Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
The owner or operator of a hazardous waste management unit
subject to the requirements of 264.144 must establish financial assurance for
postclosure care in accordance with the approved postclosure plan for the
facility 60 days prior to the initial receipt of hazardous waste or the
effective date of the regulation, whichever is later. He must choose from the
following options:
(a) Standby trust
fund (replaced 5/93).
(1) An owner or operator
may satisfy the requirements of this section by establishing a standby trust
fund which conforms to the requirements of this paragraph and submitting an
originally signed duplicate of the trust agreement to the Department. An owner
or operator of a new facility must submit the originally signed duplicate of
the trust agreement to the Department at least 60 days before the date on which
hazardous waste is first received for disposal. The trustee must be an entity
which has the authority to act as a trustee and whose trust operations are
regulated and examined by a Federal or State agency.
(2) The wording of the trust agreement must
be identical to the wording specified in 264.151(a)(1), and the trust agreement
must be accompanied by a formal certification of acknowledgment [for example,
see 264.151(a)(2)]. Schedule A of the trust agreement must be updated within 60
days after a change in the amount of the current postclosure cost estimate
covered by the agreement.
(3)
[Reserved]
(4) [Reserved]
(5) [Reserved]
(6) Whenever the current postclosure cost
estimate changes during the operating life of the facility, the owner or
operator must compare the new estimate with the trustee's most recent annual
valuation of the trust fund. If the value of the fund is less than the amount
of the new estimate, the owner or operator, within 60 days after the change in
the cost estimate, must either deposit an amount into the fund so that its
value after this deposit at least equals the amount of the current postclosure
cost estimate, or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this section
to cover the difference.
(7) During
the operating life of the facility, if the value of the trust fund is greater
than the total amount of the current postclosure cost estimate, the owner or
operator may submit a written request to the Department for release of the
amount in excess of the current postclosure cost estimate.
(8) If an owner or operator substitutes other
financial assurance as specified in this section for all or part of the trust
fund, he may submit a written request to the Department for release of the
amount in excess of the current postclosure cost estimate covered by the trust
fund.
(9) Within 60 days after
receiving a request from the owner or operator for release of funds as
specified in paragraphs (a)(7) or (8) of this section, the Department will
instruct the trustee to release to the owner or operator such funds as the
Department specifies in writing.
(10) During the period of postclosure care,
the Department may approve a release of funds if the owner or operator
demonstrates to the Department that the value of the trust fund exceeds the
remaining cost of postclosure care.
(11) An owner or operator or any other person
authorized to conduct postclosure care may request reimbursements for
postclosure care expenditures by submitting itemized bills to the Department.
Within 60 days after receiving bills for postclosure care activities, the
Department will instruct the trustee to make reimbursements in those amounts as
the Department specifies in writing, if the Department determines that the
postclosure care expenditures are in accordance with the approved postclosure
plan or otherwise justified. If the Department does not instruct the trustee to
make such reimbursements, it will provide the owner or operator with a detailed
written statement of reasons.
(12)
The Department will agree to termination of the trust when:
(i) An owner or operator substitutes
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section; or
(ii) The Department releases the owner or
operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with
264.145(i).
(b) Surety bond guaranteeing payment into a
postclosure trust fund.
(1) An owner or
operator may satisfy the requirements of this section by obtaining a surety
bond which conforms to the requirements of this paragraph and submitting the
bond to the Department. An owner or operator of a new facility must submit the
bond to the Department at least 60 days before the date on which hazardous
waste is first received for disposal. The bond must be effective before this
initial receipt of hazardous waste. The surety company issuing the bond must,
at a minimum, be among those listed as acceptable sureties on Federal bonds in
Circular 570 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and licensed to do business
in South Carolina.
(2) The wording
of the surety bond must be identical to the wording specified in 264.151(b).
(revised 12/92)
(3) The owner or
operator who uses a surety bond to satisfy the requirements of this section
must also establish a standby trust fund. Under the terms of the bond, all
payments made thereunder will be deposited by the surety directly into the
standby trust fund in accordance with instructions from the Department. This
standby trust fund must meet the requirements specified in
Section264.145(a)(a), except that:
(i) An
originally signed duplicate of the trust agreement must be submitted to the
Department with the surety bond; and,
(ii) Until the standby trust fund is funded
pursuant to the requirements of this section, the following are not required by
these regulation:
(A) Payments into the trust
fund as specified in Section264.145(a)(a);
(B) Updating of Schedule A of the trust
agreement (see Section264.151(a)(a)) to show current post-closure cost
estimates;
(C) Annual valuations as
required by the trust agreement; and
(D) Notices of nonpayment as required by the
trust agreement.
(4) The bond must guarantee that the owner or
operator will:
(i) Fund the standby trust fund
in an amount equal to the penal sum of the bond before the beginning of final
closure of the facility; or
(ii)
Fund the standby trust fund in an amount equal to the penal sum within 15 days
after an administrative order to begin final closure issued by the Department
becomes final, or within 15 days after an order to begin final closure is
issued by the State court or other court of competent jurisdiction;
or
(iii) Provide alternate
financial assurance as specified in this section, and obtain the Department's
written approval of the assurance provided, within 90 days after receipt by
both the owner or operator and the Department of a notice of cancellation of
the bond from the surety.
(5) Under the terms of the bond, the surety
will become liable on the bond obligation when the owner or operator fails to
perform as guaranteed by the bond.
(6) The penal sum of the bond must be in an
amount at least equal to the current post-closure cost estimate, except as
provided in Section264.145(g)(g).
(7) Whenever the current post-closure cost
estimate increases to an amount greater than the penal sum, the owner or
operator, within 60 days after the increase, must either cause the penal sum to
be increased to an amount at least equal to the current post-closure cost
estimate and submit evidence of such increase to the Department, or obtain
other financial assurance as specified in this section to cover the increase.
Whenever the current post-closure cost estimate decreases, the penal sum may be
reduced to the amount of the current post-closure cost estimate following
written approval by the Department.
(8) Under the terms of the bond, the surety
may cancel the bond by sending notice of cancellation by certified mail to the
owner or operator and to the Department. Cancellation may not occur, however,
during the 120 days beginning on the date of receipt of the notice of
cancellation by both the owner or operator and the Department, as evidenced by
the return receipts.
(9) The owner
or operator may cancel the bond if the Department has given prior written
consent based on his receipt of evidence of alternate financial assurance as
specified in this section.
(c) Surety bond guaranteeing performance of
postclosure care. (amended 11/90)
(1) An owner
or operator may satisfy the requirements of this section by obtaining a surety
bond which conforms to the requirements of this paragraph and submitting the
bond to the Department. An owner or operator of a new facility must submit the
bond to the Department at least 60 days before the date on which hazardous
waste is first received for disposal. The bond must be effective before this
initial receipt of hazardous waste. The surety company issuing the bond must,
at a minimum, be among those listed as acceptable sureties on Federal bonds in
Circular 570 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
(2) The wording of the surety bond must be
identical to the wording specified in 264.151(c). (amended 11/90)
(3) The owner or operator who uses a surety
bond to satisfy the requirements of this section must also establish a standby
trust fund. Under the terms of the bond, all payments made thereunder will be
deposited by the surety directly into the standby trust fund in accordance with
instructions from the Department. This standby trust fund must meet the
requirements specified in Section264.145(a)(a), except that:
(i) An originally signed duplicate of the
trust agreement must be submitted to the Department with the surety bond;
and,
(ii) Unless the standby trust
fund is funded pursuant to the requirements of this section, the following are
not required by these regulations:
(A)
Payments into the trust fund as specified in Section264.145(a)(a);
(B) Updating of Schedule A of the trust
agreement (see Section264.151(a)(a)) to show current post-closure cost
estimates:
(C) Annual valuations as
required by the trust agreement; and,
(D) Notices of nonpayment as required by the
trust agreement.
(4) The
bond must guarantee that the owner or operator will:
(i) Perform post-closure care in accordance
with the post-closure plan and other requirements of the permit for the
facility; or,
(ii) Provide
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section, and obtain the
Department's written approval of the assurance provided, within 90 days of
receipt by both the owner or operator and the Department of a notice of
cancellation of the bond from the surety.
(5) Under the terms of the bond, the surety
will become liable on the bond obligation when the owner or operator fails to
perform as guaranteed by the bond. Following a final determination that the
owner or operator has failed to perform post-closure care in accordance with
the approved post-closure plan and other permit requirements, under the terms
of the bond the surety will perform post-closure care in accordance with the
post-closure plan and other permit requirements or will deposit the amount of
the penal sum into the standby trust fund.
(6) The penal sum of the bond must be in an
amount at least equal to the current post-closure cost estimate.
(7) Whenever the current postclosure cost
estimate increases to an amount greater than the penal sum during the active
life of the facility, the owner or operator, within 60 days after the increase,
must either cause the penal sum to be increased to an amount at least equal to
the current postclosure cost estimate and submit evidence of such increase to
the Department, or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this
section. Whenever the current postclosure cost estimate decreases during the
active life of the facility, the penal sum may be reduced to the amount of the
current postclosure cost estimate following written approval by the Department.
(amended 11/90)
(8) During the
period of post-closure care, the Department may approve a decrease in the penal
sum if the owner or operator demonstrates to the Department that the amount
exceeds the remaining cost of post-closure care.
(9) Under the terms of the bond, the surety
may cancel the bond by sending notice of cancellation by certified mail to the
owner or operator and to the Department. Cancellation may not occur, however,
during the 120 days beginning on the date of receipt of the notice of
cancellation by both the owner or operator and the Department, as evidenced by
the return receipts.
(10) The owner
or operator may cancel the bond if the Department has given prior written
consent. The Department will provide such written consent when:
(i) An owner or operator substitutes
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section; or,
(ii) The Department releases the owner or
operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with
Section264.145(i)(i).
(11) The surety will not be liable for
deficiencies in the performance of post-closure care by the owner or operator
after the Department releases the owner or operator from the requirements of
this section in accordance with Section264.145(i)(i).
(d) Postclosure letter of credit.
(1) An owner or operator may satisfy the
requirements of this section by obtaining an irrevocable standby letter of
credit which conforms to the requirements of this paragraph and submitting the
letter to the Department. An owner or operator of a new facility must submit
the letter of credit to the Department at least 60 days before the date on
which hazardous waste is first received for disposal. The letter of credit must
be effective before this initial receipt of hazardous waste. The issuing
institution must be an entity which has the authority to issue letters of
credit and whose letter-of-credit operations are regulated and examined by a
Federal or State agency.
(2) The
wording of the letter of credit must be identical to the wording specified in
264.151(d). (revised 12/92)
(3) An
owner or operator who uses a letter of credit to satisfy the requirements of
this section must also establish a standby trust fund. Under the terms of the
letter of credit, all amounts paid pursuant to a draft by the Department will
be deposited by the issuing institution directly into the standby trust fund in
accordance with instructions from the Department. This standby trust fund must
meet the requirements of the trust fund specified in Section264.145(a)(a)
above, except that:
(i) An originally signed
duplicate of the trust agreement must be submitted to the Department with the
letter of credit; and,
(ii) Unless
the standby trust fund is funded pursuant to the requirements of this section,
the following are not required by these regulations:
(A) Payments into the trust fund as specified
in Section264.145(a)(a) above;
(B)
;Updating of Schedule A of the trust agreement (see Section264.151(a)(a) below)
to show current post-closure cost estimates;
(C) Annual valuations as required by the
trust agreement; and,
(D) Notices
of nonpayment as required by the trust agreement.
(4) The letter of credit must be accompanied
by a letter from the owner or operator referring to the letter of credit by
number, issuing institution, and date, and providing the following information:
the EPA Identification Number, name, and address of the facility, and the
amount of funds assured for post-closure care of the facility by the letter of
credit.
(5) The letter of credit
must be irrevocable and issued for a period of at least 1 year. The letter of
credit must provide that the expiration date will be automatically extended for
a period of at least 1 year unless, at least 120 days before the current
expiration date, the issuing institution notifies both the owner or operator
and the Department by certified mail of a decision not to extend the expiration
date. Under the terms of the letter of credit, the 120 days will begin on the
date when both the owner or operator and the Department have received the
notice, as evidenced by the return receipts.
(6) The letter of credit must be issued in an
amount at least equal to the current post-closure cost estimate, except as
provided in Section264.145(g)(g) below.
(7) Whenever the current post-closure cost
estimate increases to an amount greater than the amount of the credit during
the operating life of the facility, the owner or operator, within 60 days after
the increase, must either cause the amount of the credit to be increased so
that it at least equals the current post-closure cost estimate and submit
evidence of such increase to the Department, or obtain other financial
assurance as specified in this section to cover the increase. Whenever the
current post-closure cost estimate decreases during the operating life of the
facility, the amount of the credit may be reduced to the amount of the current
post-closure cost estimate following written approval by the
Department.
(8) During the period
of post-closure care, the Department may approve a decrease in the amount of
the letter of credit if the owner or operator demonstrates to the Department
that the amount exceeds the remaining cost of post-closure care.
(9) Following a final administrative
determination pursuant to SCHWMA 44-56-140 and section3008 of RCRA that the
owner or operator has failed to perform postclosure care in accordance with the
approved postclosure plan and other permit requirements, the Department may
draw on the letter of credit.
(10)
If the owner or operator does not establish alternate financial assurance as
specified in this section and obtain written approval of such alternate
assurance from the Department within 90 days after receipt by both the owner or
operator and the Department of a notice from the issuing institution that it
has decided not to extend the letter of credit beyond the current expiration
date, the Department will draw on the letter of credit. The Department may
delay the drawing if the issuing institution grants an extension of the term of
the credit. During the last 30 days of any such extension the Department will
draw on the letter of credit if the owner or operator has failed to provide
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section and obtain written
approval of such assurance from the Department.
(11) The Department will return the letter of
credit to the issuing institution for termination when:
(i) An owner or operator substitutes
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section; or,
(ii) The Department releases the owner or
operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with
Section264.145(i)(i) below.
(e) Postclosure insurance.
(1) An owner or operator may satisfy the
requirements of this section by obtaining post-closure insurance which conforms
to the requirements of this paragraph and submitting a certificate of such
insurance to the Department. An owner or operator of a new facility must submit
the certificate of insurance to the Department at least 60 days before the date
on which hazardous waste is first received for disposal. The insurance must be
effective before this initial receipt of hazardous waste. At a minimum, the
insurer must be licensed to transact the business of insurance, or eligible to
provide insurance as an excess or surplus lines insurer, in one or more
States.
(2) The wording of the
certificate of insurance must be identical to the wording specified in
264.151(e). (revised 12/92)
(3) The
post-closure insurance policy must be issued for a face amount at least equal
to the current post-closure cost estimate, except as provided in
Section264.145(g)(g). The term "face amount" means the total amount the insurer
is obligated to pay under the policy. Actual payments by the insurer will not
change the face amount, although the insurer's future liability will be lowered
by the amount of the payments.
(4)
The post closure insurance policy must guarantee that funds will be available
to provide post-closure care of the facility whenever the post-closure period
begins. The policy must also guarantee that once post-closure care begins, the
insurer will be responsible for paying out funds, up to an amount equal to the
face amount of the policy, upon the direction of the Department, to such party
or parties as the Department specifies.
(5) An owner or operator or any other person
authorized to conduct post-closure care may request reimbursements for
post-closure care expenditures by submitting itemized bills to the Department.
Within 60 days after receiving bills for post-closure care activities, the
Department will instruct the insurer to make reimbursements in those amounts as
the Department specifies in writing, if the Department determines that the
post-closure care expenditures are in accordance with the approved post-closure
plan or otherwise justified. If the Department does not instruct the insurer to
make such reimbursements it will provide the owner or operator with a detailed
written statement of reasons.
(6)
The owner or operator must maintain the policy in full force and effect until
the Department consents to termination of the policy by the owner or operator
as specified in paragraph (e)(11) of this section. Failure to pay the premium,
without substitution of alternate financial assurance as specified in this
section, will constitute a significant violation of these regulations,
warranting such remedy as the Department deems necessary. Such violation will
be deemed to begin upon receipt by the Department of a notice of future
cancellation, termination, or failure to renew due to nonpayment of the
premium, rather than upon the date of expiration.
(7) Each policy must contain a provision
allowing assignment of the policy to a successor owner or operator. Such
assignment may be conditional upon consent of the insurer, provided such
consent is not unreasonably refused.
(8) The policy must provide that the insurer
may not cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy except for failure to
pay the premium. The automatic renewal of the policy must, at a minimum,
provide the insured with the option of renewal at the face amount of the
expiring policy. If there is a failure to pay the premium, the insurer may
elect to cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy by sending notice by
certified mail to the owner or operator and the Department. Cancellation,
termination, or failure to renew may not occur, however, during the 120 days
beginning with the date of receipt of the notice by both the Department and the
owner or operator, as evidenced by the return receipts. Cancellation,
termination, or failure to renew may not occur and the policy will remain in
full force and effect in the event that on or before the date of expiration:
(i) The Department deems the facility
abandoned; or,
(ii) The permit is
terminated or revoked or a new permit is denied; or,
(iii) Closure is ordered by the Department or
a State court or other court of competent jurisdiction; or,
(iv) The owner or operator is named as debtor
in a voluntary or involuntary proceeding under Title 11 (Bankruptcy), U.S.
Code; or,
(v) The premium due is
paid.
(9) Whenever the
current post-closure cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the face
amount of the policy during the operating life of the facility, the owner or
operator, within 60 days after the increase, must either cause the face amount
to be increased to an amount at least equal to the current post-closure cost
estimate and submit evidence of such increase to the Department, or obtain
other financial assurance as specified in this section to cover the increase.
Whenever the current post-closure cost estimate decreases during the operating
life of the facility, the face amount may be reduced to the amount of the
current post-closure cost estimate following written approval by the
Department.
(10) Commencing on the
date that liability to make payments pursuant to the policy accrues, the
insurer will thereafter annually increase the face amount of the policy. Such
increase must be equivalent to the face amount of the policy, less any payments
made, multiplied by an amount equivalent to 85 percent of the most recent
investment rate or of the equivalent coupon-issue yield announced by the U.S.
Treasury for 26-week Treasury securities.
(11) The Department will give written consent
to the owner or operator that he may terminate the insurance policy when:
(i) An owner or operator substitutes
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section; or,
(ii) The Department releases the owner or
operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with
Section264.145(i)(i).
(f) Financial test and corporate guarantee
for postclosure care.
(1) An owner or operator
may satisfy the requirements of this section by demonstrating that he passes a
financial test as specified in this paragraph. To pass this test the owner or
operator must meet the criteria of either paragraph (f)(1)(i) or (f)(1)(ii) of
this section:
(i) The owner or operator must
have:
(A) Two of the following three ratios:
a ratio of total liabilities to net worth less than 2.0; a ratio of the sum of
net income plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization to total liabilities
greater than 0.1; and a ratio of current assets to current liabilities greater
than 1.5; and,
(B) Net working
capital and tangible net worth each at least six times the sum of the current
closure and post-closure cost estimate and the current plugging and abandonment
cost estimates; and
(C) Tangible
net worth of at least $10 million; and,
(D) Assets in the United States amounting to
at least 90 percent of his total assets or at least six times the sum of the
current closure and post-closure cost estimates and the current plugging and
abandonment cost estimates.
(ii) The owner or operator must have:
(A) A current rating for his most recent bond
issuance of the AAA, AA, A, or BBB as issued by Standard and Poor's or Aaa, Aa,
A or Baa as issued by Moody's; and,
(B) Tangible net worth at least six times the
sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates and the current
plugging and abandonment cost estimates; and
(C) Tangible net worth of at least $10
million; and,
(D) Assets located in
the United States amounting to at least 90 percent of his total assets or at
least six times the sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates
and the current plugging and abandonment cost estimates.
(2) The phrase "current closure
and post-closure cost estimates" as used in paragraph (f)(1) of this section
refers to the cost estimates required to be shown in paragraphs 1-4 of the
letter from the owner's or operator's chief financial officer
[Section264.151(f)(f)]. The phrase "current plugging and abandonment cost
estimates" as used in paragraph (f)(1) of this section refers to the cost
estimates required to be shown in paragraphs 1-4 of the letter from the owner's
or operator's chief financial officer.
(3) To demonstrate that he meets this test,
the owner or operator must submit the following items to the Department:
(i) A letter signed by the owner's or
operator's chief financial officer and worded as specified in 264.151(f);
(revised 12/92) and
(ii) A copy of
the independent certified public accountant's report on examination of the
owner's or operator's financial statements for the latest completed fiscal
year; and,
(iii) A special report
from the owner's or operator's independent certified public accountant to the
owner or operator stating that:
(A) He has
compared the data which the letter from the chief financial officer specifies
as having been derived from the independently audited, year-end financial
statements for the latest fiscal year with the amounts in such financial
statements; and,
(B) In connection
with that procedure, no matters came to his attention which caused him to
believe that the specified data should be adjusted.
(4) An owner or operator of a new
facility must submit the items specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this section to
the Department at least 60 days before the date on which hazardous waste is
first received for disposal.
(5)
After the initial submission of items specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this
section, the owner or operator must send updated information to the Department
within 90 days after the close of each succeeding fiscal year. This information
must consist of all three items specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this
section.
(6) If the owner or
operator no longer meets the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this section,
he must send notice to the Department of intent to establish alternate
financial assurance as specified in this section. The notice must be sent by
certified mail within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year for which the
year-end financial data show that the owner or operator no longer meets the
requirements. The owner or operator must provide the alternate financial
assurance within 120 days after the end of such fiscal year.
(7) The Department may, based on a reasonable
belief that the owner or operator may no longer meet the requirements of
paragraph (f)(1) of this section, require reports of financial condition at any
time from the owner or operator in addition to those specified in paragraph
(f)(3) of this section. If the Department finds, on the basis of such reports
or other information, that the owner or operator no longer meets the
requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the owner or operator must
provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this section within 30
days after notification of such a finding.
(8) The Department may disallow use of this
test on the basis of qualifications in the opinion expressed by the independent
certified public accountant in his report on examination of the owner's or
operator's financial statements (see paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section). An
adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion will be cause for disallowance. The
Department will evaluate other qualifications on an individual basis. The owner
or operator must provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this
section within 30 days after notification of the disallowance.
(9) During the period of post-closure care,
the Department may approve a decrease in the current post-closure cost estimate
for which this test demonstrates financial assurance if the owner or operator
demonstrates to the Department that the amount of the cost estimate exceeds the
remaining cost of post-closure care.
(10) The owner or operator is no longer
required to submit the items specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this section
when:
(i) An owner or operator substitutes
alternate financial assurance as specified in this section; or,
(ii) The Department releases the owner or
operator from the requirements of this section in accordance with
Section264.145(i)(i).
(11) An owner or operator may meet the
requirements of this section by obtaining a written guarantee. The guarantor
must be the direct or higher-tier parent corporation of the owner or operator,
a firm whose parent corporation is also the parent corporation of the owner or
operator, or a firm with a "substantial business relationship" with the owner
or operator. The guarantor must meet the requirements for owners or operators
in paragraphs (f)(1) through (9) of this section and must comply with the terms
of the guarantee. The wording of the guarantee must be identical to the wording
specified in 264.151(h). A certified copy of the guarantee must accompany the
items sent to the Department as specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this section.
One of these items must be the letter from the guarantors chief financial
officer. If the guarantors parent corporation is also the parent corporation of
the owner or operator, the letter must describe the value received in
consideration of the guarantee. If the guarantor is a firm with a "substantial
business relationship" with the owner or operator, this letter must describe
this "substantial business relationship" and the value received in
consideration of the guarantee. The terms of the guarantee must provide that:
(revised 12/93)
(i) If the owner or operator
fails to perform post-closure care of a facility covered by the corporate
guarantee in accordance with the post-closure plan and other permit
requirements whenever required to do so, the guarantor will do so or establish
a trust fund as specified in Section264.145(a)(a) in the name of the owner or
operator.
(ii) The corporate
guarantee will remain in force unless the guarantor sends notice of
cancellation by certified mail to the owner or operator and to the Department.
Cancellation may not occur, however, during the 120 days beginning on the date
of receipt of the notice of cancellation by both the owner or operator and the
Department, as evidenced by the return receipts.
(iii) If the owner or operator fails to
provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this section and obtain
the written approval of such alternate assurance from the Department within 90
days after receipt by both the owner or operator and the Department of a notice
of cancellation of the corporate guarantee from the guarantor, the guarantor
will provide such alternate financial assurance in the name of the owner or
operator.
(g)
Use of multiple financial mechanisms. An owner or operator may satisfy the
requirements of this section by establishing more than one financial mechanism
per facility. These mechanisms are limited to surety bonds guaranteeing payment
into a trust fund, letters of credit, and insurance. The mechanisms must be as
specified in paragraphs , (b), (d), and (e), respectively, of this section,
except that it is the combination of mechanisms, rather than the single
mechanism, which must provide financial assurance for an amount at least equal
to the current postclosure cost estimate. A single standby trust fund may be
established for two or more mechanisms. The Department may use any or all of
the mechanisms to provide for postclosure care of the facility. (revised
5/93)
(h) Use of a financial
mechanism for multiple facilities. An owner or operator may use a financial
assurance mechanism specified in this section to meet the requirements of this
section for more than one facility. Evidence of financial assurance submitted
to the Department must include a list showing, for each facility, the EPA
Identification Number, name, address, and the amount of funds for post-closure
care assured by the mechanism. The amount of funds available through the
mechanism must be no less than the sum of funds that would be available if a
separate mechanism had been established and maintained for each facility. In
directing funds available through the mechanism for post-closure care of any of
the facilities covered by the mechanism, the department may direct only the
amount of funds designed for that facility, unless the owner or operator agrees
to the use of additional funds available under the mechanism.
(i) Release of the owner or operator from the
requirements of this section. Within 60 days after receiving certifications
from the owner or operator and a qualified Professional Engineer that the
postclosure care period has been completed for a hazardous waste disposal unit
in accordance with the approved plan, the Department will notify the owner or
operator that he is no longer required to maintain financial assurance for
postclosure of that unit, unless the Department has reason to believe that
postclosure care has not been in accordance with the approved postclosure plan.
The Department shall provide the owner or operator a detailed written statement
of any such reason to believe that postclosure care has not been in accordance
with the approved postclosure plan.