Rule2024-26922

Tennessee: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
November 20, 2024
Effective
January 21, 2025

Issuing agencies

Environmental Protection Agency

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action on the authorization of changes to Tennessee's hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. These changes were outlined in a December 8, 2023, application to the EPA. We have determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed for final authorization.

Full Text

<html>
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)</title>
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<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 91574-91578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26922]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 271

[EPA-R04-RCRA-2024-0451; FRL-12278-01-R4]


Tennessee: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste 
Management Program Revisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final action.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct 
final action on the authorization of changes to Tennessee's hazardous 
waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 
as amended. These changes were outlined in a December 8, 2023, 
application to the EPA. We have determined that these changes satisfy 
all requirements needed for final authorization.

[[Page 91575]]


DATES: This authorization is effective on January 21, 2025 without 
further notice unless the EPA receives adverse comment by December 20, 
2024. If the EPA receives adverse comment, we will either publish a 
timely withdrawal of this direct final action in the Federal Register 
informing the public that the authorization will not take effect, or we 
will publish a notification containing a response to comments that 
either reverses the decision or affirms that the final action will take 
effect. In the event that the final action is withdrawn, we would 
address all public comments and make a final decision on authorization 
in a subsequent final action.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
RCRA-2024-0451, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets</a>.
    The EPA encourages electronic submittals and lists all publicly 
available docket materials electronically at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. If 
you are unable to make electronic submittals or require alternative 
access to docket materials, please notify Robin Billings through the 
provided contacts in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. 
Please also contact Robin Billings if you need assistance in a language 
other than English or if you are a person with disabilities who needs a 
reasonable accommodation at no cost to you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Billings; RCRA Programs and 
Cleanup Branch; Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division; U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency; Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth 
Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960; telephone number: (404) 562-
8515; fax number: (404) 562-9964; email address: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1c3c8cdcdc8cfc6d28fd3cec3c8cfe1c4d1c08fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94f6fdf8f8fdfaf3e7bae6fbf6fdfad4f1e4f5baf3fbe2">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why is the EPA using a direct final action?

    The EPA is publishing this action without a prior proposed rule 
because we view this as a noncontroversial action and anticipate no 
adverse comment. This action is a routine program change. However, in 
the ``Proposed Rules'' section of this Federal Register, we are 
publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposed rule 
allowing the public an opportunity to comment. We will not institute a 
second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in 
commenting must do so at this time. For further information about 
commenting on this action, see the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    If the EPA receives adverse comments, we will either withdraw this 
action by publishing a document in the Federal Register before the 
action becomes effective, or we will publish a notification containing 
a response to comments that either reverses the decision or affirms 
that the final action will take effect. In the event that the final 
action is withdrawn, the EPA would base any further decision on the 
authorization of the State's program changes on the proposal mentioned 
in the previous paragraph and after consideration of all comments 
received during the comment period. We would address all public 
comments and make a final decision on authorization in a subsequent 
final action.

II. 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 title 40 of the 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 they take effect in unauthorized States. Thus, the EPA 
will implement those requirements and prohibitions in Tennessee, 
including the issuance of new permits implementing those requirements, 
until the State is granted authorization to do so.

III. What decisions has the EPA made in this action?

    Tennessee submitted a complete program revision application (PRA), 
dated December 8, 2023, seeking authorization of changes to its 
hazardous waste program corresponding to certain Federal rules 
promulgated between December 1, 1987, and June 30, 2022 (including HSWA 
Cluster II \1\ (Checklist \2\ 44C only) and RCRA Clusters XXVII 
(Checklist 241 only) and XXX). Additionally, Tennessee included, in its 
PRA, amendments to provisions that had been excluded from previously 
authorized checklists in parts of Clusters XVI, XVII, XXIII, XXIV, and 
XXV. The EPA concludes that Tennessee's application to revise its 
authorized program meets all of the statutory and regulatory 
requirements established under RCRA, as set forth in RCRA section 
3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), and 40 CFR part 271. Therefore, the EPA 
grants Tennessee final authorization to operate its hazardous waste 
program with the changes described in the PRA and as outlined below in 
section VI of this document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A ``Cluster'' is a grouping of hazardous waste rules that 
the EPA promulgates from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the 
following year.
    \2\ A ``checklist'' is developed by the EPA for each Federal 
rule amending the RCRA regulations. The checklists document the 
changes made by each Federal rule and are presented and numbered in 
chronological order by date of promulgation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tennessee 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 PRA, subject to the limitations of 
HSWA, as discussed above.

IV. What is the effect of this authorization decision?

    The effect of this decision is that the changes described in 
Tennessee's PRA as outlined below and in section VI of this document 
will become part of the authorized State hazardous waste program and 
will therefore be federally enforceable. Tennessee will continue to 
have primary enforcement authority and responsibility for its State 
hazardous waste program. The EPA will maintain

[[Page 91576]]

its authorities under RCRA sections 3007, 3008, 3013, and 7003, 
including its authority to:
    <bullet> Conduct inspections, and require monitoring, tests, 
analyses, and reports;
    <bullet> Enforce RCRA requirements, including authorized State 
program requirements, and suspend or revoke permits; and
    <bullet> Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State 
has taken its own actions.
    This action does not impose additional requirements on the 
regulated community because the regulations for which the EPA is 
authorizing Tennessee are already effective under State law and are not 
changed by this action.

V. What has Tennessee previously been authorized for?

    Tennessee initially received final authorization on January 22, 
1985, effective February 5, 1985 (50 FR 2820), to implement the RCRA 
hazardous waste management program. The EPA granted authorization for 
changes to Tennessee 's program on the following dates: June 12, 1987, 
effective August 11, 1987 (52 FR 22443); June 1, 1992, effective July 
31, 1992 (57 FR 23063); May 8, 1995, effective July 7, 1995 (60 FR 
22524); August 24, 1995, effective October 23, 1995 (60 FR 43979); May 
23, 1996, effective July 22, 1996 (61 FR 25796); January 30, 1998, 
effective March 31, 1998 (63 FR 4587); September 15, 1999, effective 
November 15, 1999 (64 FR 49998); October 26, 2000, effective December 
26, 2000 (65 FR 64161); December 26, 2001, effective February 25, 2002 
(66 FR 66342); April 11, 2003, effective June 10, 2003 (68 FR 17748); 
March 14, 2005, effective May 13, 2005 (70 FR 12416); May 11, 2006, 
effective July 10, 2006 (71 FR 27405); October 5, 2012, effective 
December 4, 2012 (77 FR 60919); March 20, 2015, effective May 19, 2015 
(80 FR 14847); and July 13, 2022, effective September 12, 2022 (87 FR 
41610).

VI. What changes is the EPA authorizing with this action?

    Tennessee submitted a complete PRA, dated December 8, 2023, seeking 
authorization of changes to its hazardous waste management program in 
accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. This application included changes 
associated with Checklists 44C, 241, and 244 from HSWA Cluster II and 
RCRA Clusters XXVII and XXX. The EPA is authorizing all of these 
changes.
    The PRA also included revisions to Checklists 212, 214, 231, 233B, 
233D2, 233E, and 237. Tennessee was previously authorized for these 
Checklists in the September 12, 2022, Final Authorization (87 FR 
41610); however, certain provisions of the Tennessee regulations 
associated with these Checklists included omissions or errors that 
required correction. Tennessee has corrected these omissions and errors 
and has submitted the corrected provisions for authorization. The EPA 
is authorizing all but two \3\ of these revised provisions.
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    \3\ The changes to both Rule 0400-12-01.09(8)(a)2(iii) from 
Checklist 212, and Rule 0400-12-01-.02 (29)(a)1, from Checklist 
233E, are not being authorized due to inaccuracies in the state 
regulatory text. The prior versions of each of these provisions were 
authorized in the September 12, 2022, Final Authorization (87 FR 
41610). Tennessee will correct these inaccuracies in a future 
rulemaking.
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    The EPA has determined, subject to receipt of written comments that 
oppose this action, that Tennessee'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 grants 
final authorization to Tennessee for the following program changes:

A. Newly Submitted Checklists

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description of Federal       Federal Register     Analogous state
          requirement             date and page        authority \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checklist 44C, Corrective       52 FR 45788, 12/1/ 0400-12-01-.05(1)(b)2
 Action for Injection Wells.     1987.              (ix) [reserved]; and
                                                    0400-12-01-.07(1)(c)
                                                    1(ii)(III)I and II.
Checklist 241, Management       84 FR 5816, 02/22/ 0400-12-01-.02(1)(d)1
 Standards for Hazardous Waste   2019.              (i)(II) and (1)(g)3;
 Pharmaceuticals and Amendment                      0400-12-01-.02(4)(d)
 to the P075 Listing for                            3, (4)(d)3 Comment,
 Nicotine.                                          and (4)(d)5 Table;
                                                    0400-12-01-.03(1)(a)
                                                    2(xii),
                                                    (1)(a)2(xiii)(I)
                                                    through (III),
                                                    (1)(d)3(x),
                                                    (1)(e)1(v)(IX), and
                                                    (1)(e)1(v)(X); 0400-
                                                    12-01-.06(1)(b)2(xi)
                                                    ; 0400-12-01-
                                                    .05(1)(b)2(xiii);
                                                    0400-12-01-.09(16);
                                                    0400-12-01-.10(1)(g)
                                                    , (1)(g)1, and
                                                    (4)(a)1(iv) and (v);
                                                    0400-12-01-.07(1)(b)
                                                    4(x); and 0400-12-01-
                                                    .12(7)(a)1 and
                                                    (7)(a)4.
Checklist 244, Canada Import    86 FR 54381, 10/   0400-12-01-.03(9)(b),
 Export Recovery and Disposal    01/2021.           (9)(d)2(iii),
 Code Changes.                                      (9)(d)6(vi),
                                                    (9)(d)6(vi)(I) and
                                                    (II), (9)(e)2(ii),
                                                    (9)(e)6(v),
                                                    (9)(e)7(ii), and
                                                    (9)(e)8(ii)(III);
                                                    0400-12-01-.06(2)(c)
                                                    1(iv)(II); and 0400-
                                                    12-01-.05(2)(c)1(iv)
                                                    (II).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Tennessee regulatory citations are from the Tennessee Rules of
  the Division of Solid Waste Management (Hazardous Waste Program),
  Chapter 0400-12-01. Citations to Rules .02, .03, .05-.07, .09, and .10
  within this Chapter refer to the regulatory text revised as of
  September 2022. Citations to Rule .12 within this Chapter refer to the
  regulatory text revised as of April 2022.

B. Revisions to Previously Authorized Checklists

    Tennessee was authorized for each of the Checklists in the table 
below as a part of the Final Authorization effective September 12, 2022 
(87 FR 41610), although certain provisions contained omissions or 
errors that required correction. Tennessee is submitting its revisions 
to these previously authorized provisions, and the EPA is authorizing 
them here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description of Federal       Federal Register     Analogous state
          requirement             date and page        authority \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checklist 212, National         70 FR 59402, 10/   0400-12-01-.06(15)(a)
 Emission Standards for          12/2005.           2(i) and (iii); 0400-
 Hazardous Air Pollutants:                          12-01-.05(15)(a)2(i)
 Final Standards for Hazardous                      ; 0400-12-01-
 Air Pollutants for Hazardous                       .09(8)(a)2(i); 0400-
 Waste Combustors (Phase I                          12-01-.07(2)(h),
 Final Replacement Standards                        (2)(h)1, (2)(h)1(i)
 and Phase II).                                     through (ix),\2\ and
                                                    (2)(h)2 (removed);
                                                    0400-12-01-.07(5)(b)
                                                    5(v), (5)(b)8,
                                                    (5)(b)10(iv)(III),
                                                    and
                                                    (5)(b)11(v)(III);
                                                    0400-12-01-.07(8)(b)
                                                    2(iii); 0400-12-01-
                                                    .07(9)(c)5(x)(I)
                                                    through (III),
                                                    (9)(c)5(xi)(I),
                                                    (9)(c)5(xi)(I) I and
                                                    II, (9)(c)5(xi)(I)
                                                    IV, and
                                                    (9)(c)5(xi)(II), and
                                                    (9)(c)5(xi)(II) I;
                                                    0400-12-01-.07(10)(l
                                                    )10; 0400-12-01-
                                                    .07(1)(e) and
                                                    (1)(j); and 0400-12-
                                                    01-.07(12)(a)1(i)-(i
                                                    i), (12)(a)2(i), and
                                                    (12)(a)3.

[[Page 91577]]

 
Checklist 214, Corrections to   71 FR 40254, 7/14/ 0400-12-01-.05(14)(b)
 Errors in the Code of Federal   2006.              4(i); \3\ and 0400-
 Regulations.                                       12-01-.10(3)(f)
                                                    table 1.
Checklist 231, Hazardous Waste  79 FR 7518, 2/7/   0400-12-01-.01(7)(a)1
 Electronic Manifest System;     2014.              (i)(II).
 Final Rule.
Checklist 233B, Legitimacy-     80 FR 1694, 1/13/  0400-12-01-.01(5)(d)2
 related provisions, including   2015.              and (5)(d)2(ii).\4\
 prohibition of sham
 recycling, definition of
 legitimacy, definition of
 contained.
Checklist 233D2, 2008 DSW       80 FR 1694, 1/13/  0400-12-01-.01(2)(a)
 exclusions and non-waste        2015; 83 FR        Definition of
 determinations, including       24664, 5/30/2018.  ``Facility''; and
 revisions from 2015 DSW final                      0400-12-01-.02(13)(b
 rule and 2018 DSW final rule.                      )5, (13)(b)6(i),
                                                    (13)(b)6(ii),
                                                    (13)(c), (13)(c)2,
                                                    (13)(c)3,
                                                    (13)(c)4(iii),
                                                    (13)(d),
                                                    (13)(d)1(i),
                                                    (13)(d)2(ii), and
                                                    (13)(d)6(viii)(II).\
                                                    5\
Checklist 233E,                 80 FR 1694, 1/13/  0400-12-01-.02(1)(d)1
 Remanufacturing exclusion.      2015.              (xxvii)(VI) II E and
                                                    (1)(d)1(xxvii)(VI)
                                                    V; 0400-12-01-
                                                    .02(10)(d)1 Note and
                                                    (10)(g) Notes; 0400-
                                                    12-01-.02(27)(a),
                                                    (27)(d)14(i)(II),\6\
                                                    and
                                                    (27)(d)14(i)(III);
                                                    0400-12-01-.02(28)(a
                                                    )1; and 0400-12-01-
                                                    .02(29)(b).
Checklist 237, Hazardous Waste  81 FR 85732, 11/   0400-12-01-.03(1)(a)2
 Generator Improvements Rule.    28/2016.           (i)(II); 0400-12-01-
                                                    .03(12)(j)4
                                                    (removed).\7\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Tennessee regulatory citations are from the Tennessee Rules of
  the Division of Solid Waste Management (Hazardous Waste Program),
  Chapter 0400-12-01. Citations to Rules .01-.03, .05-.07, .09, and .10
  within this Chapter refer to the regulatory text revised as of
  September 2023.
\2\ The subparts of 0400-12-01-.07(2)(h)1 were also renumbered by the
  State, but the contents of the Part did not change as a result of the
  renumbering.
\3\ Rule 0400-12-01.05(14)(b)4(i) was noted in the 2022 Final
  Authorization to have an incorrect cross-reference to Rule 0400-12-01-
  .02(3)(d). It has now been corrected to properly refer to Rule 0400-12-
  01-.02(3)(e).
\4\ In the 2022 Final Authorization, these two provisions were
  authorized, but it was noted that the parenthetical notes about
  legitimate recycling that accompanied each provision at that time were
  unclear and would be removed or clarified by Tennessee in a subsequent
  rulemaking. Both parenthetical notes have now been removed, and the
  EPA is re-authorizing both provisions without them.
\5\ Several subsections throughout Paragraph 13 of Rule 0400-12-01-.02
  that were noted in the 2022 Final Authorization have been clarified
  with respect to the management of hazardous secondary materials.
\6\ Tennessee Rule 0400-12-01-.02(27)(d)14(i)(II) was noted in the 2022
  Final Authorization to have incorrect cross-references to Paragraphs
  (30) and (32) of Rule 0400-12-01-.06. They have now been corrected to
  properly refer to Rules 0400-12-01-.02(27) and (29).
\7\ Tennessee Rule 0400-12-01-.03(12)(j)4 was noted in the 2022 Final
  Authorization as containing an incorrect waiver that would need to be
  excluded in a subsequent rulemaking. Tennessee has now properly
  removed it from its regulations.

VII. Where are the revised State rules different than the Federal 
rules?

    When revised State rules differ from the Federal rules in the RCRA 
state authorization process, the 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. There are no State requirements in the program revisions 
listed in the tables above that are considered to be broader in scope 
than the Federal requirements. The EPA has determined that certain 
regulations included in Tennessee's program revisions listed in the 
first table above are more stringent than the Federal program. These 
more stringent requirements will become part of the federally 
enforceable RCRA program in Tennessee when authorized.
    Tennessee's program is more stringent than the Federal program at 
0400-12-01-.09(16)(c)1(i)(I); 0400-12-01-.09(16)(c)9(i); 0400-12-
01-.09(16)(d)4; and 0400-12-01-.09(16)(k)3(ix)(I)--in each case because 
the Tennessee program requires annual reporting instead of biennial 
reporting.
    It should be noted that States cannot receive authorization for 
certain Federal regulatory functions involving international shipments 
(i.e., import and export provisions) such as those associated with the 
Canada Import Export Recovery and Disposal Code Changes Rule (Checklist 
244). Although Tennessee has adopted these rules to maintain its 
equivalency with the Federal program, it has appropriately maintained 
the Federal references.

VIII. Who handles permits after the authorization takes effect?

    When final authorization takes effect, Tennessee will issue permits 
for all the provisions for which it is authorized and will administer 
the permits it issues. The EPA will continue to administer any RCRA 
hazardous waste permits or portions of permits that the EPA issued 
prior to the effective date of authorization until they expire or are 
terminated. The EPA will not issue any new permits or new portions of 
permits for the provisions listed in the table above after the 
effective date of the final authorization. The EPA will continue to 
implement and issue permits for HSWA requirements for which Tennessee 
is not yet authorized. The EPA has the authority to enforce State-
issued permits after the State is authorized.

IX. What is codification and is the EPA codifying Tennessee's hazardous 
waste program as authorized in this action?

    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. The EPA does this by adding those citations and references 
to the authorized State rules in 40 CFR part 272. The EPA is not 
codifying the authorization of Tennessee's revisions at this time. 
However, the EPA reserves the ability to amend 40 CFR part 272, subpart 
RR, for the authorization of Tennessee's program changes at a later 
date.

[[Page 91578]]

X. 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 14094 (88 FR 21879, April 11, 2023) regulatory action 
because actions such as the authorization of Tennessee'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 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 issuing this rule, 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 18, 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.
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. The EPA will submit a report containing this document 
and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect 
until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This 
action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). This 
final action will be effective January 21, 2025.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 271

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Confidential business information, Hazardous waste, Hazardous waste 
transportation, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: This action is issued under the authority of sections 
2002(a), 3006, and 7004(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912(a), 6926, and 6974(b).

    Dated: November 6, 2024.
Jeaneanne Gettle,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2024-26922 Filed 11-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on November 20, 2024.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.