the program
the EPA is proposing to authorize. The
EPA cannot enforce requirements that
are broader in scope, although
compliance with such provisions is
required by State law. The Vermont
provisions in this update that are
broader in scope include, but are not
limited to, the following: (a) 7–211
Vermont listed hazardous wastes—
pesticidal wastes, identified by the
Vermont hazardous waste code VT06;
PFOA wastes, identified by the Vermont
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hazardous waste code VT21; and PFOS
wastes, identified by the Vermont
hazardous waste code VT22; (b) 7–
304(e), 7–306(c)(1)(C), 7–307(c)(5), and
7–308(b)(5), the fee requirements for
generators; and (c) 7–702(a)(4), the VT
tax on hazardous waste shipments.
2. Vermont’s Requirements That Are
More Stringent Than the Federal
Program
Vermont’s hazardous waste program
contains several provisions that are
more stringent than the Federal RCRA
program. More stringent provisions are
part of a Federally authorized program
and are, therefore, Federally
enforceable. Under this action, the EPA
would authorize every provision in
Vermont’s program that is more
stringent. The provisions of the
proposed program revision that are
more stringent are noted in Table 1.
They include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(a) Vermont limits the exclusion for
solvent contaminated wipes to the
exclusion for only reusable wipes that
are transported off-site for cleaning; it
does not include the federal exclusion
for disposable wipes and does not allow
the on-site cleaning of the wipes. In
addition, Vermont also requires that
generators maintain certain
documentation at their site regarding
the management of the wipes.
(b) Vermont regulates VSQGs more
stringently by not allowing them to mix
hazardous wastes with solid wastes. In
addition, Vermont does not allow
VSQGs to exceed quantity limits,
whereas the federal regulations at
262.14(a)(3) and 262.14(a)(4) do allow
this. In Vermont, VSQGs become at least
an SQG if they exceed any of the
quantity limits for VSQGs.
(c) Vermont has no state analog to
262.16(c) for SQGs transporting waste
over 200 miles.
(d) Vermont does not have the
‘‘mixture’’ rule, therefore has no state
analog to 262.13(f)(2) for SQG and LQG
wastes mixed with solid wastes.
(e) SQGs and LQGs must maintain a
log documenting weekly inspections of
short-term storage areas, there is no
federal analog to this requirement.
(f) LQGs are subject to closure
requirements that are not required
federally. LQGs must submit a ‘‘PreClosure Notification Form’’ and, based
on the information provided on that
form, may be required to submit a
closure plan that meets specific
requirements. Those requirements are
found in VHWMR § 7–308(b)(17)(D). In
addition, on a case-by-case basis, the
certification of closure from an
independent professional engineer may
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13037
be required, and if the generator was an
LQG within five years prior to closure
it must close as an LQG regardless of
generator status at time of closure.
I. Who handles permits after the
authorization takes effect?
Vermont will continue to issue
permits covering all the provisions for
which it is authorized and will
administer the permits it issues. EPA
will implement and issue permits for
any HSWA requirements for which
Vermont is not yet authorized in the
future.
J. What is codification and will the EPA
codify Vermont hazardous waste
program as authorized in this rule?
Codification is the process of placing
citations and references to the State’s
statutes and regulations that comprise
the State’s authorized hazardous waste
program into the Code of Federal
Regulations. EPA does this by adding
those citations and references to the
authorized State rules in 40 CFR part
272. EPA is not proposing to codify the
authorization of Vermont’s changes at
this time. However, EPA reserves the
ability to amend 40 CFR part 272,
subpart UU for the authorization of
Vermont’s program at a later date.
K. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) has exempted this action from
the requirements of Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993)
and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011). This action authorizes State
requirements for the purpose of RCRA
section 3006 and imposes no additional
requirements beyond those imposed by
State law. Therefore, this action is not
subject to review by OMB. This action
is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR
9339, February 3, 2017) regulatory
action because actions such as this
authorization of Vermont’s revised
hazardous waste program under RCRA
are exempted under Executive Order
12866. Accordingly, I certify that this
action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
et seq.). Because this action authorizes
pre-existing requirements under State
law and does not impose any additional
enforceable duty beyond that required
by State law, it does not contain any
unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as
described in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531–
1538). For the same reason, this action
also does not significantly or uniquely
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 41 / Thursday, March 2, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
affect the communities of tribal
governments, as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000). This action will not have
substantial direct effects on the states,
on the relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999), because it merely
authorizes State requirements as part of
the State RCRA hazardous waste
program without altering the
relationship or the distribution of power
and responsibilities established by
RCRA. This action also is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997), because it is not
economically significant, and it does not
make decisions based on environmental
health or safety risks. This action is not
subject to Executive Order 13211,
‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001) because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
Under RCRA section 3006(b), the EPA
grants a state’s application for
authorization as long as the state meets
the criteria required by RCRA. It would
thus be inconsistent with applicable law
for the EPA, when it reviews a state
authorization application, to require the
use of any particular voluntary
consensus standard in place of another
standard that otherwise satisfies the
requirements of RCRA. Thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.
272 note) do not apply. As required by
section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61
FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in taking
this action, the EPA has taken the
necessary steps to eliminate drafting
errors and ambiguity, minimize
potential litigation, and provide a clear
legal standard for affected conduct. The
EPA has complied with Executive Order
12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by
examining the takings implications of
this action in accordance with the
‘‘Attorney General’s Supplemental
Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk
and Avoidance of Unanticipated
Takings’’ issued under the executive
order. This action does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
‘‘Burden’’ is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) establishes Federal
executive policy on environmental
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:03 Mar 01, 2023
Jkt 259001
justice. Its main provision directs
Federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
Because this action authorizes preexisting State rules which are at least
equivalent to, and no less stringent than
existing Federal requirements, and
imposes no additional requirements
beyond those imposed by State law, and
there are no anticipated significant
adverse human health or environmental
effects, this rule is not subject to
Executive Order 12898.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedure,
Confidential business information,
Hazardous waste, Hazardous waste
transportation, Indian lands,
Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: This action is issued under the
authority of Sections 2002(a), 3006 and
7004(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, 6974(b).
Dated: February 23, 2023.
David W. Cash,
Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Region I.
[FR Doc. 2023–04148 Filed 3–1–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2020–0058;
FF09E21000 FXES1111090FEDR 234]
RIN 1018–BE87
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Threatened Species Status
With Section 4(d) Rule for the Upper
Coosa River Distinct Population
Segment of Frecklebelly Madtom and
Designation of Critical Habitat
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), determine
threatened species status under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act),
as amended, for the Upper Coosa River
distinct population segment (DPS) of the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
frecklebelly madtom (Noturus munitus),
a fish species. We are also finalizing a
rule under section 4(d) of the Act to
provide for conservation of the species.
In addition, we designate critical habitat
for the Upper Coosa River DPS under
the Act. In total, approximately 134
river miles (216 kilometers) in Georgia
and Tennessee fall within the
boundaries of the critical habitat
designation. This rule applies the
protections of the Act to this species
and its designated critical habitat.
DATES: This rule is effective April 3,
2023.
ADDRESSES: This final rule is available
on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov in Docket No.
FWS–R4–ES–2020–0058 and at https://
www.fws.gov/office/alabama-ecologicalservices/library. Comments and
materials we received, as well as
supporting documentation we used in
preparing this rule, are available for
public inspection at https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWS–R4–ES–2020–0058.
For the critical habitat designation,
the coordinates or plot points or both
from which the maps are generated are
included in the decision file and are
available at https://www.fws.gov/office/
alabama-ecological-services/library, at
https://www.regulations.gov under
Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2020–0058,
and at the Alabama Ecological Services
Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT, below). Any
additional tools or supporting
information that we developed for the
critical habitat designation will also be
available at the Service website and
Field Office set out above and may also
be included in the preamble and at
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Pearson, Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Alabama
Ecological Services Field Office, 1208–
B Main Street, Daphne, AL 36526;
telephone 251–441–5870. Individuals in
the United States who are deaf,
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Summary
Why we need to publish a rule. Under
the Act, a species warrants listing if it
meets the definition of an endangered
species (in danger of extinction
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13034-13038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04148]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 271
[EPA-R01-RCRA-2022-0864; FRL 10508-02-R1]
Vermont: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management
Program Revisions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Vermont has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for final authorization of revisions to its hazardous waste
program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as
amended. The EPA has reviewed Vermont's application and has determined
that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for
final authorization. Therefore, we are taking direct final action to
authorize the State's changes. In the ``Proposed Rules'' section of
this issue of the Federal Register, the EPA is also publishing a
separate document that serves as the proposal to authorize these
revisions. Unless the EPA receives written comments that oppose this
authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize
Vermont's revisions to its hazardous waste program will take effect.
DATES: This final authorization will become effective on May 1, 2023,
unless the EPA receives adverse written comments by April 3, 2023. If
the EPA receives any such comment, the EPA will publish a timely
withdrawal of this direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform
the public that this authorization will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R01-
RCRA-2022-0864, at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from www.regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions,
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Leitch, RCRA Waste Management,
UST and Pesticides Section; Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division;
EPA Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (Mail code 07-1), Boston,
MA 02109-3912; telephone number: (617) 918-1647; email address:
[email protected].
[[Page 13035]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Why are revisions to State programs necessary?
States that have received final authorization from the EPA under
RCRA section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), must maintain a hazardous
waste program that is equivalent to, consistent with, and no less
stringent than the Federal program. As the Federal program changes,
states must change their programs and ask the EPA to authorize the
changes. Changes to state programs may be necessary when Federal or
state statutory or regulatory authority is modified or when certain
other changes occur. Most commonly, states must change their programs
because of changes to the EPA's regulations in 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) parts 124, 260 through 268, 270, 273, and 279.
New Federal requirements and prohibitions imposed by Federal
regulations that the EPA promulgates pursuant to the Hazardous and
Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA) take effect in authorized states
at the same time that they take effect in unauthorized states. Thus,
the EPA will implement those requirements and prohibitions in Vermont,
including the issuance of new permits implementing those requirements,
until Vermont is granted authorization to do so.
B. What decisions has the EPA made in this rule?
November 29, 2022, Vermont submitted a complete program revision
application seeking authorization of revisions to its hazardous waste
program. The EPA concludes that Vermont's application to revise its
authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory
requirements established by RCRA, as set forth in RCRA Section 3006(b),
42 U.S.C 6926(b), and 40 CFR part 271. Therefore, the EPA grants final
authorization to Vermont to operate its hazardous waste program with
the revisions described in its authorization application, and as listed
below in Section G of this document.
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) has
responsibility for permitting treatment, storage, and disposal
facilities within its borders and for carrying out the aspects of the
RCRA program described in its application, subject to the limitations
of HSWA, as discussed above.
C. What is the effect of this authorization decision?
This decision serves to authorize Vermont for the revisions to its
authorized hazardous waste program described in its authorization
application. These changes will become part of the authorized State
hazardous waste program and will therefore be Federally enforceable.
Vermont will continue to have primary enforcement authority and
responsibility for its State hazardous waste program. The EPA would
maintain its authorities under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and
7003, including its authority to:
Conduct inspections, and require monitoring, tests,
analyses and reports;
Enforce RCRA requirements, including authorized State
program requirements, and suspend or revoke permits; and
Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State
has taken its own actions.
This action will not impose additional requirements on the
regulated community because the regulations for which the EPA is
authorizing Vermont are already effective under state law and are not
changed by this action.
D. Why wasn't there a proposed rule before this rule?
Along with this direct final rule, the EPA is publishing a separate
document in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of this issue of the Federal
Register that serves as the proposal to authorize Vermont's program
revisions. The EPA did not publish a proposal before this rule because
the EPA views this as a routine program change and does not expect
comments that oppose this approval. The EPA is providing an opportunity
for public comment now, as described in Section E of this document.
E. What happens if the EPA receives comments that oppose this action?
If the EPA receives comments that oppose this authorization, the
EPA will withdraw this direct final rule by publishing a document in
the Federal Register before the rule becomes effective. The EPA will
base any further decision on the authorization of Vermont's program
revisions on the proposal mentioned in the previous section, after
considering all comments received during the comment period. The EPA
will then address all such comments in a later final rule. You may not
have another opportunity to comment. If you want to comment on this
authorization, you must do so at this time.
If the EPA receives comments that oppose only the authorization of
a particular revision to Vermont's hazardous waste program, the EPA
will withdraw that part of this rule, but the authorization of the
program revisions that the comments do not oppose will become effective
on the date specified above. The Federal Register withdrawal document
will specify which part of the authorization will become effective, and
which part is being withdrawn.
F. What has Vermont previously been authorized for?
The State of Vermont initially received Final authorization on
January 7, 1985, with an effective date of January 21, 1985 (50 FR 775)
to implement the RCRA hazardous waste management program. The EPA
granted authorization for revisions to Vermont's regulatory program on
the following dates: May 3, 1993 (58 FR 26242), effective August 6,
1993 (58 FR 31911); September 24, 1999 (64 FR 51702), effective
November 23, 1999; October 26, 2000, effective December 26, 2000 (65 FR
64164); June 23, 2005 (70 FR 36350), effective on August 22, 2005;
March 16, 2007 (72 FR 12568), effective May 15, 2007; December 31, 2013
(78 FR 79615), effective March 3, 2014; and April 20, 2015 (80 FR
21650), effective June 19, 2015.
G. What revisions is the EPA proposing with this proposed action?
On November 29, 2022, Vermont submitted a final complete program
revision application, seeking authorization of additional revisions to
its program in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. Vermont seeks authority
to administer the Federal requirements that are listed in Table 1
below. This table lists Vermont's analogous requirements that are being
recognized as no less stringent than the analogous Federal
requirements.
Vermont's regulatory references are to chapter 7 of the Vermont
Environmental Protection Rules, the Vermont Hazardous Waste Management
Regulations (VHWMR), Sub-chapters 1-10, as amended effective February
1, 2022. Vermont's statutory authority to operate its hazardous waste
program is found at 10 V.S.A. section 6603(9).
The EPA proposes to determine, subject to public review and
comment, that Vermont's hazardous waste program revisions are
equivalent to, consistent with, and no less stringent than the Federal
program, and therefore satisfy all of the requirements necessary to
qualify for final authorization. Therefore, the EPA is proposing to
authorize Vermont for the following program revisions:
[[Page 13036]]
Table 1--Vermont's Analogs to the Federal Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Register page
Federal requirement and date Analogous state authority
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checklist (CL) 228: Hazardous Waste 77 FR 22229; April 13, Appendix I and 7-607.
Technical Corrections and 2012.
Clarifications.
CL 229: Conditional Exclusions for 78 FR 46448; July 31, 7-103 and 7-203(w).
Solvent Contaminated Wipes. 2013. More stringent provisions: 7-203(w)(5) and 7-
203(w)(7)(C).
Partially broader in scope provision: 7-103, the
definition of contaminated wipe includes wipes
contaminated with state-only VT02 wastes.
CL 232: Revisions to the Export 79 FR 36220; June 26, 7-103; 7-912(k)(2).
Provisions of the Cathode Ray Tube 2014.
(CRT) Rule.
CL 236: Imports and Exports of 81 FR 85696; November 7-103; 7-109(b)(5); 7-203(i)(1); 7-203(i)(4); 7-
Hazardous Waste. 28, 2016, as amended 203(i)(5); 7-204(f)(3); 7-204(f)(4); 7-
August 29, 2017 (82 FR 204(g)(1); 7-219(d); 7-301(g); 7-304(c); 7-402;
41015) and August 6, 7-504(e)(1); 7-510(c)(1); 7-604(d); 7-703(b); 7-
2018 (83 FR 38263). 703(e); 7-703(h); 7-703(i); 7-703(j); 7-704(e);
7-704(g); 7-708(a)(3); 7-912(k)(1); 7-
912(k)(2); 7-912(j)(2)(A); 7-912(j)(2)(B); 7-
913(g); 7-914(c)(1); 7-915.
CL 237: Hazardous Waste Generator 81 FR 85732; November 7-103; 7-106(a); 7-109(b)(2); 7-109(b)(4); 7-
Improvements Rule. 28, 2016. 202(b); 7-202(c); 7-204(a)(1); 7-204(f); 7-214;
7-215; 7-219(d); 7-301(a); 7-301(b); 7-301(c);
7-301(g); 7-302(d); 7-302(e); 7-303; 7-304(a);
7-304(b); 7-304(c); 7-305; 7-306(a); 7-306(b);
7-306(c); 7-306(c)(1)(A); 7-306(c)(1)(D); 7-
306(c)(2); 7-306(c)(2)(A) through (I); 7-
306(d); 7-306(e); 7-307(a); 7-307(c); 7-
307(c)(1); 7-307(c)(2); 7-307(c)(3); 7-
307(c)(4); 7-307(c)(6); 7-307(c)(7); 7-
307(c)(9); 7-307(c)(10); 7-307(c)(11); 7-
307(c)(12); 7-307(c)(13); 7-307(e); 7-307(f); 7-
308(a); 7-308(b); 7-308(c); 7-308(d); 7-309(a);
7-309(b)(1); 7-309(b)(2)(A); 7-309(b)(4); 7-
309(b)(5); 7-309(b)(6); 7-309(b)(8); 7-
310(a)(1); 7-310(a)(2); 7-310(b); 7-311(b)(1);
7-311(c); 7-311(f); 7-311(g); 7-311(h); 7-
312(a); 7-312(b); 7-402(a); 7-402(b); 7-
404(a)(5); 7-404(b); 7-502; 7-502(g); 7-502(l);
7-502(o); 7-504(e)(1); 7-504(e)(2); 7-
504(e)(5); 7-510(c)(1); 7-605(a); 7-606(a); 7-
702(b); 7-702(c); 7-708(a); 7-708(b); 7-708(c);
7-709; 7-901(b); 7-916(b)(2).
More stringent provisions: 7-306(c), VT Very
Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) are subject
to notification, container and tank management,
and waste storage area design standards that
are not required federally. In addition, VSQGs
are limited to specified hazardous waste
disposal options and are prohibited from
disposing of hazardous waste in Vermont solid
waste landfills; 7-306(b) a VSQG exceeding the
limit for acute wastes or any other waste
raises the VSQG into at least the Small
Quantity Generator (SQG) category, VT did not
adopt the conditions for an exemption found in
262.14(a)(3); No state analog to 262.16(c) for
SQGs transporting waste over 200 miles; 7-
308(b)(17)(B) Large Quantity Generators (LQGs)
must submit a notification prior to commencing
closure of a specific unit (i.e., partial
closure) or for closure of the entire facility;
7-308(b)(17)(C) an LQG may be required to
submit a closure plan; 7-308(b)(17)(D) an LQG
must follow specific requirements for closure;
7-308(b)(17)(E)(ii) certification of closure
from an independent professional engineer may
be required on a case-by-case basis; 7-
308(b)(17)(F) if the generator was an LQG
within five years prior to closure it must
close as an LQG regardless of generator status
at time of closure; 7-311(d)(2) SQGs and LQGs
must maintain a log documenting weekly
inspections of short-term storage areas.
CL 238: Confidentiality 83 FR 60894; December 7-109(b)(5); 7-912(k)(2)(A); 7-912(k)(2)(B).
Determinations for Hazardous Waste 26, 2017.
Export and Import Documents.
CL240: Safe Management of Recalled 83 FR 61552; November 7-103; 7-203(y); 7-306(c)(2)(G).
Airbags. 30, 2018.
CL 241: Management Standards for 84 FR 5816; February 7-106(a) 7-203(b); 7-203(j)(4); 7-215(c);
Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and 22, 2019. Appendix IV; 7-301(e); 7-301(f); 7-305(d)(10);
Amendment to the P075 Listing for 7-306(c)(2)(I)(i); 7-306(c)(2)(I)(ii); 7-
Nicotine. 502(l); 7-916(a)(1); 7-916(a)(4); 7-1001
through 7-1011.
CL 242: Universal Waste Regulations: 84 FR 67202; December 7-103; 7-106; 7-203(s); 7-502(j)(9); 7-901(a); 7-
Addition of Aerosol Cans. 9, 2019. 903(b)(2); 7-910; 7-911; 7-912(c)(3)(D); 7-
912(d)(3)(C)(iii); 7-912(d)(3)(C)(iv); 7-
912(d)(9); 7-912(e)(10).
CL 243: Modernizing Ignitable Liquids 85 FR 40594; July 7, 7-205(a)(1); 7-205(a)(3); 7-205(a)(4); 7-
Determinations. 2020. 205(a)(4)(A); 7-205(a)(4)(D); 7-219(d).
Special Consolidated Checklist for 79 FR 7518; February 7, 7-103; 7-504(e)(1); 7-510(c)(1); 7-701(b); 7-
the Hazardous Waste Electronic 2014, and 83 FR 420; 701(c)(1); 7-701(c)(2); 7-702(a)(1); 7-
Manifest Rules (Checklists 231 and January 3, 2018. 702(a)(2); 7-703(a); 7-703(b); 7-703(c); 7-
239). 703(k)(1); 7-703(k)(2); 7-703(k)(3); 7-704(b);
7-704(c); 7-704(d).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA is also authorizing Vermont for the following universal waste
rule provisions for postconsumer paint: 7-909; 7-911; 7-912(d)(8); and
7-912(e)(9). Since postconsumer paint is an appropriate universal waste
and the rules allow the States the flexibility to add additional wastes
to their list of universal wastes, EPA is therefore reauthorizing the
existing universal waste regulations as they are applied to the paint
wastes. In addition, EPA is also authorizing Vermont for the other
revisions to the universal waste regulations found at 7-911 and 7-912,
relating to the definition of pesticide and storage container
requirements, respectively.
EPA cannot delegate certain federal requirements associated with
the federal manifest registry system, the electronic manifest system,
and international shipments (i.e., import and export provisions).
Vermont has adopted these requirements and appropriately preserved the
EPA's authority to implement them (see VHWMRs 7-103; 7-109(b)(5); 7-
510(c)(1); 7-702(a)(2)(B); 7-703(b); 7-704(d)(5); and 7-915).
There are several Federal rules that have been vacated, withdrawn,
or superseded. As a result, authorization of these rules may be moot.
However, for
[[Page 13037]]
purposes of completeness, these rule checklists are included here with
an explanation as to the rule's status in Vermont. These checklists
include: CL 216: Exclusion of Oil-Bearing Secondary Materials Processed
in a Gasification System to Produce Synthetic Gas (73 FR 57, January 2,
2008); CL 221: Expansion of RCRA Comparable Fuel Exclusion (73 FR
77954, December 19, 2008); CL 224: Withdrawal of the Emission
Comparable Fuel Exclusion (75 FR 33712, June 15, 2010); and CL 234:
Vacatur of the Comparable Fuels Rule and the Gasification Rule (80 FR
18777, April 8, 2015)--CLs 216, 221, and 224 have been vacated. CL 234
implements the vacatur of these provisions. Vermont did not adopt the
exclusions contained in CLs 216, 221, or 224; therefore, the adoption
of CL 234 in Vermont would be inconsequential. Vermont's authorized
program continues to be equivalent to and no less stringent than the
Federal program without having to make any conforming changes pursuant
to these rule checklists.
H. Where are the revised State rules different from the Federal rules?
When revised state rules differ from the Federal rules in the RCRA
state authorization process, EPA determines whether the state rules are
equivalent to, more stringent than, or broader in scope than the
Federal program. Pursuant to RCRA section 3009, 42 U.S.C. 6929, state
programs may contain requirements that are more stringent than the
Federal regulations. Such more stringent requirements can be federally
authorized and, once authorized, become federally enforceable. Although
the statute does not prevent states from adopting regulations that are
broader in scope than the Federal program, states cannot receive
federal authorization for such regulations, and they are not federally
enforceable.
1. Vermont's Requirements That Are Broader in Scope
Vermont's hazardous waste program contains certain provisions that
are broader than the scope of the Federal program. These broader in
scope provisions are not part of the program the EPA is proposing to
authorize. The EPA cannot enforce requirements that are broader in
scope, although compliance with such provisions is required by State
law. The Vermont provisions in this update that are broader in scope
include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) 7-211 Vermont
listed hazardous wastes--pesticidal wastes, identified by the Vermont
hazardous waste code VT06; PFOA wastes, identified by the Vermont
hazardous waste code VT21; and PFOS wastes, identified by the Vermont
hazardous waste code VT22; (b) 7-304(e), 7-306(c)(1)(C), 7-307(c)(5),
and 7-308(b)(5), the fee requirements for generators; and (c) 7-
702(a)(4), the VT tax on hazardous waste shipments.
2. Vermont's Requirements That Are More Stringent Than the Federal
Program
Vermont's hazardous waste program contains several provisions that
are more stringent than the Federal RCRA program. More stringent
provisions are part of a Federally authorized program and are,
therefore, Federally enforceable. Under this action, the EPA would
authorize every provision in Vermont's program that is more stringent.
The provisions of the proposed program revision that are more stringent
are noted in Table 1. They include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(a) Vermont limits the exclusion for solvent contaminated wipes to
the exclusion for only reusable wipes that are transported off-site for
cleaning; it does not include the federal exclusion for disposable
wipes and does not allow the on-site cleaning of the wipes. In
addition, Vermont also requires that generators maintain certain
documentation at their site regarding the management of the wipes.
(b) Vermont regulates VSQGs more stringently by not allowing them
to mix hazardous wastes with solid wastes. In addition, Vermont does
not allow VSQGs to exceed quantity limits, whereas the federal
regulations at 262.14(a)(3) and 262.14(a)(4) do allow this. In Vermont,
VSQGs become at least an SQG if they exceed any of the quantity limits
for VSQGs.
(c) Vermont has no state analog to 262.16(c) for SQGs transporting
waste over 200 miles.
(d) Vermont does not have the ``mixture'' rule, therefore has no
state analog to 262.13(f)(2) for SQG and LQG wastes mixed with solid
wastes.
(e) SQGs and LQGs must maintain a log documenting weekly
inspections of short-term storage areas, there is no federal analog to
this requirement.
(f) LQGs are subject to closure requirements that are not required
federally. LQGs must submit a ``Pre-Closure Notification Form'' and,
based on the information provided on that form, may be required to
submit a closure plan that meets specific requirements. Those
requirements are found in VHWMR Sec. 7-308(b)(17)(D). In addition, on
a case-by-case basis, the certification of closure from an independent
professional engineer may be required, and if the generator was an LQG
within five years prior to closure it must close as an LQG regardless
of generator status at time of closure.
I. Who handles permits after the authorization takes effect?
Vermont will continue to issue permits covering all the provisions
for which it is authorized and will administer the permits it issues.
EPA will implement and issue permits for any HSWA requirements for
which Vermont is not yet authorized in the future.
J. What is codification and will the EPA codify Vermont hazardous waste
program as authorized in this rule?
Codification is the process of placing citations and references to
the State's statutes and regulations that comprise the State's
authorized hazardous waste program into the Code of Federal
Regulations. EPA does this by adding those citations and references to
the authorized State rules in 40 CFR part 272. EPA is not proposing to
codify the authorization of Vermont's changes at this time. However,
EPA reserves the ability to amend 40 CFR part 272, subpart UU for the
authorization of Vermont's program at a later date.
K. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this action
from the requirements of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4,
1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011). This action authorizes
State requirements for the purpose of RCRA section 3006 and imposes no
additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law. Therefore,
this action is not subject to review by OMB. This action is not an
Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017) regulatory action
because actions such as this authorization of Vermont's revised
hazardous waste program under RCRA are exempted under Executive Order
12866. Accordingly, I certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because
this action authorizes pre-existing requirements under State law and
does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by
State law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538). For the same reason,
this action also does not significantly or uniquely
[[Page 13038]]
affect the communities of tribal governments, as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action will not have
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as
specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999),
because it merely authorizes State requirements as part of the State
RCRA hazardous waste program without altering the relationship or the
distribution of power and responsibilities established by RCRA. This
action also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April
23, 1997), because it is not economically significant, and it does not
make decisions based on environmental health or safety risks. This
action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
Under RCRA section 3006(b), the EPA grants a state's application
for authorization as long as the state meets the criteria required by
RCRA. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for the EPA,
when it reviews a state authorization application, to require the use
of any particular voluntary consensus standard in place of another
standard that otherwise satisfies the requirements of RCRA. Thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required
by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996),
in taking this action, the EPA has taken the necessary steps to
eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation,
and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. The EPA has
complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by
examining the takings implications of this action in accordance with
the ``Attorney General's Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of
Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings'' issued under the
executive order. This action does not impose an information collection
burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). ``Burden'' is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes
Federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision
directs Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States. Because this action authorizes pre-
existing State rules which are at least equivalent to, and no less
stringent than existing Federal requirements, and imposes no additional
requirements beyond those imposed by State law, and there are no
anticipated significant adverse human health or environmental effects,
this rule is not subject to Executive Order 12898.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Confidential business information, Hazardous waste, Hazardous waste
transportation, Indian lands, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: This action is issued under the authority of Sections
2002(a), 3006 and 7004(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, 6974(b).
Dated: February 23, 2023.
David W. Cash,
Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Region I.
[FR Doc. 2023-04148 Filed 3-1-23; 8:45 am]
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