Dear Mr. Lafser:
This letter, and the attached Memorandum Opinion prepared by my assistant, Dan Summers, which I approve, constitute the Attorney General's statement required by 40 CFR 123.125 as part of the Application for Interim Authorization submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources pursuant to
Sincerely,
MEMORANDUM OPINIONJOHN ASHCROFT Attorney General
TO: John Ashcroft, Attorney General
FROM: Dan Summers, Assistant Attorney General
DATE: January 31, 1983
RE: Opinion Request No. 41
The Director of the Department of Natural Resources has asked this office to provide our opinion whether the state program for the regulation of the generation, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes under §§
Interim authorization has been divided by EPA into four parts, denominated as Phase I, and Phase II, Components A, B and C. Phase I refers to the identification and listing of hazardous wastes, regulation of the generation and transportation of those wastes, and the regulation of treatment, storage and disposal facilities under interim status regulations found at
This memorandum was developed in the format requested by EPA. Each of the statements appearing as a part or subpart heading is found in the EPA format furnished us. A few minor changes have been made in these statements for the purpose of clarity, due to the fact that EPA realigned the grouping of facilities within the various components of Phase II after the format was furnished to us. Parts I through VIII of this memorandum deal with Phase I of the federal program, whereas Parts IX through XI deal with Phase II, Components A and B.
PREFATORY NOTE AS TO DATE OF ENABLING LEGISLATION
The State of Missouri undertook to regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste in §§
In 1980, the Missouri Legislature adopted H.B. 5, 6 and 4, 80th General Assembly, Second Extraordinary Session. H.B. 5, 6 and 4 amended every section of the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law except §§
In the format of this opinion we are asked by EPA to make a specific citation in each part or subpart to state laws discussed under that part. For the sake of brevity, all citations to Chapter 260, Revised Statutes of Missouri, will be made without reference to whether the statute appears in RSMo 1978, or in H.B. 5, 6 and 4, which is found in RSMo Supp. 1982. It should be understood throughout that §§
I. IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING
RCRA § 3001(b),
State statutes and regulations provide control over a universe of hazardous waste generated, transported, treated, stored and disposed of in the state at the time of program approval which is nearly identical to that which would be controlled by the federal program under 40 CFR 261. (See 40 CFR 123.128(a)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
260.355 ,260.360 , and260.370 ;10 CSR 25-4.010 and 5.010
Explanation of Legal Authority
A. Definition of Hazardous Waste.
The term "hazardous waste" is defined in §
B. Determining Hazardous Waste by Characteristics.
Sections
Pursuant to §
C. Determining Hazardous Waste by Reference to Published Lists
Section
The hazardous waste lists contained in
Subsections (J), (K) and (L) of
As noted above, listing of a waste in one of the lists in
D. Exclusions.
Section
Subdivision (2) of §
To date EPA has chosen to regulate emissions of hazardous wastes to the air in two contexts. Part 264 and Part 265 regulations require that wind dispersal of particulate emissions from waste piles, landfills and land treatment facilities be "controlled." These are what are commonly known as fugitive dust regulations. Subpart O of Part 264 places emission limitations on incinerators for principal organic hazardous constituents (POHCs), hydrogen chloride, and particulate matter (§ 264.343), carbon monoxide (§ 264.345(b)(1)), and fugitive emissions from the combustion zone (§ 264.345(d)).
The present Air Conservation Commission regulations address some of the air emissions regulated under the federal program. Fugitive dust is regulated under
So that the Hazardous Waste Management Commission may regulate particulate emissions from incinerators, the Air Conservation Commission is proposing to amend its incinerator regulations, to exclude hazardous waste incinerators from the particulate emission limitations contained in
Respecting fugitive emissions from waste piles, landfills and land treatment units, the Department has chosen for the present to regulate those emissions under the existing Air Conservation Commission fugitive dust regulations. Those regulations, found in an appendix to the Application for Interim Authorization, in general place three types of limitations on emissions of fugitive dust. First, they prohibit source operators from allowing particulate matter to become airborne in such quantities that it is visible in the air beyond the boundaries of the premises where it originates, or allowing particles greater than 40 microns in size to go beyond the premises boundaries. Second, the regulations prohibit persons from constructing or using buildings and appurtenances, roadways and open areas without applying all reasonable measures required to prevent particulate matter from remaining visible or being found beyond the premises where it originates. Third, ambient air concentration limitations are established for inhabited places.
The federal regulations on the subject are not as specific.
Subdivision (3) of §
The Hazardous Waste Management Commission has clarified these exclusions in
As to wastes delivered to a POTW by means other than sewers, the federal program has only a limited application. POTWs are wholly exempt from the Part 265 standards,
As to waste managed at non-public wastewater treatment facilities and elementary neutralization units, the federal program is in a state of flux. By rulemaking published at
Subdivision (4) of §
Subdivision (5) of §
Section
As to farmers generating small quantities of waste, the state and federal exclusions are identical. The Commission has adopted in
As to householders, EPA provides an exclusion in
Pursuant to §§
Subsection (6)(I) has reference to "Discarded Commercial Chemical Products, Off-Specification Species, Containers, and Spill Residues Thereof", and is Missouri's counterpart to
The only divergence between the state and federal regulations is in the treatment of some residues left in containers and inner liners. Under the federal program, the residues are regulated, but not the containers and inner liners themselves.
Under the federal program, an exclusion from regulation is provided with respect to residues remaining in a container or inner liner defined as empty.
As to residues of acutely hazardous wastes found in containers and inner liners, neither the state nor the federal regulations provide a small quantity exemption other than the one kilogram exemption found at
Consistent with the small quantity exemptions under the federal program, small quantity exemptions under the state program do not remove the waste from regulation. Instead, the waste is subject to reduced management requirements.
In addition, the small quantity generator must, under
The Commission has in
We find that the exclusions under the state statute and regulations are not substantially different than the exclusions under the federal program.
II. STANDARDS FOR GENERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
RCRA § 3002,
A. State statutes and regulations provide coverage of all the generators of hazardous waste which is regulated under the state program. (See
40 CFR Part 262 and 123.128(b)(2)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The Commission has in
With the exception of the gap in the registration requirement for accumulators of hazardous waste, noted above, the state regulations provide coverage of all the generators of hazardous waste which is regulated under the state program.
B. State statutes and regulations require all generators of waste to determine whether their waste is hazardous. (See
40 CFR 262.11 ).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
C. State statutes and regulations require all generators covered by the state program to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements substantially equivalent to those found in
40 CFR 262.40 and262.41 . (See40 CFR 262.40 and 123.128(b)(3)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
As previously noted, §
Regulation
An exception generator report is required by the state regulations when the generator does not receive the completed manifest from the treatment, storage or disposal facility within 30 days after shipment, as do the federal regulations. However, state regulations do not require a copy of those reports to be kept by the generator for three years, as does
D. For hazardous wastes that are accumulated by generators for short periods of time prior to shipment, state statutes and regulations require that such generators accumulate such wastes in a manner that does not present a hazard to human health or the environment. (See
40 CFR 262.34 and 123.128(b)(4)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
All generators of hazardous waste in Missouri are required to containerize and label all hazardous waste, segregate all hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste, incompatible waste and materials, and other potential hazards, and provide safe storage and handling, including spill protection, from the time of generation to the time of removal from the generator's site, as specified in Commission regulations. Section
The Commission has by regulation specified the requirements for on-site storage for short periods of time.
The requirements for short-term on-site storage are addressed under the federal program in
As with
The requirements of
The requirements of
Section 265.192(c) is addressed at
The state's equivalents to the remainder of
A second category, found in
A third category of wastes, covered in
In conclusion, we believe that the state regulations regarding short-term on-site storage of wastes are fully equivalent to the federal regulations on the same subject.
E. Respecting international shipments, state laws and regulations provide requirements which are substantially equivalent to those at
40 CFR 262.50 , except that advance notification of international shipments, as required by40 CFR 262.50 (b)(1), shall be filed with the Administrator. (See 40 CFR 123.128(b)(5)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Pursuant to its general rulemaking authority under §
F. State statutes and regulations require that generators of hazardous waste who transport (or offer for transport) such hazardous waste off-site use a manifest system that ensures that interstate and intrastate shipments of hazardous waste are designated for delivery and, in the case of intrastate shipments, are delivered only to facilities that are authorized to operate under an approved state program or the federal program. (See40 CFR 262.10 (a)(10),262.20 and 123.128 (b)(6)).
Citations of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
As to the transporter's role, Section
There are three exceptions to the duty to accept only waste accompanied by a proper manifest or shipping paper. First,
Under the systems described above, hazardous waste shipped off-site or offered for shipment off-site by Missouri generators must incorporate a manifest system which is designed to ensure that wastes are destined for and delivered only to those facilities authorized under the state program, the federal program, or another state's program. As to shipments destined for a facility located in Missouri, the proscriptions applicable to transporters ensure that the waste will be delivered only to the designated approved facility.
G. The state manifest system requires that:
1. The manifest itself identify the generator, transporter, designated facility to which the hazardous waste will be transported, and the hazardous waste being transported. (See40 CFR 260.10 (a)(10),262.21 , 123.128(b)(7)(i))
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
2. The manifest accompany all wastes offered for transport, except in the case of shipments by rail or water specified in40 CFR 262.23 (c) and (d) and263.20 (e) and (f). (See 40 CFR 128(b)(7)(ii)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
For shipments by rail,
For shipments by a mode other than rail or motor vehicle,
3. Shipments of hazardous waste that are not delivered to a designated facility are either identified and reported by the generator to the state in which the shipment originated or are independently identified by the state in which the shipment originated. (See40 CFR 260.10 (a)(10),262.42 and 123.128(b)(7)(iii)).
Citation to Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
4. There is notification of undelivered interstate shipments to the state in which the facility designated on the manifest is located and to any state to which the shipment may have been delivered (or to EPA for unauthorized states). (See40 CFR 260.10 (a)(10),262.42 , and 123.128(b)(8)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
None.
Explanation of Legal Authority
No provision of the Missouri statute or regulations requires the generator to notify another state in which the designated facility is located, or any state to which the waste may have been delivered, or EPA, in the case of an undelivered interstate shipment originating in Missouri. However, we understand that the Department has undertaken to provide such notifications, upon receipt of an exception generator report. We believe that this satisfies the requirement of 40 CFR 123.128 (b)(8).
III. STANDARDS FOR TRANSPORTERS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
RCRA § 3003,
A. State statutes and regulations provide coverage of all transporters of those hazardous wastes regulated under the state program. (See40 CFR 263.10 and 123.128(c)(2)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Sections
The statutes contain two exceptions to the above. Section
It should be noted that §
With the above exceptions, the state statutes and regulations provide coverage of all transporters of hazardous waste. The exceptions are consistent with the exceptions contained in the federal program.
B. State statutes and regulations require all transporters covered by the state program to comply with record keeping requirements substantially equivalent to those found at40 CFR 263.22 . (See 40 CFR 123.128(c)(3)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The record keeping requirements for transporters contained in the state regulations identified above are substantially equivalent to the federal regulations at
C. State statutes and regulations require transporters of hazardous waste to use a manifest system that ensures that interstate and intrastate shipments of hazardous waste are delivered only to facilities that are authorized under an approved state program or federal program. (See40 CFR 260.10 (a)(10),263.20 and 123.128(c)(4)).
Explanation of Legal Authority
See Part II. F., supra.
D. State statutes and regulations require that transporters carry the manifest with all shipments except in the case of shipments by rail or water specified in40 CFR 263.20 (e) and (f). (See 40 CFR 123.128(c)(5)).
Explanation of Legal Authority
See Part II.G.2, supra.
E. For hazardous wastes that are discharged in transit, state statutes and regulations require such transporters to notify appropriate state, local and federal agencies of the discharges and to clean up such wastes or to take action so that such wastes do not present a hazard to human health or the environment. Such requirements are substantially equivalent to those found at40 CFR 263.30 and263.31 . (See 40 CFR 123.128(c)(f)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
IV. STANDARDS FOR TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES.
RCRA § 3004,
State statutes and regulations provide standards applicable to treatment, storage and disposal facilities which are substantially equivalent to40 CFR Part 265 . State law prohibits the operation of facilities not in compliance with such standards in the following manner:
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The Commission has in
In addition to the standards in this rule, all hazardous waste facilities shall comply with the applicable standards set forth in40 CFR Part 265 until such time as the facility receives a permit under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, P.L.94-580 , as amended.
We read this provision of the state regulations to require that until the state is granted authorization under RCRA to issue permits to a certain type of facility, and a facility actually receives its RCRA permit, it must meet all requirements in
V. INSPECTIONS
RCRA § 3007,
A. State law provides authority for officers engaged in compliance evaluation activities to enter any conveyance, vehicle, facility or premises subject to regulation, or in which records relevant to program operations are kept, in order to inspect, monitor, copy or otherwise investigate compliance with the state program, including compliance with permit terms and conditions and other program requirements.
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
Section
Additional inspection provisions are found in other parts of the statute. Section
The above provisions constitute a broad grant of authority to the Department to enter property, conduct inspections, take samples, and inspect and copy records relating to compliance with the state program, including license and permit terms and conditions. Section
VI. ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES
RCRA § 3006,
State statutes provide the following:
A. Authority to restrain immediately by order or by suit in state court any person from engaging in any unauthorized activity which is endangering or causing damage to public health or the environment. (See 40 CFR 123.128 (f)(1)(i)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
The Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law provides a variety of remedies to the Department of Natural Resources to restrain activity which is endangering public health or the environment. Section
B. Authority to sue in courts of competent jurisdiction to enjoin violations of any program requirement. (See 40 CFR 123.128(f)(1)(ii)).
See Part VI. A, supra.
C. Authority to assess or sue to recover in court civil penalties in at least the amount of $1,000 per day for any program violation or to seek criminal fines in at least the amount of $1,000 per day for any program violation. (See 40 CFR 123.128(f)(1)(iii)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
VII. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS
RCRA § 7004,
A. The state provides for public participation in the state enforcement process by providing intervention as of right in any civil action to obtain the remedies specified in Part VI above by any citizen having an interest which is or may be adversely affected. (See 40 CFR 123.128(f)(2)(i)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
rule 52.12(a), Missouri Rules of Civil Procedures (VAMR)
Explanation of Legal Authority
Rule 52.12(a), VAMR, sets forth the circumstances where a person is permitted to intervene in an action as a matter of right. Those circumstances are as follows: (1) when a statute of this state confers an unconditional right to intervene; or (2) when the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and he is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that interest, unless the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties. Rule 52.12(a) is the same as Rule
VIII. AUTHORITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH EPA
RCRA § 3007(b),
A. State statutes and regulations provide authority for any information contained or used in the administration of the state program, including information submitted to the state under a claim of confidentiality, to be available to EPA upon request without restriction. (See 40 CFR 123.132(a)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
We note that certain information submitted to EPA under the federal program is also subject to nondisclosure requirements. Section 3007, RCRA. EPA has promulgated regulations at
The regulations at
In light of the fact that federal regulations at
Our opinion in regard to the above is premised exclusively on the protection facially afforded by
IX. STATE PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS
RCRA § 3005,
A. State statutes and regulations prohibit the operation of facilities engaged in the storage of hazardous waste in containers, in the storage or treatment of hazardous waste in tanks, or in the treatment of hazardous waste by incineration, without a permit. The state allows the above named facilities which would quality for interim status under the federal program to remain in operation pending permit action if they comply with the facility standards at40 CFR Part 265 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(b)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Sections
Regulation
As to treatment, storage and disposal facilities which qualify for interim status under federal regulations,
B. State statutes and regulations require that facilities that would be deemed to have a federal permit by rule under40 CFR 122.26 must obtain permits or are otherwise subject to fully enforceable state standards which are substantially equivalent to federal standards at40 CFR 122.26 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(f)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Missouri does not issue permits by rule. Rather,
In addition,
C. State statutes and regulations which allow exemptions from state permitting requirements do not apply to persons other than those excluded by the federal program at40 CFR 122.21 (d)(2). (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The Commission has expanded upon Section
Paragraph 2 of
Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of
D. State statutes and regulations require that permits be effective for fixed terms no greater than 10 years. (See 40 CFR 123.129(e)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
E. State statutes and regulations require that all permits contain fully enforceable conditions that are substantially equivalent to those at40 CFR 122.7 , 122.11 and122.28 (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
A comparison of
Paragraphs 7.011(2)(D)3 and (D)9 are identical to 122.7(d) and (e), respectively. Paragraph 7.011(2)(D)4 is identical to 122.7(f), except that the word "stay" in the federal regulation was changed to "preclude" in the state regulation. We are sure that the Commission intended the meaning of the condition to be the same as the meaning of the federal condition. Paragraph 7.011(2)(D)5 is identical to 122.7(g), and paragraphs 7.011(2)(D)6 and 7 are equivalent to 122.7(h) and (i), respectively.
The requirement of 122.7(j)(1) is addressed in the first sentence of 7.011(2)(D)8.A. However, we are unable to say how the phrase "at least as specified in
Subsection 7.011(6)(C) contains all of the facility reporting requirements under the state regulations, except manifest discrepancy reports (7.011(6)(A)1), and the reports required after the trial burn process for incinerators.
We find only one other type of submission covered by
The requirements of 122.7(1)(6) are addressed in equivalent fashion in 7.011(6)(C)2.B and C, except that the written incident report is required under the federal regulations to be submitted within 5 days of the incident, whereas the state regulation allows 15 days for the report to be submitted. However, we note that
40 CFR 122.11 does not specify standard conditions. Instead, it requires that all permits contain other requirements in the nature of special conditions, which we suppose must be developed on a case by case basis. The state regulation addresses these requirements in
The requirement of
The state regulations specify as permit conditions most of the provisions of
F. Where state statutes and regulations authorize permit variances, permits are required to contain enforceable requirements that compliance be attained on fixed schedules and as soon as possible. Schedules of compliance are required where immediate compliance is not required. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and 122.10).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
The general rule under the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law and implementing regulations is that a facility operator must be in compliance with all program requirements before an operating permit will be issued. Sections
There is no specific requirement in either the statute or regulations that any variance from permitting requirements contain a condition that compliance be attained on a fixed schedule, or as soon as possible. However, §
As to requiring compliance on a fixed schedule, §
G. State statutes and regulations provide that where permits are transferred, the transferee must comply with all requirements of the permit. (See 40 CFR 123.7 and 122.14).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
It is our view that under the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law, a permit may not be transferred. No mention is made in the statute of permit transfers. More importantly, §
H. State statutes and regulations authorize modification of permits where alterations are made to a facility or to activities at a facility or where new information is received. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7, 122.15(a)(1) and (2)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
The Department is given express authority in §
I. State statutes and regulations require that a facility operating in interim status amend its application where changes occur in: (i) the waste handled at the facility; (ii) processes and activities at the facility; (iii) facility ownership or operational control. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7,122.22 (c)(iii) and122.23 (c)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
Regulation
J. If the state allows the use of emergency permits, state statutes and regulations require standards for temporary emergency permits in situations of imminent and substantial endangerment to human health substantially equivalent to those at40 CFR 122.27 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
The Department has express authority to enter such orders as may be necessary in a situation of imminent hazard. Section
X. STATE PERMITTING STANDARDS
RCRA § 3004,
State statutes and regulations require that all permits issued by the state require compliance with standards substantially equivalent to federal standards at40 CFR Part 264 , Subparts A through E and G through J. These standards include:
Prefatory Note
The Department of Natural Resources has provided, at Appendix VIII of the Application for Interim Authorization, a detailed subsection by subsection comparison between the federal and state regulations. We have independently performed a detailed and careful comparison of the state regulations with
A. Preparedness for and prevention of releases of hazardous waste controlled by the state and contingency plans and emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a release of such hazardous waste. (See40 CFR Part 264 , Subparts C and D).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
Preparedness and prevention are addressed in the state regulations at
Contingency plans and emergency procedures are addressed at
B. Security to prevent unknowing and unauthorized access to the facility. (See40 CFR 264.14 ).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
C. Facility personnel training. (See
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
D. Compliance with the manifest system, including the requirement that the facility owner or operator or the state in which the facility is located must return a copy of the manifest to the generator or to the state in which the generator is located indicating delivery of the waste shipment. (See40 CFR 264.71 ).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
E. Closure and financial requirement. (See40 CFR Part 264 , Subparts G and H).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
Closure and post-closure care requirements are addressed in
We note that in
The fourth sentence of
We note that
We note that the state regulations do not contain the parenthetical sentence in
Financial requirements are addressed at
F. Inspections, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting by facility personnel. (See40 CFR 264.15 and Part 264, Subpart E).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
The Commission has adopted an approach to routine inspections somewhat different than that at
As to those inspection items and frequencies specifically mentioned in the federal regulations referenced at
With the state program requiring the specific inspections required by the federal regulations and further specifically requiring other inspections which are covered by the federal program only in a general way, we believe that the state program provides for at least the same degree of environmental protection as does the federal program. Therefore, we believe that the state program provisions are substantially equivalent to the requirements of
With regard to the record keeping and reporting provisions of
G. Use and management of containers. (See40 CFR Part 264 , Subpart I.)
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
Use and management of containers at hazardous waste facilities are covered in
Second, while
H. Requirements for tanks. (See
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
Use and management of tanks at hazardous waste facilities is addressed in
Second,
Third, we note that in regard to restrictions on placing ignitable or reactive wastes in tanks, the state regulations do not allow the procedure specified in
Fourth,
Finally,
I. Requirements for incinerators. (See40 CFR Part 264 , Subpart O,40 CFR 122.25 (b)(5), and40 CFR 122.27 (b))
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
The Commission has adopted in
Second, in
While general requirements for permit application information will be discussed later in this memorandum, we think it appropriate to discuss at this point some special requirements applicable to incinerator permit applications. These provisions are found at
The federal regulations also contain some special provisions applicable only to incinerators, which require the submission of trial burn plans and the conducting of trial burns, before a full permit can be issued. See
XI. STATE PERMITTING PROCEDURES
RCRA § 3005,
A. State statutes and regulations require that all new facilities for the storage of hazardous waste in containers, for hazardous waste storage or treatment in tanks, or for treatment of hazardous waste by incineration, obtain a permit prior to beginning physical construction of the facility. For existing facilities, the state requires completion of the permit application process within a reasonable time. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7,122.22 (a)(2) and (b)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Sections
B. State statutes and regulations require that permit applications contain information that is substantially equivalent to information required at40 CFR 122.4 ,122.24 and122.25 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The Commission has in
The state regulations do not require the application to contain SIC codes for the facility, unlike
The requirement of
The only provision of
In regard to the informational requirements of
State regulations, unlike
We have identified above a few instances where the state regulations may not require the submission with the permit application of all the information called for by the federal regulations. We find it impossible to judge whether the possible absence from the state permit application of a small portion of the information which the federal regulations require defeats the substantial equivalency of the state regulations. Therefore, we must leave it to EPA to make this judgment. We do note that
C. State statutes and regulations which provide for the protection of confidential information do not allow the name and address of the permit applicant or permittee to be entitled to such treatment. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and 122.19).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
The statute speaks of confidential treatment for trade secrets, and other information relating to a plan, tool, mechanism, compound or process. The name and address of the applicant or permittee clearly does not fall within the category of items subject to protection. As Section
D. State statutes and regulations require that permit applications be signed by persons authorized to bind the facility under state law and contain a certification that the information contained in the application is true and accurate. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and122.6 ).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
With regard to a sole proprietor, the binding effect of the proprietor's signature is obvious. Further, there is no question that a general partner has the authority to bind a partnership.Chapin v. Cherry,
As to corporations, municipal corporations and government agencies, we believe that it is not necessary to inquire whether the officer who signs the application has the authority to bind the corporation or agency. While one could argue that the mere submittal of the application, along with a check for the filing fee required by
E. State statutes and regulations require that the state make available for public comment prior to permit issuance, information substantially equivalent to that required at40 CFR 124.6 and124.8 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
Except as identified above, the state regulations contain provisions regarding tentative decisions, draft permits, and fact sheets which are fully equivalent to
F. State statutes and regulations require that notice be issued to the public of preparation of the document containing the information at XI.E or draft permit and scheduling of a public hearing. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and124.10 (a)).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Sections
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
We note two instances in the state regulations where procedures regarding issuance of public notices and scheduling of hearings do not appear to meet federal requirements. First, unlike
G. State statutes and regulations require that the public notice contain information substantially equivalent to that in40 CFR 124.10 (d)(1)(i)-(v) and (ix),124.10 (d)(2) and124.10 (e). (See 40 CFR 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
The above-referenced federal regulations concern the contents of public notices issued in the permitting process, and to whom those notices are sent.
We are not able to judge whether the above differences between the state and federal regulations render the state provisions inequivalent. However, it would appear that any inequivalency identified by EPA could be corrected for the purposes of interim authorization by an agreement between the Department and EPA that state notice procedures would meet the federal requirements.
H. State statutes and regulations require that the notice be published in major local newspapers and broadcast over local radio stations and be sent to each unit of local government having jurisdiction over the area in which the proposed facility seeks to locate and other state agencies with authority over facility construction or operation. (See Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980, P.L.96-482 , Section 26).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
I. State statutes and regulations allow any interested person to submit written comments. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and124.11 ).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
J. State statutes and regulations provide for informal public hearings if the state receives written opposition and a request for a hearing within 45 days of publication of the notice. (See Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980, P.L.96-482 , Section 26).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Section
Explanation of Legal Authority
Section
K. State statutes and regulations require that such public hearing allow the presentation of written and oral comments and be conducted in a manner substantially equivalent to the requirements of40 CFR 124.17 . (See 40 CFR 123.129(d) and 123.7).
Citation of Laws and Regulations
Explanation of Legal Authority
L. Statutes and regulations require that written responses to significant comments be made available to the public. (See 40 CFR 123.129(d), 123.7 and124.17 ).
See the preceding subpart.
CONCLUSION
We have in the preceding memorandum addressed those areas requested of us in the format suggested by EPA. In general, we believe that the state regulations adopted under the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law, and fugitive dust regulations adopted by the Missouri Air Conservation Commission, compare favorably with EPA regulations, and can be judged substantially equivalent to the federal regulations. We are unable to judge whether EPA will find any of the relatively few differences between state and federal regulations noted in our memorandum to constitute a lack of substantial equivalency between the state and federal programs as a whole.
Respectfully submitted,
DAN SUMMERS Assistant Attorney General
