99-28726. Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills That Commenced Construction Prior to May 30, 1991 and Have Not Been Modified or Reconstructed Since May 30, 1991  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 60689-60706]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-28726]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 62
    
    [AD-FRL-6469-8]
    RIN 2060-AI50
    
    
    Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills 
    That Commenced Construction Prior to May 30, 1991 and Have Not Been 
    Modified or Reconstructed Since May 30, 1991
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: In this action EPA is promulgating (adopting) a Federal plan 
    to implement emission guideline requirements for existing municipal 
    solid waste (MSW) landfills located in States and Indian country where 
    State plans or Tribal plans are not currently in effect. For most 
    areas, the Federal plan is an interim action because, on the effective 
    date of an approved State or Tribal plan, the Federal plan will no 
    longer apply to MSW landfills covered by the State or Tribal plan. This 
    MSW landfills Federal plan includes the same required elements 
    specified in 40 CFR part 60, subparts B, Cc, and WWW for a State plan: 
    identification of legal authority and mechanisms for implementation; 
    inventory of affected facilities; emissions inventory; emission limits; 
    compliance schedules; a process for EPA or State review of design plans 
    for site-specific gas collection and control systems; testing, 
    monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements; public hearing 
    requirements; and progress reporting requirements. This Federal plan 
    will most likely affect the industry sectors Air and Water Resource and 
    Solid Waste Management, and Refuse Systems--Solid Waste Landfills, 
    which are North American Industrial Classification System Codes 92411 
    and 562212 and Standard Industrial Classification Codes 9511 and 4953.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of this MSW landfills Federal plan 
    is January 7, 2000.
    
    ADDRESSES: Docket. Docket numbers A-98-03 and A-88-09 contain the 
    supporting information for this promulgated rule and EPA's promulgation 
    of standards of performance for new MSW landfills and emission 
    guidelines for existing MSW landfills, respectively. These dockets are 
    available for public inspection and copying between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 
    p.m., Monday through Friday, at EPA's Air and Radiation Docket and 
    Information Center (Mail Code 6102), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 
    20460, or by calling (202) 260-7548. The fax number for the Center is 
    (202) 260-4000 and the e-mail address is ``A-and-R-
    Docket@epamail.epa.gov''. The docket is located at the above address in 
    Room M-1500, Waterside Mall (ground floor, central mall). A reasonable 
    fee may be charged for copying.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural and implementation 
    information regarding this Federal plan, contact Ms. Mary Ann Warner at 
    (919) 541-1192, Program Implementation and Review Group, Information 
    Transfer and Program Integration Division (MD-12), U.S. Environmental 
    Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. For 
    technical information, contact Ms. Michele Laur at (919) 541-5256, 
    Waste & Chemical Processes Group, Emission Standards Division (MD-13), 
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North 
    Carolina 27711. For information regarding the implementation of this 
    Federal plan, contact the appropriate Regional Office (table 3) as 
    shown in section J of Supplementary Information.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        Judicial Review. The EPA proposed this section 111(d) rule for MSW 
    landfills on December 16, 1998 (63 FR 69364). This action adopting a 
    rule for MSW landfills constitutes final administrative action 
    concerning that proposal. Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act 
    (Act), judicial review of this final rule is available only by filing a 
    petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of 
    Columbia Circuit by January 7, 2000. Under section 307(d)(7)(B) of the 
    Act, only an objection to this rule that was raised with reasonable 
    specificity during the period for public comment can be raised during 
    judicial review. Moreover, under section 307(b)(2) of the Act, the 
    requirements established by today's final action may not be challenged 
    separately in any civil or criminal
    
    [[Page 60690]]
    
    proceeding brought by the EPA to enforce these requirements.
        Electronic Copy. In addition to being available in the docket, an 
    electronic copy of today's document that includes the regulatory text 
    is available through the EPA Technology Transfer Network Website (TTN 
    Web) recent actions page for newly proposed or promulgated rules 
    (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/ramain.html). The TTN Web provides 
    information and technology exchange in various areas of air pollution 
    control. For TTN help information, call the TTN Web helpline at (919) 
    541-5384.
        Regulated Entities. Entities regulated by this action are all 
    existing MSW landfills unless the landfill is covered by an EPA-
    approved section 111(d) State or Tribal plan that is currently 
    effective. Existing landfills are those that:
        (i) commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction prior 
    to May 30, 1991;
        (ii) have not been modified or reconstructed since May 30, 1991; 
    and
        (iii) have accepted waste since November 8, 1987 or have additional 
    capacity for future waste deposition.
        Regulated categories and entities include the following North 
    American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and Standard 
    Industrial Classification System (SIC) codes:
    
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                                                                                 Examples of potentially regulated
                       Category                      NAICS code    SIC code                  entities
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    Industry: Air and water resource and solid            92411         9511  Municipal solid waste landfills that
     waste management.                                                         commenced construction, modification,
                                                                               or reconstruction before May 30,
                                                                               1991.
    Industry: Refuse systems--solid waste                562212         4953
     landfills.
    State, local, and Tribal government agencies.
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        This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
    guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
    action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware 
    could potentially be regulated by this action. Other types of entities 
    not listed in this table could also be affected. To determine whether a 
    facility, company, or business organization is regulated by this 
    action, carefully examine the applicability criteria in Secs. 62.14350 
    and 62.14352 of subpart GGG.
        Based on the status of State plans as of June 14, 1999 (A-98-03, 
    IV-J-20) and the MSW landfills inventory (A-98-03, IV-B-3), EPA 
    projects that the MSW landfills Federal plan could initially affect 
    more than 3,800 MSW landfills in approximately 28 States, 
    protectorates, and municipalities. However, EPA expects many State 
    plans to be approved and become effective in the next few months; 
    therefore, the number of landfills affected by this Federal plan will 
    continue to decrease as State and Tribal plans are approved and become 
    effective.1
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        \1\ While the inventory was completed June 14, 1999, table 2 in 
    the preamble and tables 1 and 2 in the regulation were updated as of 
    October 19, 1999 and reflect more current information.
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        Outline. The following outline shows the organization of the 
    remainder of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble.
    
    I. Background of Landfills Regulations and Affected Facilities
        A. Background of MSW Landfills Regulations
        B. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Affected Facilities
        C. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Negative Declaration Letters
        D. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and the New Source Performance 
    Standards
        E. Implementing Authority
        F. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Indian Country
        G. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Compliance Schedules
        H. MSW Landfills Excluded From Federal Plan Applicability
        I. Status of State Plan Submittals
        J. Regional Office Contacts
    II. Required Elements of this Municipal Solid Waste Landfills 
    Federal Plan
    III. Summary of Comments and Changes Since Proposal
        A. State Plan Interim Approval
        B. Design Capacity Estimates and Reports
        C. Inventory of Landfills
        D. Calculating Emissions Rate for Control Applicability
        E. Final Control Plan
        F. Increments of Progress
        G. Delegation
    IV. Implementation of Federal Plan and Delegation
        A. Background of Authority
        B. Delegation of the Federal Plan and Retained Authorities
        C. Mechanisms for Transferring Authority
    V. Title V Operating Permits
    VI. Summary of Federal Plan
    VII. Administrative Requirements
        A. Docket
        B. Paperwork Reduction Act
        C. Executive Order 12866
        D. Executive Orders on Federalism
        E. Executive Order 13045
        F. Executive Order 13084
        G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
        H. Regulatory Flexibility Act
        I. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
        J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
    
    I. Background of Landfills Regulation and Affected Facilities
    
    A. Background of MSW Landfills Regulations
    
        On March 12, 1996 the EPA promulgated in the Federal Register 
    emission guidelines (61 FR 9905) for existing MSW landfills (40 CFR 
    part 60, subpart Cc) under authority of section 111 of the Act. The 
    guidelines apply to existing MSW landfills, i.e., those that:
        (i) commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction before 
    May 30, 1991;
        (ii) have not been modified or reconstructed since May 30, 1991; 
    and
        (iii) have accepted waste since November 8, 1987 or have additional 
    capacity for future waste deposition.
        On June 16, 1998 and February 24, 1999, EPA published notices to 
    amend, correct errors, and clarify regulatory text for 40 CFR part 60, 
    subpart Cc (63 FR 32743 and 64 FR 9258). These clarifications and 
    amendments did not affect the due date or the required content of State 
    plans for existing MSW landfills which were originally due on December 
    12, 1996. They did, however, trigger a requirement under 40 CFR 
    60.23(a)(2) for States, territories, localities, and Tribes to submit 
    proposed revisions to State or Tribal plans to EPA. These plans would 
    incorporate the requirements of the clarifications and amendments.
        To make the guidelines enforceable, States with existing MSW 
    landfills subject to the guidelines were required to submit to EPA a 
    State plan that implements and enforces the emission guidelines within 
    9 months of promulgation of the guidelines (December 12, 1996). States 
    without existing landfills or without existing
    
    [[Page 60691]]
    
    landfills that require control must submit a negative declaration 
    letter. Following receipt of the State plan, EPA has up to 4 months to 
    approve or disapprove the plan. In appropriate circumstances, case-by-
    case extensions can be granted (40 CFR 60.27(a)). In some cases, local 
    agencies or protectorates of the United States submit plans for 
    landfills in their jurisdictions. As discussed in section I.F. of this 
    preamble, Indian Tribes may, but are not required to, submit Tribal 
    plans.
        If a State does not have an approved State plan, section 111 of the 
    Act and 40 CFR 60.27(c) and (d) require EPA to develop, implement, and 
    enforce a Federal plan for existing MSW landfills located in that 
    State. In addition, section 301(d)(2) authorizes the Administrator to 
    treat an Indian tribe in the same manner as a State for this MSW 
    landfill requirement. (See section 49.3 of ``Indian Tribes: Air Quality 
    Planning and Management,'' hereafter ``Tribal Authority Rule,'' 63 FR 
    7254, February 12, 1998.) For Indian tribes that do not have an 
    approved MSW landfills Tribal plan, EPA must develop, implement and 
    enforce a Federal plan for them.
        Today's action, which will be codified as subpart GGG of 40 CFR 
    part 62, adopts a MSW landfills Federal plan that includes the elements 
    described in section II of this preamble.
    
    B. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Affected Facilities
    
        This final MSW landfills Federal plan affects existing MSW 
    landfills that:
        (i) commenced construction, reconstruction or modification prior to 
    May 30, 1991;
        (ii) have not been modified or reconstructed since May 30, 1991; 
    and
        (iii) have accepted waste since November 8, 1987 or have capacity 
    for future waste deposition.
        The MSW landfills Federal plan applies to existing MSW landfills 
    located in: (1) Any State or portion of Indian country for which a 
    State or Tribal plan has not become effective; (2) Any State or portion 
    of Indian country for which the State or Tribe submitted a negative 
    declaration; (3) Any State or portion of Indian country with an 
    effective State or Tribal plan that subsequently is vacated in whole or 
    in part; or (4) Any State or portion of Indian country with an 
    effective plan that subsequently revises any component of the plan 
    (e.g., the underlying legal authority or enforceable mechanism) such 
    that the State or Tribal plan is no longer as stringent as the emission 
    guidelines. A landfill that meets any of these criteria is covered by 
    the Federal plan until an applicable State or Tribal plan is approved 
    and becomes effective. An approved State or Tribal plan is a plan that 
    EPA has reviewed and approved based on the requirements in 40 CFR part 
    60, subpart B to implement and enforce 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cc. The 
    State plan becomes effective on the date specified in the notice 
    published in the Federal Register announcing EPA's approval.
        The effective date of this Federal plan is January 7, 2000. The 
    effective date is 60 days after the date of this publication, rather 
    than 30 days after publication as proposed. This extra 30 days will 
    allow EPA to approve additional State plans. The EPA does not expect 
    the delay to affect the environmental benefits of this regulation.
    
    C. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Negative Declaration Letters
    
        A negative declaration is a letter to EPA declaring that either 
    there are no existing MSW landfills in the State or portion of Indian 
    country or there are no existing MSW landfills in the State or portion 
    of Indian country that must install collection and control systems 
    according to the requirements of the emission guidelines. States or 
    Indian tribes that submit negative declarations are not expected to 
    submit State or Tribal plans, but existing MSW landfills with a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams (Mg) and 2.5 
    million cubic meters (m\3\) in the State or portion of Indian country 
    are subject to the MSW landfills Federal plan. Existing MSW landfills 
    with a design capacity less than 2.5 million Mg or 2.5 million m\3\ 
    that are located in States or portion of Indian country that submitted 
    a negative declaration letter are not required to submit an initial 
    design capacity report if the negative declaration letter includes the 
    design capacity for the landfills.
        The preamble to the proposed rule incorrectly indicated that 
    submission of the initial design capacity report was the only 
    requirement applicable to a MSW landfill with a design capacity below 
    2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\. Such MSW landfills, however, 
    continue to be subject to the requirements in the definition of design 
    capacity in Sec. 62.14351 to recalculate the site-specific density 
    annually and in Sec. 62.14355 to submit an amended design capacity 
    report in the event that the recalculated design capacity is equal to 
    or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\. Section 62.14355 
    as proposed and as finalized herein, accurately states that these 
    landfills are only exempt from the requirement to submit an initial 
    design capacity report. The EPA has added language to Sec. 62.14352(c) 
    to make it clearer that a MSW landfill located in a State, locality or 
    portion of Indian country that submitted a negative declaration remains 
    subject to the requirements to recalculate site-specific density 
    annually and to submit an amended design capacity report in the event 
    that the recalculated design capacity is equal to or greater than 2.5 
    million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\.
        Existing MSW landfills overlooked by a State or Indian tribe that 
    submitted a negative declaration letter and existing landfills not 
    included in a State or Tribal plan are subject to the Federal plan 
    until a State or Tribal plan that includes these sources is approved 
    and effective. For instance, in the event that an existing MSW landfill 
    that must install a collection and control system according to the 
    emission guidelines is subsequently identified where a negative 
    declaration has been submitted, the Federal plan requirement to install 
    a collection and control system would apply. As discussed in section 
    I.F. of this preamble, the Federal plan applies throughout Indian 
    country until an approved State or Tribal plan becomes effective. As 
    discussed in section I.H. of this preamble, the Federal plan, by its 
    own terms, no longer applies to a MSW landfill appropriately covered by 
    an approved State or Tribal plan that becomes effective after 
    promulgation of the Federal plan. The specific applicability of this 
    plan is described in Secs. 62.14350 and 62.14352 of subpart GGG.
    
    D. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and the New Source Performance Standards
    
        An existing MSW landfill that increases its permitted volume design 
    capacity through vertical or horizontal expansion (i.e., is modified) 
    on or after May 30, 1991, is subject to the New Source Performance 
    Standards (NSPS), 40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW (see 63 FR 32743, June 
    16, 1998). Existing MSW landfills that make operational changes without 
    increasing the horizontal or vertical dimensions of the landfill 
    continue to be subject to the Federal or State plan that implements the 
    emission guidelines, rather than the NSPS. Examples of such operational 
    changes at a MSW landfill include changing the moisture content of the 
    waste, increasing the physical compaction on the surface, changing the 
    cover material or thickness of the daily cover, and changing baling or 
    compaction practices. This interpretation is consistent with the 
    amendments to the
    
    [[Page 60692]]
    
    landfills emission guidelines and NSPS, which are consistent with the 
    landfill litigation settlement agreement. A MSW landfill that has been 
    reconstructed on or after May 30, 1991 would also be subject to the 
    NSPS, not the Federal or State plan that implements the emission 
    guidelines. Reconstructions are unlikely for landfills. As specified in 
    the NSPS General Provisions, reconstructions are ``the replacement of 
    components of an existing facility [landfill] to such an extent that: 
    the fixed capital cost of the new components exceeds 50 percent of the 
    fixed capital cost of a comparable entirely new facility [landfill].'' 
    The EPA knows of no situation where this would occur at a landfill.
    
    E. Implementing Authority
    
        The EPA Regional Administrators are the delegated authority for 
    implementing the MSW landfills Federal plan. All reports required by 
    this Federal plan should be submitted to the appropriate Regional 
    Administrator. Table 1 lists the States located in each region and the 
    addresses of the EPA Regional Administrators.
    
                                          Table 1.--EPA Regional Administrators
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                    Regional contact                                       State or protectorate
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    EPA Region I, One Congress Street, John F.        CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT.
     Kennedy Federal Bldg., Boston, MA 02203-0001.
    EPA Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-  NJ, NY, PR, VI.
     1866.
    EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia,   DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV.
     PA 19106.
    EPA Region IV, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta,    AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN.
     GA 30303.
    EPA Region V, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL    IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI.
     60604-3507.
    EPA Region VI, Fountain Place, 12th Floor, Suite  AR, LA, NM, OK, TX.
     1200, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733.
    EPA Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas      IA, KS, MO, NE.
     City, KS 66101.
    EPA Region VIII, 999 18th Street, Suite 500,      CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY.
     Denver, CO 80202-2466.
    EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San           AS, AZ, CA, GU, HI, NMI, NV.
     Francisco, CA 94105.
    EPA Region X, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA      AK, ID, OR, WA.
     98101.
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    F. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Indian Country
    
        The MSW landfills Federal plan applies throughout Indian country to 
    ensure that there is not a regulatory gap for existing MSW landfills in 
    Indian country. The EPA requested comments, but received none, on its 
    proposed approach to applying the landfills Federal plan in Indian 
    country; therefore, the proposed approach, which is repeated here, is 
    final.
        Indian tribes have the authority under the Act to develop Tribal 
    plans in the same manner States develop State plans. On February 12, 
    1998, EPA promulgated regulations that outline provisions of the Act 
    for which EPA is authorized to treat Tribes in the same manner as 
    States (see 63 FR 7254, Tribal Authority Rule; codified at 40 CFR part 
    49). Upon the effective date of the Tribal Authority Rule, March 16, 
    1998, EPA has the authority to approve Tribal programs, such as Tribal 
    plans or programs to implement and enforce MSW landfill emission 
    guidelines, under the Act. Section 301(d)(2) authorizes the 
    Administrator to treat an Indian tribe in the same manner as a State 
    for the Clean Air Act provisions identified in 40 CFR section 49.3 if 
    the Indian tribe meets the following criteria:
        (a) The applicant is an Indian tribe recognized by the Secretary of 
    the Interior;
        (b) The Indian tribe has a governing body carrying out substantial 
    governmental duties and functions;
        (c) The functions to be exercised by the Indian tribe pertain to 
    the management and protection of air resources within the exterior 
    boundaries of the reservation or other areas within the tribe's 
    jurisdiction; and
        (d) The Indian tribe is reasonably expected to be capable, in the 
    EPA Regional Administrator's judgement, of carrying out the functions 
    to be exercised in a manner consistent with the terms and purposes of 
    the Clean Air Act and all applicable regulations (see section 49.6 of 
    the Tribal Authority Rule, 63 FR 7272). In addition, if a Tribe meets 
    these criteria, the EPA can delegate authority to implement the Federal 
    plan to an Indian tribe the same way it can delegate authority to the 
    State.
        In addition to giving Indian tribes authority to develop Tribal 
    plans, the Act also provides EPA with the authority to administer 
    Federal programs in Indian country. This interpretation of EPA's 
    authority under the Act is based in part on the general purpose of the 
    Act, which is national in scope. In addition, section 301(a) of the Act 
    provides EPA broad authority to issue regulations that are necessary to 
    carry out the functions of the Act. The EPA believes that Congress 
    intended for EPA to have the authority to operate a Federal program in 
    instances when Tribes choose not to develop a program, do not adopt an 
    approvable program, or fail to adequately implement an air program 
    authorized under section 301(d) of the Act. Finally, section 301(d)(4) 
    of the Act authorizes the Administrator to directly administer 
    provisions of the Act to achieve the appropriate purpose, where Tribal 
    implementation of those provisions is not appropriate or 
    administratively feasible. The EPA's interpretation of its authority to 
    directly implement Clean Air Act programs in Indian county is discussed 
    in more detail in the final Federal Operating Permits Program, 64 FR 
    8247, (February 19, 1999) and in the Tribal Authority Rule.
        Many Tribes may have delayed development of air quality regulations 
    and programs pending promulgation of the Tribal Authority Rule. As 
    mentioned previously, Tribes may, but are not required to, submit a MSW 
    landfills plan or negative declaration letter under section 111(d) of 
    the Act. The EPA is not aware of any Tribes that have developed plans 
    to implement the MSW emission guidelines or submitted negative 
    declaration letters.
        The impact of this Federal plan on Indian tribes is not expected to 
    be significant. There are very few existing MSW landfills in Indian 
    country large enough to require the installation of a collection and 
    control system. For most existing MSW landfills in Indian country, the 
    only requirements this Federal plan imposes are to submit an initial 
    design capacity report and to recalculate the site-specific density and 
    design capacity annually and to submit an amended design capacity 
    report in the event that the recalculated design capacity is equal to 
    or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\.
        The Federal plan will apply throughout Indian country except where 
    a State or Tribal plan has been explicitly approved by EPA to cover an 
    area of Indian country. The EPA will administer the plan in Indian 
    country
    
    [[Page 60693]]
    
    without requiring any jurisdictional showing on the part of the Tribe. 
    To assure there are no gaps in coverage, EPA will treat disputed areas, 
    i.e., areas for which EPA believes the Indian country status may be in 
    question, as Indian country. The EPA will continue to implement the 
    Federal plan in these areas until a Tribal plan covering an area of 
    Indian country becomes effective, or the area is determined not to be 
    Indian country and the source is subject to an effective State plan. 
    This approach is consistent with the final Federal Operating Permits 
    Program cited above.
        The term ``Indian country,'' as used in this MSW landfills Federal 
    plan, means (a) All land within the limits of any Indian reservation 
    under the jurisdiction of the United States government, notwithstanding 
    the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running through 
    the reservation, (b) All dependent Indian communities within the 
    borders of the United States whether within the original or 
    subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without 
    the limits of a State, and (c) All Indian allotments, the Indian titles 
    to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running 
    through the same. This definition is consistent with the final Federal 
    Operating Permits Program.
    
    G. MSW Landfills Federal Plan and Compliance Schedules
    
        The emission guidelines require the owner or operator of a MSW 
    landfill to submit a design capacity report within 90 days after the 
    effective date of the State or Tribal plan (or within 90 days after the 
    effective date of the promulgated Federal plan). An emission rate 
    report showing nonmethane organic compounds (NMOC) emissions from the 
    landfill must also be submitted within the same time period if the 
    landfill has a design capacity of 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million 
    m3 or more. Both of the requirements have been incorporated 
    in the Federal plan. The emission guidelines and this Federal plan 
    further require the owner or operator of a MSW landfill with a design 
    capacity greater than or equal to 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\ 
    to submit a collection and control system design plan within 1 year of 
    first reporting NMOC emissions of 50 Mg per year or more. The 
    collection and control system must be installed and operating within 30 
    months of first reporting NMOC emissions of 50 Mg per year or more. The 
    compliance schedule in this Federal plan also sets the dates for 
    awarding contracts and beginning construction, however, States, Tribes, 
    and owners or operators have the option of setting these two dates (see 
    option 3 below), which are not specifically defined in the emission 
    guidelines. (See the discussion in section II.E of the proposal 
    preamble (63 FR 69373).)
        As discussed in the proposal preamble, the EPA believes that it 
    would be inappropriate for the owner or operator of a MSW landfill who 
    is subject to the requirements of this Federal plan to install a 
    collection and control system to obtain additional time for achieving 
    final compliance by virtue of the subsequent approval of a State or 
    Tribal plan. The EPA did not receive any adverse comments regarding 
    this interpretation. Therefore, to guard against this occurring, the 
    EPA has added a sentence to Sec. 62.14356(c)(1) to make it clear that 
    once the Federal plan becomes effective, any designated facility to 
    which the Federal plan applies will remain subject to the schedule in 
    the Federal plan if a subsequently approved State or Tribal plan 
    contains a less stringent schedule (i.e., a schedule that provides more 
    time to comply with increments 1, 4 and/or 5 as specified in 
    Sec. 62.14356(a) than does this Federal plan).
        Also discussed in the proposal preamble were three options for 
    establishing dates for the increments of progress that make up the 
    compliance schedule. They are: (1) Comply with the generic compliance 
    schedule in the landfill Federal plan (table 2 of subpart GGG of the 
    proposed Federal plan and table 3 of subpart GGG of this final Federal 
    plan), (2) States or Tribes submit compliance schedules to the EPA 
    before the end of the comment period of the proposed Federal plan, and 
    (3) Landfill owners or operators or the State or Tribe submit a 
    compliance schedule for increments 2 and 3 to the EPA at the time the 
    final control plan is due. The EPA requested and received no comments 
    on these options. Although the time period for submitting increments of 
    progress under option 2 has passed, options 1 and 3 will remain 
    available in this final Federal plan. This will allow for increased 
    regulatory efficiency and flexibility.
    
    H. MSW Landfills Excluded From Federal Plan Applicability
    
        The MSW landfills Federal plan does not apply to landfills 
    appropriately covered by an approved and effective State or Tribal plan 
    or to landfills in a State or portion of Indian country that has 
    submitted a negative declaration as long as the landfills in fact have 
    a design capacity less than 2.5 million Mg or 2.5 million m\3\. If a 
    State or Tribal plan becomes effective before this Federal plan becomes 
    effective, this Federal plan will not apply to landfills appropriately 
    covered by that State or Tribal plan. Promulgation of this MSW 
    landfills Federal plan does not preclude a State or Tribe from 
    submitting a plan later. If a State or Tribe submits a plan after the 
    effective date of this Federal plan, EPA will review and approve or 
    disapprove the plan. Upon the effective date of the State or Tribal 
    plan, the Federal plan no longer applies. States are, therefore, 
    encouraged to continue their efforts to develop and submit State plans 
    to EPA for approval. Similarly, EPA encourages Tribes to develop and 
    submit Tribal plans.
    
    I. Status of State Plan Submittals
    
        The following States have EPA approved and effective State plans: 
    Alabama, Allegheny County (Pennsylvania), Colorado, Florida, Georgia, 
    Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, 
    Montana, Nashville (Tennessee), Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North 
    Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
        The following States have EPA approved State plans that are 
    approved but not yet effective: Arizona, 2 California, 
    3 Delaware, 4 Maryland, 5 Nevada, 
    6 South Carolina, 7 and Tennessee. 8 
    States that have approved or approved and effective State plans are 
    listed in table 1 of subpart GGG. (MSW landfills located in those 
    States would become subject to the Federal plan in the event that the 
    State plan is subsequently disapproved, in whole or in part.) States 
    that submitted negative declaration letters are listed in table 2 of 
    subpart GGG.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \2\ The Arizona State plan is scheduled to become effective on 
    November 19, 1999 (64 FR 50768, September 20, 1999).
        \3\ The California State plan is scheduled to become effective 
    on November 22, 1999 (64 FR 51447, September 23, 1999).
        \4\ The Delaware State plan is scheduled to become effective on 
    November 16, 1999 (64 FR 50453, September 17, 1999).
        \5\ The Maryland State plan is scheduled to become effective on 
    November 8, 1999 (64 FR 48714, September 8, 1999).
        \6\ The Nevada State plan is scheduled to become effective on 
    November 19, 1999 (64 FR 50764, September 20, 1999).
        \7\ The South Carolina State plan is scheduled to become 
    effective on October 25, 1999 (64 FR 46148, August 24, 1999).
        \8\ The Tennessee State plan is scheduled to become effective on 
    November 29, 1999 (64 FR 52660, September 30, 1999).
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        States without approved plans are making significant progress on 
    their State plans and EPA expects many State plans to be approved in 
    the next few
    
    [[Page 60694]]
    
    months. (The EPA is not aware of any Indian tribes that are developing 
    Tribal plans.) Table 2 of this preamble summarizes the status of States 
    without approved and effective State plans and those that have 
    submitted negative declarations as of October 19, 1999. The table is 
    based on information from EPA Regional Offices (Docket No. A-98-03, 
    Item No. IV-J-23). Copies of Federal Register notices of approvals and 
    negative declaration letters are located in Docket No. A-98-03.
    
           Table 2.--Status of States Without an Approved State Plan a
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      State
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     I. Negative declaration submitted to EPA and no State plan is expected.
                (See discussion in section I.C of this preamble.)
     
    Region I
      New Hampshire
      Rhode Island
      Vermont
    Region III
      District of Columbia
      Philadelphia, PA
     
     II. State plan submitted and is being reviewed by EPA. The promulgated
    Federal plan will cover existing MSW landfills in these States until the
                  State plan is approved and becomes effective.
     
    Region III
      Pennsylvania
      West Virginia
    Region IV
      Knox County, Tennessee
      North Carolina
     
     III. State plan or negative declaration not submitted. The existing MSW
      landfills in these States will be subject to the promulgated Federal
    plan unless a State plan applicable to existing landfills is approved by
                           EPA and becomes effective.
     
    Region I
      Connecticut
      Maine
      Massachusetts
    Region II
      New Jersey
      Puerto Rico
      Virgin Islands
    Region III
      Virginia
    Region IV
      Chattanooga, Tennessee
      Mississippi
    Region V
      Indiana
      Michigan
      Wisconsin
    Region VI
      Albuquerque, New Mexico
      Arkansas
    Region IX
      American Samoa
      Clark County, Nevada
      Guam
      Hawaii
      Northern Mariana Islands
    Region X
      Alaska
      Idaho
      Washington
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a Current as of October 19, 1999. See Docket No. A-98-03; Item No. IV-J-
      23.
    
        To assist in identifying which MSW landfills are and are not 
    covered by the Federal plan, table 1 of subpart GGG lists States and 
    Indian tribes that have approved and effective plans as of October 19, 
    1999 that cover MSW landfills in the State or Indian country. MSW 
    landfills not appropriately covered by an effective plan are covered by 
    the Federal plan. For example, if a landfill is located in a State that 
    is listed in table 1 of subpart GGG and the State plan does not apply 
    to the landfill, then the landfill is subject to the Federal plan. As 
    stated above, EPA expects additional State plans to become effective 
    prior to the effective date of this Federal plan. The EPA will 
    periodically amend table 1 of subpart GGG to identify States with 
    approved and effective State plans. These amendments will be published 
    in the Federal Register and codified in the CFR. The inclusion or the 
    failure to include a State in table 1 of subpart GGG is not controlling 
    in determining whether a MSW landfill is subject to the MSW landfill 
    Federal plan. Any MSW landfill not covered by an approved and currently 
    effective State or Tribal plan, or any MSW landfill with a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million 
    m3 located in a State that submitted a negative declaration, 
    is subject to the MSW landfill Federal plan.
        The EPA will keep an up-to-date list of State plan submittals and 
    approvals on the EPA TTN Web at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg and http:/
    /www.epa.gov/ttn/uatw/landfill/landflpg.html. The list will help 
    landfill owners or operators determine whether their landfill is 
    affected by a State or Tribal plan or the Federal plan.
    
    J. Regional Office Contacts
    
        For information regarding the implementation of the MSW landfills 
    Federal plan, contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office as shown in 
    table 3.
    
       Table 3.--EPA Regional Contacts for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Regional contact               Phone No.           Fax No.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jeanne Cosgrove, U.S. EPA/CAQ,         (617) 918-1669     (617) 918-1505
     John F. Kennedy Federal Bldg.,
     Boston, MA 02203-0001............
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Region II (NJ, NY, PR, VI)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Craig Flamm, U.S. EPA/25th Floor,      (212) 637-4021     (212) 637-3901
     290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-
     1866.............................
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    James B. Topsale, U.S. EPA/Region      (215) 814-2190     (215) 814-2114
     3, 1650 Arch Street,
     Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029......
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Scott Davis, U.S. EPA/APTMD, 61        (404) 562-9127     (404) 562-9095
     Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA
     30303............................
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Charles Hatten, U.S. EPA, 77 W.        (312) 886-6031     (312) 886-0617
     Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    [[Page 60695]]
    
     
                         Region VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Mick Cote, U.S. EPA, 1445 Ross         (214) 665-7219     (214) 665-7263
     Ave., Suite 1200, Dallas, TX
     75202-2733.......................
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ward Burns, U.S. EPA/RME, 726          (913) 551-7960     (913) 551-7065
     Minnesota Ave./ARTDAPCO, Kansas
     City, KS 66101-2728..............
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Martin Hestmark, U.S. EPA/8ENF-T,      (303) 312-6776     (303) 312-6409
     999 18th Street, Suite 500,
     Denver, CO 80202-2466............
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Region IX (AS, AZ, CA, GU, HI, NMI, NV)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Patricia Bowlin, U.S. EPA/RM HAW/      (415) 744-1188    (415) 744-1076
     17211, 75 Hawthorne Street/AIR-4,
     San Francisco, CA 94105..........
                            Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Catherine Woo, U.S. EPA, 1200          (206) 553-1814     (206) 553-0404
     Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101....
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    II. Required Elements of This Municipal Solid Waste Landfills 
    Federal Plan
    
        Section 111(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7411(d), requires States to 
    develop and implement State plans for MSW landfills that implement and 
    enforce the published emission guidelines. Subparts B and Cc of 40 CFR 
    part 60 require States to submit State plans that include specified 
    elements. Because the Federal plan is being adopted for areas where 
    State plans are not yet in effect, the Federal plan includes the same 
    essential elements as required for State plans: (1) Identification of 
    legal authority and mechanisms for implementation, (2) Inventory of 
    affected facilities, (3) Emissions inventory, (4) Emission limits, (5) 
    Compliance schedules, (6) A process for EPA or State review of design 
    plans for site-specific gas collection and control systems, (7) 
    Testing, monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, (8) 
    Public hearing requirements, and (9) Progress reporting requirements. 
    Each State plan element was discussed in detail as it relates to the 
    MSW landfills Federal plan in the preamble to the proposed rule (63 FR 
    69370-69375). Table 4 identifies each element and indicates where it is 
    located or codified.
    
                    Table 4.--Required Elements and Location
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Required element of the landfills
                  federal plan                  Where located or codified
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1. Identification of legal authority     Section 111(d)(2) of the Act
     and mechanisms for implementation.       and Sections II.A and III.A of
                                              the proposal preamble (63 FR
                                              69370).
    2. Inventory of affected facilities....  Docket No. A-98-03, Item No. IV-
                                              B-3.
    3. Emission inventory..................  Docket No. A-98-03, Item No. IV-
                                              B-3.
    4. Emission limits.....................  40 CFR 62.14353.
    5. Compliance schedules................  40 CFR 62.14356.
    6. Process for review of site-specific   Section II.F of the proposal
     gas collection and control system        preamble (63 FR 69375).
     design plans.
    7. Testing, monitoring, reporting and    40 CFR 62.14354 and 62.14355.
     recordkeeping requirements.
    8. Public hearing requirements.........  Section II.I of the proposal
                                              preamble (63 FR 69375).
    9. Progress reports....................  Section II.H of proposal
                                              preamble (63 FR 69375).
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    III. Summary of Comments and Changes Since Proposal
    
        In this section of the preamble, the EPA presents a brief summary 
    of its responses to the public comments it received on the MSW 
    landfills Federal plan. The full comment summaries and responses are 
    documented in the promulgation background information document (EPA-
    456/R-99-001, Docket No. A-98-03, item III-B-1). The document addresses 
    additional comments that are not summarized in this preamble.
        The EPA requested comments on the proposed options for establishing 
    the incremental compliance dates. The EPA received no comments on the 
    proposed options for establishing the incremental compliance dates, nor 
    did it receive site-specific compliance schedules to be included in the 
    final rule. The EPA did receive comments on its approval of State 
    plans, design capacity estimates and reports, the inventory, 
    calculating the emissions rate for control applicability, the final 
    control plan, and delegation. The EPA also received one comment on the 
    Information Collection Request. That comment is discussed in section 
    VII.B of this preamble.
    
    A. State Plan Interim Approval
    
        Commenters suggested that EPA issue a final rulemaking to provide 
    interim approval of State plans that have been submitted to EPA but 
    have not yet been approved or disapproved. These commenters suggested 
    that if EPA approved State plans on an interim basis, the landfill 
    owner or operator would be subject to only the State regulations 
    without duplication of Federal requirements. One commenter suggested 
    that EPA should defer to the provisions of State plans that have been 
    submitted in order to avoid the costs and other burdens of duplicate or 
    inconsistent regulation during the review period.
        The EPA will not approve State plans on an interim basis for two 
    reasons: (1) There is no legal basis for interim approval and (2) 
    Overlapping
    
    [[Page 60696]]
    
    requirements are not likely. The EPA only has the authority to approve 
    or disapprove a State plan, or any portion thereof, based on whether it 
    is consistent with 40 CFR part 60, subparts B and Cc. While section 502 
    of the Act and 40 CFR 70.4(d) specifically authorize interim approval 
    for title V permit programs, neither subpart B nor section 111(d) of 
    the Act authorizes EPA to grant similar interim approval of State or 
    Tribal plans. The EPA will continue to accept and review State plans 
    according to the criteria for State plans that are described in 
    ``Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, Volume 2: Summary of the Requirements 
    for Section 111(d) State Plans for Implementing the Municipal Solid 
    Waste Emission Guidelines'' (guidance document).
        In addition, the EPA does not expect landfill owners or operators 
    to be subject to duplicate or inconsistent regulation. The EPA expects 
    that State plans that were submitted by December 1998 (when the Federal 
    plan was proposed) will be approved or disapproved before the landfills 
    Federal plan becomes effective. Once the State plan is approved and 
    becomes effective, the owner or operator of a landfill covered by the 
    State plan will not be subject to the Federal plan. If, as expected, 
    State plans become effective prior to promulgation of the Federal plan, 
    landfill owners or operators of landfills covered in those State plans 
    will have to comply only with the State plans and will not be subject 
    to two different time lines or other inconsistent requirements.
    
    B. Design Capacity Estimates and Reports
    
        One commenter contended that it is a meaningless task for towns 
    (the owners or operators of the landfills) to create design capacity 
    reports based on uncertain data and where the landfills are no longer 
    operating. According to the commenter, many of the small towns in the 
    State do not know and cannot determine the design capacity of their 
    landfills. The height and density, which would be used to calculate the 
    design capacity, are not available. The commenter further stated that 
    there is no way to recreate the history needed to get the height or 
    density. Many of the State's landfills have been closed and have no 
    additional capacity for future waste disposal. The commenter also 
    stated that most of the landfills in the State are much smaller than 
    the design capacity cutoff.
        The emission guidelines require owners and operators subject to the 
    Federal plan to submit design capacity reports regardless of the size 
    of the landfill. The Federal plan must be as stringent as the emission 
    guidelines, therefore, the requirement to submit a design capacity 
    report remains in the final Federal plan. The purpose of the design 
    capacity report is to help determine which landfills may be subject to 
    the requirement to install a collection and control system. Closed 
    landfills that accepted waste since 1987 are included because landfills 
    continue to emit nonmethane organic compounds (NMOC) years after they 
    have closed and they are subject to the emission guidelines that are 
    implemented by the Federal plan.
        If data are not available on waste acceptance rates, then owners 
    and operators should estimate their landfill's design capacity based on 
    the best information available. For example, if owners or operators 
    know the acreage of their landfills (the commenter provided the acreage 
    for 396 landfills in the State), they could estimate the depth of waste 
    based on available information, and document their assumption on depth. 
    Then they could calculate the approximate volumetric design capacity of 
    the landfill and submit the report. If capacity is clearly below 2.5 
    million cubic meters (or 2.5 million megagrams) no further action is 
    required.
    
    C. Inventory of Landfills
    
        One commenter stated that one purpose of the Federal plan appears 
    to be to create a database of MSW landfills in order to estimate 
    emissions. The commenter stated that the vast majority of small, closed 
    landfills will never be able to be assessed due to lack of information. 
    Two commenters provided information on landfills in their States. The 
    information was submitted in response to EPA's request for supplemental 
    information on the landfills inventory that EPA prepared as part of the 
    Federal plan (Docket no. A-98-03, Item no. II-B-2). The EPA appreciates 
    the commenters' information on landfills. The information provided by 
    the commenters is a useful supplement to EPA's inventory and will help 
    in determining which landfills may be affected by the landfills Federal 
    plan.
        The EPA revised the Federal plan inventory since proposal to remove 
    States that it no longer expects to be covered by the landfills Federal 
    plan. The updated inventory can be found in Docket No. A-98-03, Item 
    No. IV-B-3.
        The EPA will continue to require States that develop State plans to 
    submit an inventory of existing landfills that accepted waste after 
    November 8, 1987, consistent with 40 CFR 60.25. The purpose of the 
    inventory is to provide a record to the public of existing MSW 
    landfills in a State or Indian country. The EPA is encouraging States 
    to continue work on State plans, including inventories. Where inventory 
    data is lacking, States should use whatever information is available to 
    develop a reasonable estimate of emissions.
    
    D. Calculating Emissions Rate For Control Applicability
    
        One commenter recommended that the landfills Federal plan defer to 
    alternative emission estimation methods, particularly State-approved 
    methods. This would ensure that consistent and accurate emissions 
    estimates are used in determining actions under the emission guidelines 
    and new source performance standards (40 CFR part 60, subparts Cc and 
    WWW) and related State programs, such as Title V permitting and New 
    Source Review. The commenter stated that facilities should be allowed 
    to employ the most accurate emissions estimates. The commenter also 
    expressed concern that EPA may rely on default estimates based on AP-42 
    estimation methodology while States are using more recent and 
    sophisticated emission methods that are proving more accurate.
        The emission guidelines do not allow the use of AP-42 emission 
    factors to determine whether a landfill must install controls; they 
    require the MSW landfill owner or operator to use the tiered 
    calculation procedure described in 40 CFR 60.754 of subpart WWW to 
    determine the eventual need for controls. The Federal plan implements 
    the emission guidelines and must, therefore, require the use of the 
    same procedure. (The appropriate time to comment on the procedure was 
    during the public comment periods for these regulations.) The procedure 
    involves the calculation of the NMOC emission rate from a landfill. If 
    the emission rate equals or exceeds a specified threshold (50 Mg NMOC/
    yr), the landfill owner or operator must install a gas collection and 
    control system.
        The first tier of the tiered calculation procedure is purposefully 
    conservative to ensure that landfill emissions are controlled. Tiers 2 
    and 3 allow site-specific measurements to determine emissions more 
    accurately. However, if the landfill owner or operator wants to use an 
    alternative more accurate method, they can seek approval from the 
    Administrator. Section 60.754(b)(3) of subpart WWW (which is cross-
    referenced to Sec. 62.14354 of subpart GGG) allows landfill owners or 
    operators to use another method to determine landfill gas flow rate and
    
    [[Page 60697]]
    
    NMOC concentration if the method has been approved by the 
    Administrator. The landfill owner or operator can use the approved 
    alternative methods to provide a better estimate of emissions for a 
    particular landfill.
        To ensure national consistency, the Administrator is retaining the 
    authority to approve alternative methods to determine site-specific 
    NMOC concentrations and methane generation rate constants and is not 
    transferring this authority to the State or Tribe upon delegation of 
    authority to implement and enforce the Federal plan. The EPA will 
    review and consider any applications for site-specific methods that it 
    receives.
        To estimate emissions for State inventories and related State 
    programs such as Title V permitting and New Source Review, a State may 
    use its own procedures. Tier 1 default values are not recommended for 
    inventories because they tend to overestimate emissions from many 
    landfills. As mentioned previously, the default values are purposefully 
    conservative because they serve as an indicator of the need to install 
    a collection and control system. The Federal plan, the emission 
    guidelines, and the guidance document recommend using AP-42 unless 
    site-specific information is available or can be developed. AP-42 has 
    values that are more typical than Tier 1 defaults, for permitting and 
    inventories. Other procedures approved by the State may also be used 
    for permitting and inventory purposes.
    
    E. Final Control Plan
    
        One commenter suggested that the final control plan (design plan) 
    should be consistent with the new source performance standards. The 
    commenter noted that the last sentence of the definition of final 
    control plan in Sec. 62.14351 of subpart GGG could be deleted without 
    consequence. That sentence reads: ``The final control plan also must 
    include the same information that will be used to solicit bids to 
    install the collection and control system.'' The commenter believes the 
    requirement is more stringent than the new source performance 
    standards' requirement and that bid information in the design plan 
    would not be practical for sites that will install collection and 
    control systems in multiple phases. The commenter contended that the 
    purpose of the design plan is to demonstrate that the landfill gas 
    collection system planned for the facility will meet the control 
    requirements of the regulations, not as a tool for bidding purposes.
        The EPA agrees that it is appropriate to delete the last sentence 
    from the proposed definition of final control plan. This change makes 
    the definition consistent with the emission guidelines and the guidance 
    document. However, other requirements for submitting the final control 
    plan remain the same. The owner or operator must submit the final 
    control plan within 1 year after the NMOC emission rate first equals or 
    exceeds 50 megagrams per year.
    
    F. Increments of Progress
    
        One commenter stated that the proposed Federal plan increments of 
    progress are more stringent than the emission guidelines for existing 
    landfills and the new source performance standards for new landfills. 
    The commenter contended that the proposed Federal plan would impose a 
    more burdensome regulatory requirement on existing landfills above and 
    beyond that which is included in the emission guidelines. The commenter 
    recommended eliminating the increments of progress and in their place 
    requiring owners or operators to comply with the recordkeeping and 
    reporting provisions of the new source performance standards. The 
    commenter stated that existing landfills should be given the same 
    flexibility for achieving compliance with Federal plan emission 
    guidelines as are new landfills under the new source performance 
    standards.
        The requirements for existing landfills under the emission 
    guidelines and the Federal plan are essentially the same as the 
    requirements for new landfills under the new source performance 
    standards. For existing MSW landfills, five increments of progress are 
    required by 40 CFR part 60, subpart B. These five increments of 
    progress are:
        (1) Submit final control plan;
        (2) Award contracts;
        (3) Begin construction;
        (4) Complete construction, and
        (5) Reach final compliance.
        Increments 1, 4, and 5 are also required by the emission guidelines 
    for existing landfills. For new MSW landfills, three increments of 
    progress are required by the new source performance standards. These 
    three increments of progress are:
         Submit final control plan (collection and control system 
    design plan),
         Complete construction (install collection and control 
    system; and
         Reach final compliance.
        Subpart B does not apply to new landfills, thus, the increments to 
    award contracts and begin construction are not required for new 
    landfills.9 Although these two increments of progress do 
    apply to existing landfills, there is flexibility in the dates for 
    meeting them. Unlike the compliance time periods for increments 1, 4, 
    and 5, which are specified in the emission guidelines, no time periods 
    are specified for increments 2 and 3 in either subpart B or the 
    emission guidelines. Thus, the Federal plan allows the State, local or 
    Tribal authority, or the landfill owner or operator, to request 
    different time periods for these increments versus the generic time 
    periods specified in the Federal plan.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \9\ While subpart B does not apply to new MSW landfills, the 
    general provisions (40 CFR 60.7) do and they require that owners or 
    operators of affected facilities (which include new MSW landfills) 
    provide notification to EPA of certain actions they plan to take or 
    have taken. One of these actions is when they begin construction. 
    This notification requirement for new MSW landfills is not altered 
    by EPA's promulgation of the MSW landfills Federal plan.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    G. Delegation
    
        One commenter from a State environmental protection agency 
    recommended that States should not be the enforcement agent under the 
    Federal plan. The commenter noted that it did not want to take 
    delegation of the Federal plan, especially if it requires collection of 
    design capacity reports from hundreds of rural towns with small, closed 
    landfills.
        Although a State is not obligated to take delegation of the Federal 
    plan, the EPA believes that the State, Tribal, and local agencies are 
    in the best position to design, adopt, and implement the control 
    programs needed to meet the requirements of the MSW landfills Federal 
    plan in their jurisdictions. This is consistent with Congress' 
    overarching intent that the primary responsibility for air pollution 
    control rests with State and local agencies. See 63 FR 69375, December 
    16, 1998 and the Act section 101(a)(3).
        The EPA continues to strongly encourage States, Tribes, and local 
    agencies to submit approvable State plans. For States that are unable 
    to submit plans, the EPA strongly encourages them to request delegation 
    of the Federal plan, if feasible.
    
    IV. Implementation of Federal Plan and Delegation
    
        The EPA designed the landfills Federal plan to facilitate the 
    transfer of authority from EPA to States, Tribes, and local agencies. 
    The EPA believes that it is advantageous and the best use of resources 
    for State, local, or Tribal agencies to undertake roles in implementing 
    this Federal plan. Such roles could include development of a process 
    for reviewing collection and
    
    [[Page 60698]]
    
    control system design plans, administrating reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements, and conducting source inspections.
    
    A. Background of Authority
    
        The EPA is required to adopt emission guidelines that are 
    applicable to existing MSW landfills under section 111(d) of the Act. 
    The emission guidelines are not enforceable, however, until EPA 
    approves a State or Tribal plan or adopts a Federal plan. In cases 
    where a State or Tribe does not have an EPA approved plan, the EPA must 
    adopt a Federal plan for MSW landfills in the State or in Indian 
    country as an interim measure to implement the emission guidelines 
    until the State or Tribal plan is approved. A few States may not submit 
    a State plan and EPA is not aware of any Tribes that are developing 
    Tribal plans.
        Congress has determined that the primary responsibility for air 
    pollution control rests with State and local agencies. See the Act 
    101(a)(3). Consistent with that overall determination, Congress 
    established section 111 of the Act with the intent that the States and 
    local agencies take the primary responsibility for ensuring that the 
    emission limitations and other requirements in the emission guidelines 
    are achieved. Congress explicitly required that EPA establish 
    procedures under section 111(d) that are similar to those under section 
    110 for State Implementation Plans. The section 110 procedures are 
    based on States having the primary responsibility. Congress has shown a 
    consistent intent for the States and local agencies to have the primary 
    responsibility, but also included the requirement for EPA to promulgate 
    a Federal plan for States that fail to submit approvable State plans. 
    Accordingly, EPA has strongly encouraged the States to submit 
    approvable State plans, and for those States that are unable to submit 
    approvable State plans, EPA is strongly encouraging them to request 
    delegation of the Federal plan so that they can have the primary 
    responsibility in their State, consistent with Congress' overarching 
    intent.
        The EPA also believes that Indian tribes are the primary parties 
    responsible for regulating air quality within Indian country. See EPA's 
    Indian Policy (``Policy for Administration of Environmental Programs on 
    Indian Reservations,'' signed by William D. Ruckelshaus, Administrator 
    of EPA dated November 4, 1984), which was reaffirmed by EPA 
    Administrator Browner in 1994 (memorandum entitled, ``EPA Indian 
    Policy'' signed by Carol M. Browner, Administrator of EPA on March 14, 
    1994).
        The EPA believes, more specifically, that the State, Tribal and 
    local agencies have the responsibility to design, adopt, and implement 
    the control programs needed to meet the requirements of the MSW 
    landfills Federal plan. The EPA also believes that if these agencies 
    have appropriate enforcement resources, they can achieve the highest 
    rates of actual compliance in the field. For these reasons, EPA seeks 
    to employ all available mechanisms to expedite program transfer to 
    State, Tribal and local agencies, where requests for delegations can be 
    granted. For example, EPA encouraged States to help determine 
    compliance schedules for this MSW landfills Federal plan.
    
    B. Delegation of the Federal Plan and Retained Authorities
    
        If a State or Indian tribe intends to take delegation of the 
    Federal plan, the State or Indian tribe must submit a letter to EPA 
    stating their intent on behalf of the State or Tribe. In order to 
    obtain delegation, an Indian tribe must also establish its eligibility 
    to be treated in the same manner as a State (see section I.F of the 
    preamble). The letter requesting delegation of authority to implement 
    the Federal plan must, at a minimum, demonstrate that the State or 
    Tribe has adequate resources and the legal and enforcement authority to 
    administer and enforce the program. If the State or Tribe makes such a 
    demonstration, EPA will approve the delegation of the Federal plan. A 
    memorandum of agreement between the State or Tribe and the EPA setting 
    forth the terms and conditions of the delegation, including the 
    effective date of the agreement, would be used to transfer authority. 
    The EPA will publish an approval notice in the Federal Register and 
    incorporate it into 40 CFR part 62. The EPA will, in conjunction with 
    the State or Tribe, make additional efforts to ensure that affected 
    sources are aware that the State or Tribe has assumed responsibility 
    for implementation.
        The EPA will keep an up-to-date list of State and Tribal plan 
    submittals on the EPA TTN Web (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg). The list 
    will also show whether the State or Tribe has taken delegation of the 
    Federal plan. It is important to note, however, that while the EPA will 
    endeavor to keep the listing updated, the list is not controlling 
    regarding whether a State or Tribal plan has been approved or whether 
    authority to implement and enforce the MSW landfills Federal plan has 
    been delegated.
        The EPA will implement the Federal plan unless authority to 
    implement the Federal plan is delegated to a State or Indian tribe. If 
    a State or Tribe fails to implement the delegated portion of the 
    Federal plan, EPA will assume direct implementation.
        In delegating implementation and enforcement authority to a State 
    or Tribe under sections 101(a)(3) and 111 of the Act, the EPA 
    Administrator will retain the authority to approve the following items 
    and not transfer them to a State or Tribe:
         Alternative site-specific NMOC concentration (NMOC) or 
    site-specific methane generation rate constant (k) used in calculating 
    the annual NMOC emission rate,
         Alternative emission standard,
         Major alternatives 1 to test methods,
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \1\ Major changes to test methods or to monitoring are 
    modifications made to a federally enforceable test method or to a 
    federal monitoring requirement. These changes would involve the use 
    of unproven technology or procedures or an entirely new method 
    (which is sometimes necessary when the required test method or 
    monitoring requirement is unsuitable).
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
         Major alternatives \1\ to monitoring, or
         Waivers of recordkeeping.
    
    If landfill owners or operators would like to avail themselves of the 
    items listed above and specified in this Federal plan, they should 
    submit a request to the Regional Office Administrator with a copy to 
    the State. It should be noted that the EPA does not relinquish 
    enforcement authority even when a State or Tribe has received 
    delegation.
    
    C. Mechanisms for Transferring Authority
    
        There are two mechanisms for transferring implementation 
    responsibility to States, Tribes, and local agencies: (1) If EPA 
    approves a State or Tribal plan submitted to EPA after the Federal plan 
    is promulgated, the State or Tribe would have authority to enforce and 
    implement the State or Tribal plan upon the effective date of EPA's 
    approval; and (2) if a State or Tribe does not submit or obtain 
    approval of a State or Tribal plan, EPA can delegate the authority to 
    the State, Tribe, or local agencies to perform certain implementation 
    responsibilities for this Federal plan to the extent appropriate and 
    allowed by State or Tribal law.
    1. A State or Tribal Plan Is Submitted After Landfills Are Subject to 
    the Federal Plan
        After a landfill in a State or in a portion of Indian country 
    becomes
    
    [[Page 60699]]
    
    subject to the Federal plan, the State, Tribe or local agency may still 
    adopt and submit to EPA for approval a plan (i.e., a plan containing a 
    State or Tribal rule or other enforceable mechanism, inventories, 
    records of public hearings, and all other required elements of a State 
    plan). The EPA will determine if the State or Tribal plan is as 
    stringent as the emission guidelines. If EPA determines that the State 
    or Tribal plan is as stringent as the emission guidelines, EPA will 
    approve the State or Tribal plan. If, however, EPA determines that the 
    State or Tribal plan is not as stringent as the guidelines, EPA will 
    disapprove the plan. MSW landfills covered by State or Tribal plans 
    that become effective after the Federal plan is in place are subject to 
    the compliance schedule of the Federal plan if the compliance schedule 
    of the State or Tribal plan is less stringent.
        Note that 40 CFR 60.24(f) allows some flexibility on a case-by-case 
    basis for a less stringent rule or compliance schedule if specific 
    criteria are met, sufficient justification is provided by the State or 
    Tribe, and EPA approves the plan. States and Tribes may make their 
    plans more stringent than the emission guidelines.
        Landfills covered in the State or Tribal plan are subject to the 
    Federal plan until the State or Tribal plan is approved and becomes 
    effective. Upon the effective date of the State or Tribal plan, the 
    Federal plan no longer applies to landfills covered by the State or 
    Tribal plan and the State, Tribe or local agency will implement and 
    enforce the State or Tribal plan in lieu of the Federal plan. (The EPA 
    will periodically amend the Federal plan to identify States or Tribes 
    that have State or Tribal plans covering landfills in their 
    jurisdiction. Such landfills are not subject to the Federal plan.) 
    Making the State or Tribal plan effective in this manner expedites a 
    State's or Tribe's responsibility for implementing the emission 
    guidelines as intended by Congress.
    2. State Takes Delegation of the Federal Plan
        The State, Tribal or local agency may request Federal 
    implementation responsibilities even if there is no State or Tribal 
    plan in effect. The EPA believes that it is advantageous and the best 
    use of resources for State, Tribal or local agencies to agree to 
    undertake, on the EPA's behalf, administrative and substantive roles in 
    implementing the Federal plan, to the extent appropriate and where 
    authorized by State or Tribal law. These roles could include as a 
    minimum: development of a process for review of site-specific gas 
    collection and control system design plans, administration and 
    oversight of compliance reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
    conduct of source inspections, and preparation of draft notices of 
    violation. As stated previously, the EPA does not relinquish the 
    authority to bring enforcement actions against sources violating 
    Federal plan provisions.
    
    V. Title V Operating Permits
    
        Title V of the Clean Air Act and EPA's implementing regulations set 
    minimum standards for State and local air pollution control agencies to 
    adopt and submit for EPA approval a regulatory program for issuing 
    operating permits to specific sources. These sources include, but are 
    not limited to the following: major sources under title I or section 
    112 of the Act; affected sources under title IV of the Act (acid rain 
    sources); solid waste incineration units required to obtain a permit 
    under section 129 of the Act; and sources subject to standards under 
    section 111 or 112 of the Act that are not area sources exempted or 
    deferred from permitting requirements under title V.
        As clarified in the landfill amendments (63 FR 32743), all existing 
    MSW landfills with design capacities equal to or greater than 2.5 
    million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\ must have a title V operating permit. 
    Existing landfills with design capacities less than 2.5 million 
    megagrams or 2.5 million m\3\ are not required to have a title V 
    operating permit, unless they are a major source or are subject to 
    title V for some other reason (e.g., subject to a section 112 National 
    Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) or to another 
    section 111 NSPS).
        The owner or operator of an existing MSW landfill with a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\ 
    is subject to this MSW landfills Federal plan, and as a result, must 
    obtain a title V operating permit (40 CFR part 70 or part 71). Such 
    sources, if not already subject to title V permitting for another 
    reason or reasons (see sections 70.3 and 71.3), become subject to the 
    requirement to obtain an operating permit ninety days after the 
    effective date of this Federal plan, even if the design capacity report 
    is submitted prior to that date. The requirement to apply for a title V 
    permit is triggered ninety days after the effective date of the MSW 
    landfills Federal plan as this is the date that MSW landfills are 
    required to submit design capacity reports (if they have not already 
    been submitted). For more information on title V permitting 
    requirements, please see the preamble discussion entitled 
    ``Clarification of Title V Permitting Requirements'' in the June 16, 
    1998 direct final rule (63 FR 32743, 32746) for NSPS and emission 
    guidelines for MSW landfills.
        Sources subject to the title V permitting program under part 70 or 
    71 are required to file title V applications within 12 months after 
    becoming subject to the program. To be timely, the owner or operator of 
    a MSW landfill, which is subject to title V as a result of this 
    landfills Federal plan, must submit an application for an operating 
    permit not later than one year and ninety days after the effective date 
    of the MSW landfills Federal plan. If a source submits a timely and 
    complete application within this time frame, the permitting authority 
    may grant the source a permit application shield which, if maintained 
    by the source, would allow the source to operate without a permit until 
    its final title V permit is issued.
        Existing MSW landfills that are not currently subject to title V 
    because their design capacity is less than 2.5 million Mg or 2.5 
    million m\3\ may trigger the requirement to apply for a title V permit 
    in the future if the design capacity subsequently increases to equal or 
    exceed 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m\3\. The only circumstance under 
    which this could occur is if the increase in design capacity is a 
    change that is not a modification, i.e., it is not based on an increase 
    in permitted design capacity by either vertical or horizontal 
    expansion. For example, an increase in the compaction of waste where 
    the rate of compaction can be increased without a modification to the 
    permit issued by the State, local or Tribal agency that is responsible 
    for regulating the landfill. An amended design capacity report must be 
    submitted within 90 days of the design capacity increase. (See 40 CFR 
    60.35c which incorporates the requirement in 40 CFR 60.757(a)(3).) Such 
    sources would be required to file title V applications (if the sources 
    are not already subject to title V) within 12 months of the date that 
    the amended design capacity reports are required to be submitted. The 
    proposal preamble accurately reflected this fact. Unfortunately, 
    Sec. 62.14352(d) of the proposed regulatory text incorrectly indicated 
    that the 12-month period for submitting a title V application commenced 
    90 days after the amended design capacity report is due. This would be 
    contrary to title V of the Act and the requirements of 40 CFR 
    70.5(a)(1)(i) and 71.5(a)(1)(i). The EPA is correcting this error in 
    promulgating the Federal plan. Section 62.14352(e)
    
    [[Page 60700]]
    
    (section number revised in final Federal plan) now correctly indicates 
    that a MSW landfill becomes subject to the requirement of section 
    70.5(a)(1)(i) or section 71.5(a)(1)(i) on the date the amended design 
    capacity report is due.
        Existing MSW landfills that increase the permitted design capacity 
    (via modification of the permit issued by the State, local or Tribal 
    agency that regulates the landfill) to 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million 
    m3 or more will, upon commencing construction on the 
    vertical or horizontal expansion, have undergone either a modification 
    or reconstruction and will, therefore, not be subject to the landfills 
    Federal plan, but rather will be subject to the NSPS.
        As noted above, a landfill could be subject to title V for another 
    reason or reasons. MSW landfills, for example, may be subject to title 
    V permitting as a result of being a major source under one or more of 
    three major source definitions in title V: (1) section 112, (2) section 
    302, or (3) part D of title I of the Act. If a landfill is subject to 
    title V for more than one reason, then the 12 month time frame for 
    filing a title V application will be triggered by the criterion in 
    section 70.3 or 71.3 which first caused the landfill to be subject to 
    title V. As provided in section 503(c) of the Act, permitting 
    authorities may establish earlier deadlines (earlier than the 12 months 
    allowed) for submitting title V applications.
        A MSW landfill that is closed and is no longer subject to title V 
    as a result of this landfills Federal plan (see 40 CFR 62.14352(e)) may 
    remain subject to title V permitting requirements for another reason or 
    reasons as discussed above. In such circumstances, the landfill would 
    be required to continue operating in compliance with a title V permit.
        Title V operating permits issued to MSW landfills subject to this 
    Federal plan must include all applicable requirements of this Federal 
    plan (see 40 CFR 70.2 and 71.2). These permits must also contain all 
    necessary terms and conditions to assure compliance with these 
    applicable requirements. If a source is subject to both State and 
    Federal plan requirements due to a State taking delegation of part of 
    the Federal plan, then the landfill's permit must contain the 
    applicable provisions from each plan. Given that a title V permit for a 
    MSW landfill may contain both State and Federal provisions, it is 
    especially important that each title V permit issued to a MSW landfill 
    clearly state the basis for each requirement consistent with 40 CFR 
    70.6(a)(1)(i) and 71.6(a)(1)(i).
    
    VI. Summary of Federal Plan
    
        The MSW landfills Federal rule (40 CFR part 62, subpart GGG) 
    includes applicability criteria, emission standards, design criteria, 
    monitoring and performance testing requirements, and recordkeeping and 
    reporting requirements. These emission standards and requirements are 
    the same as those in the emission guidelines (40 CFR part 60, subpart 
    Cc), as revised in 1998 and 1999. The requirements are summarized in 
    section V of the proposal preamble (63 FR 69377). However, the EPA has 
    determined that the summary in the proposal preamble is deficient in 
    its discussion of the requirements applicable to MSW landfills with a 
    capacity of less than 2.5 million Mg or 2.5 million m3. In 
    addition to the requirement to submit an initial design capacity 
    report, the owner or operator of such a MSW landfill who converts 
    design capacity from volume to mass or mass to volume to demonstrate 
    that the landfill's design capacity is less than 2.5 million Mg or 2.5 
    million m3, as provided in the definition of ``design 
    capacity'', has an ongoing obligation to recalculate site-specific 
    density annually and to keep readily accessible, on-site records of the 
    annual recalculation of site-specific density, design capacity and the 
    supporting documentation. The owner or operator of such a MSW landfill 
    is also required to submit an amended design capacity report within 90 
    days of the annual recalculation of site-specific density and design 
    capacity indicating that the landfill now has a design capacity of 
    equal to or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m3. 
    The EPA has added language to Sec. 62.14353(a) to make it clearer that 
    the owner or operator of such a MSW landfill is subject to these 
    requirements. For purposes of consistency, EPA has added the same 
    language to Sec. 62.14353(b).
    
    VII. Administrative Requirements
    
        This section addresses the following administrative requirements: 
    Docket, Paperwork Reduction Act, Executive Order 12866, Executive 
    Orders on Federalism, Executive Orders 13045 and 13084, Unfunded 
    Mandates Reform Act, Regulatory Flexibility Act, Submission to Congress 
    and the General Accounting Office, and National Technology Transfer and 
    Advancement Act. Since today's adopted rule merely implements the 
    emission guidelines promulgated on March 12, 1996 (codified at 40 part 
    60, subpart Cc) as they apply to MSW landfills and does not impose any 
    new requirements, much of the following discussion of administrative 
    requirements refers to the discussion of the administrative 
    requirements contained in the preamble to the 1996 rule (61 FR 65404-
    65413, March 12, 1996).
    
    A. Docket
    
        The docket is an organized and complete file of all the information 
    considered by the EPA in the development of this rule. Material is 
    added to the docket throughout the rule development process. The 
    docketing system is intended to allow members of the public to identify 
    and locate documents so that they can effectively participate in the 
    rulemaking process. The contents of the docket will serve as the record 
    in case of judicial review (see 42 U.S.C. 7607(d)(7)(A)) except for 
    interagency review material. Docket number A-88-09 contains the 
    technical support for the March 12, 1996 emission guidelines. 
    Additional technical support specific to this rule is contained in 
    Docket No. A-98-03.
    
    B. Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The information collection requirements in this rule have been 
    submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
    under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. An 
    Information Collection Request (ICR) document has been prepared by EPA 
    (ICR No. 1893.01) and a copy may be obtained from Sandy Farmer, OPPE 
    Regulatory Information Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
    (2137); 401 M Street, SW; Washington, DC 20460, by email at 
    farmer.sandy@epa.gov, or by calling (202) 260-2740. A copy may also be 
    accessed on the internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and in Docket No. A-
    98-03, Item No. IV-B-4. The information requirements are not effective 
    until OMB approves them.
        The information will be used by the Agency to ensure that the MSW 
    landfill Federal plan requirements are implemented and are complied 
    with on a continuous basis. Records and reports are necessary to enable 
    EPA to identify MSW landfills that may not be in compliance with the 
    MSW landfill Federal plan requirements. Based on reported information, 
    EPA will decide which landfills should be inspected and what records or 
    processes should be inspected. The records that owners and operators of 
    MSW landfills maintain will indicate to EPA whether personnel are 
    operating and maintaining control equipment properly.
        Based on 1992 and 1996 Office of Solid Waste reports, a national 
    survey of landfills, and recent information from States, this Federal 
    plan is projected to
    
    [[Page 60701]]
    
    affect approximately 3,837 MSW landfills in 28 States, 5 territories, 
    and 1 municipality. The EPA prepared the ICR in June 1999 and based the 
    calculations on the status of State plans as of May 30, 1999. See Table 
    2 for the status of State plans as of October 19, 1999. A number of 
    State plans are expected to be approved within the year following 
    Federal plan promulgation. When a State plan is approved, the Federal 
    plan, by its own terms, will no longer apply to MSW landfills covered 
    in that State plan. Thus, the rule may affect fewer MSW landfills and 
    States during the second and third years following promulgation, and 
    the average annual burden may be less than the numbers presented here.
        The estimated average annual burden for industry for the first 3 
    years after the implementation of the Federal plan is 15,110 hours 
    annually at a cost of $1,509,135 per year to meet the monitoring, 
    recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The estimated average annual 
    burden, over the first 3 years, for the Agency is 7,401 hours at a cost 
    of $336,341 (including travel expenses) per year.
        Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
    expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
    information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed 
    to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
    technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
    verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
    disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
    comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
    train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
    search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
    and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
        An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
    to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
    currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
    regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.
        One commenter (IV-G-01) stated that 24 hours is not long enough for 
    EPA to review the site-specific design plan. The commenter contended 
    that EPA's estimate may be too low for an adequate and comprehensive 
    review, particularly where alternatives are proposed. The EPA did 
    further analysis and determined that it would be appropriate to 
    increase the time allocated for reviewing and approving the design 
    plan, thus the EPA has increased the estimate to review site-specific 
    design plans to 30 hours. The EPA based this estimate on a survey of 
    EPA Regional Offices and several States.
    
    C. Executive Order 12866
    
        Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), EPA 
    must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'' and 
    therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the Executive 
    Order. The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as one that 
    is likely to result in a rule that may:
        (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or 
    adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the 
    economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
    health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or 
    communities;
        (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
    action taken or planned by another agency;
        (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, 
    user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
    thereof; or
        (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
    mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
    the Executive Order.
        The EPA considered the 1996 guidelines and standards to be 
    significant and the rules were reviewed by OMB in 1996 (see 61 FR 9913, 
    March 12, 1996). The Federal plan adopted today will simply implement 
    the 1996 guidelines and does not result in any additional control 
    requirements or impose any additional costs above those previously 
    considered during promulgation of the 1996 guidelines; therefore, this 
    regulatory action is considered ``not significant'' under Executive 
    Order 12866.
    
    D. Executive Orders on Federalism
    
        Under Executive Order 12875, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
    not required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a State, local 
    or tribal government, unless the Federal government provides the funds 
    necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by those 
    governments, or EPA consults with those governments. If EPA complies by 
    consulting, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to provide to the Office 
    of Management and Budget a description of the extent of EPA's prior 
    consultation with representatives of affected State, local and tribal 
    governments, the nature of their concerns, copies of any written 
    communications from the governments, and a statement supporting the 
    need to issue the regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 
    requires EPA to develop an effective process permitting elected 
    officials and other representatives of State, local and tribal 
    governments ``to provide meaningful and timely input in the development 
    of regulatory proposals containing significant unfunded mandates.''
        Today's rule does not create an unfunded mandate on State, local or 
    tribal governments. The Federal plan adopted today does not impose any 
    additional costs or result in any additional control requirements above 
    those previously considered during promulgation of the 1996 guidelines. 
    Accordingly, the requirements of section 1(a) of Executive Order 12875 
    do not apply to this rule. The EPA nonetheless has involved State and 
    local governments in the development of this rule. During development 
    of the MSW landfills Federal plan, EPA worked with the EPA Regional 
    Offices to identify and address State issues. In addition, EPA 
    requested compliance schedules from States that want a schedule in the 
    Federal plan consistent with the State plan until the State plan 
    becomes effective. No such schedules have been received.
        On August 4, 1999, President Clinton issued a new executive order 
    on federalism, Executive Order 13132, [64 FR 43255 (August 10, 1999),] 
    which will take effect on November 2, 1999. In the interim, the current 
    Executive Order 12612 [52 FR 41685 (October 30, 1987),] on federalism 
    still applies. This rule will not have a substantial direct effect on 
    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 12612. 
    This Federal plan affects owners and operators of existing municipal 
    solid waste landfills for which a State or Tribal plan is not in 
    effect. Most of these landfills are owned or operated by private 
    industry or municipalities, not States. A State or Indian Tribe may 
    request delegation to implement the Federal plan but is not required to 
    do so. In addition, the Federal plan adopted today will simply 
    implement the 1996 guidelines and does not result in any additional 
    federalism issues above those previously considered during promulgation 
    of the 1996 guidelines.
    
    E. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
    Health Risks and Safety Risks
    
        Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any 
    rule that: (1) Is determined to be ``economically significant'' as 
    defined under E.O.
    
    [[Page 60702]]
    
    12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that EPA 
    has reason to believe may have a disproportionate effect on children. 
    If the regulatory action meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate 
    the environmental health or safety affects of the planned rule on 
    children, and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to other 
    potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives considered 
    by the Agency.
        This rule is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it is not 
    economically significant. Further, EPA interprets E.O. 13045 as 
    applying only to those regulatory actions that are based on health or 
    safety risks such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of the 
    order has the potential to influence the regulation. This MSW landfills 
    Federal plan is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it merely implements 
    the previously promulgated emission guidelines and thus does not 
    involve decisions on environmental health risks or safety risk that may 
    disproportionately affect children.
    
    F. Executive Order 13084: Consultation With Indian Tribal Governments
    
        Under Executive Order 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
    not required by statute, that significantly or uniquely affects the 
    communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes substantial 
    direct compliance costs on those communities, unless the Federal 
    government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
    costs incurred by the tribal governments, or EPA consults with those 
    governments. If EPA complies by consulting, Executive Order 13084 
    requires EPA to provide to the Office of Management and Budget, in a 
    separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
    description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation with 
    representatives of affected tribal governments, a summary of the nature 
    of their concerns, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
    regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop 
    an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
    representatives of Indian tribal governments ``to provide meaningful 
    and timely input in the development of regulatory policies on matters 
    that significantly or uniquely affect their communities.''
        The MSW landfills Federal plan adopted today does not significantly 
    or uniquely affect the communities of Indian tribal governments. There 
    are very few existing landfills in Indian country large enough to 
    require the installation of a collection and control system. For most 
    existing landfills in Indian country, the only requirements this 
    Federal plan imposes are to submit an initial design capacity report of 
    landfills in Indian country and to recalculate their site-specific 
    density and design capacity annually and submit an amended design 
    capacity report in the event that the recalculated design capacity is 
    equal to or greater than 2.5 million Mg and 2.5 million m 3. 
    Further, the Federal plan adopted today does not impose any additional 
    costs or result in any additional control requirements above those 
    previously considered during promulgation of the 1996 guidelines.
    
    G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    
        Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
    Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
    effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
    governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA 
    generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit 
    analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that 
    may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in 
    the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
    one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement 
    is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify 
    and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt 
    the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative 
    that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205 
    do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, 
    section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least 
    costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the 
    Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why that 
    alternative was not adopted. Before EPA establishes any regulatory 
    requirements that may significantly or uniquely affect small 
    governments, including tribal governments, it must have developed under 
    section 203 of the UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must 
    provide for notifying potentially affected small governments, enabling 
    officials of affected small governments to have meaningful and timely 
    input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant 
    Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and 
    advising small governments on compliance with the regulatory 
    requirements. An unfunded mandate statement was prepared and published 
    in the March 12, 1996 promulgation notice for the final emission 
    guidelines and new source performance standards (see 63 FR 9913 through 
    9918).
        The EPA has determined that the adopted MSW landfills Federal plan 
    does not include any new Federal mandates or additional requirements 
    above those previously considered during promulgation of the 1996 
    guidelines. Therefore, the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the 
    Unfunded Mandates Act do not apply to this rule.
    
    H. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires 
    Federal agencies to give special consideration to the impacts of 
    regulations on small entities, which are defined as small businesses, 
    small organizations, and small governments. During the 1996 rulemaking, 
    EPA estimated that small entities would not be affected by the 
    promulgated guidelines and standards, and therefore, a regulatory 
    flexibility analysis was not required (see 61 FR 9918). This adopted 
    Federal plan does not establish any new requirements; therefore, 
    pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 605 (b), EPA certifies that this 
    MSW landfills Federal plan will not have a significant impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities, and thus a regulatory flexibility 
    analysis is not required.
    
    I. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
    
        The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801, et. seq., as added by 
    the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 
    generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency 
    adopting 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 rule 
    and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
    Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
    to publication of this rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
    ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    
    J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
    
        Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
    Act of 1995 (the NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 
    272 note), directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its 
    regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with 
    applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary
    
    [[Page 60703]]
    
    consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials 
    specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, business practices, 
    etc.) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standard 
    bodies. The purpose of the NTTAA is to reduce the costs to the private 
    and public sectors by requiring federal agencies to use existing 
    technical standards used in commerce or industry. The NTTAA requires 
    the EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency 
    decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus 
    standards.
        The NTTAA does not apply because the Federal plan implements an 
    existing rule to which NTTAA did not apply. In addition, the emission 
    guidelines, which the Federal plan is based on, do not impose technical 
    standards.
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 62
    
        Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental 
    relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Dated: October 28, 1999.
    Carol M. Browner,
    Administrator.
    
        For reasons set out in the preamble, title 40, chapter I of the 
    Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    
    PART 62--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation for part 62 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C 7401-7642.
    
        2. Amend part 62 by adding subpart GGG consisting of Secs. 62.14350 
    through 62.14356 as follows:
    
    Subpart GGG--Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste 
    Landfills That Commenced Construction Prior to May 30, 1991 and Have 
    Not Been Modified or Reconstructed Since May 30, 1991
    
    Sec.
    62.14350  Scope and delegation of authority.
    62.14351  Definitions.
    62.14352  Designated facilities.
    62.14353  Standards for municipal solid waste landfill emissions.
    62.14354  Procedures, test methods, and monitoring.
    62.14355  Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    62.14356  Compliance schedules and increments of progress.
        Table 1 of Subpart GGG--States That Have an Approved and 
    Effective State Plan
        Table 2 of Subpart GGG--States that Submitted a Negative 
    Declaration Letter
        Table 3 of Subpart GGG--Generic Compliance Schedule and 
    Increments of Progress
        Table 4 of Subpart GGG--Site-Specific Compliance Schedules and 
    Increments of Progress [Reserved]
    
    Subpart GGG--Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste 
    Landfills That Commenced Construction Prior to May 30, 1991 and 
    Have Not Been Modified or Reconstructed Since May 30, 1991
    
    
    Sec. 62.14350  Scope and delegation of authority.
    
        (a) This subpart contains emission requirements and compliance 
    schedules for the control of designated pollutants from certain 
    municipal solid waste landfills in accordance with section 111(d) of 
    the Clean Air Act and 40 CFR part 60, subpart B. This municipal solid 
    waste landfills Federal plan applies to each designated facility as 
    defined in Sec. 62.14352 of this subpart that is not covered by an EPA 
    approved and currently effective State or Tribal plan.
        (b) The following authorities shall be retained by the 
    Administrator and not transferred to the State or Tribe upon delegation 
    of authority to the State or Tribe to implement and enforce the Federal 
    plan pursuant to sections 101(a)(3) and 111 of the Clean Air Act:
        (1) Approval of alternative methods to determine site-specific NMOC 
    concentration (C NMOC) or site-specific methane generation 
    rate constant (k) used in calculating the annual NMOC emission rate (as 
    provided in 40 CFR 60.754(a)(5) of subpart WWW),
        (2) Alternative emission standards,
        (3) Major alternatives 1 to test methods,
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \1\ Major changes to test methods or to monitoring are 
    modifications made to a federally enforceable test method or to a 
    federal monitoring requirement. These changes would involve the use 
    of unproven technology or procedures or an entirely new method 
    (which is sometimes necessary when the required test method or 
    monitoring requirement is unsuitable).
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        (4) Major alternatives to monitoring, or
        (5) Waivers of recordkeeping.
    
    
    Sec. 62.14351  Definitions.
    
        Terms used but not defined in this subpart have the meaning given 
    them in the Clean Air Act and 40 CFR part 60, subparts A, B, and WWW.
        Achieve final compliance means to connect and operate the 
    collection and control system as specified in the final control plan. 
    Within 180 days after the date the landfill is required to achieve 
    final compliance, the initial performance test must be conducted.
        Award contract means the MSW landfill owner or operator enters into 
    legally binding agreements or contractual obligations that cannot be 
    canceled or modified without substantial financial loss to the MSW 
    landfill owner or operator. The MSW landfill owner or operator may 
    award a number of contracts to install the collection and control 
    system. To meet this increment of progress, the MSW landfill owner or 
    operator must award a contract or contracts to initiate on-site 
    construction or installation of the collection and control system.
        Complete on-site construction means that all necessary collection 
    system components and air pollution control devices identified in the 
    final control plan are on site, in place, and ready for operation.
        Design capacity means the maximum amount of solid waste a landfill 
    can accept, as indicated in terms of volume or mass in the most recent 
    permit issued by the State, local, or Tribal agency responsible for 
    regulating the landfill, plus any in-place waste not accounted for in 
    the most recent permit. If the owner or operator chooses to convert the 
    design capacity from volume to mass or from mass to volume to 
    demonstrate its design capacity is less than 2.5 million megagrams or 
    2.5 million cubic meters, the calculation must include a site-specific 
    density, which must be recalculated annually.
        EPA approved State plan means a State plan that EPA has approved 
    based on the requirements in 40 CFR part 60, subpart B to implement and 
    enforce 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cc. An approved State plan becomes 
    effective on the date specified in the notice published in the Federal 
    Register announcing EPA's approval.
        Federal Indian Reservation means for purposes of the Clean Air Act, 
    all land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the 
    jurisdiction of the United States government, notwithstanding the 
    issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running through the 
    reservation.
        Final control plan (Collection and control system design plan) 
    means a plan that describes the collection and control system that will 
    capture the gas generated within an MSW landfill. The collection and 
    control system design plan must be prepared by a professional engineer 
    and must describe a collection and control system that meets the 
    requirements of 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(ii). The final control plan must 
    contain engineering specifications and drawings of the collection and 
    control system. The final control plan must include any alternatives to 
    the operational standards, test methods, procedures, compliance 
    measures, monitoring, recordkeeping or reporting provisions of 40 CFR 
    60.753 through 60.758 proposed by the owner or operator. The final 
    control plan must either conform with the specifications for active 
    collection systems in 40 CFR 60.759 or include a
    
    [[Page 60704]]
    
    demonstration that shows that based on the size of the landfill and the 
    amount of waste expected to be accepted, the system is sized properly 
    to collect the gas, control emissions of NMOC to the required level and 
    meet the operational standards for a landfill.
        Indian Country means all land within the limits of any Indian 
    reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States government, 
    notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way 
    running through the reservation; all dependent Indian communities 
    within the borders of the United States whether within the original or 
    subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without 
    the limits of a State; and all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to 
    which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running 
    through the same.
        Initiate on-site construction means to begin any of the following: 
    installation of the collection and control system to be used to comply 
    with the emission limits as outlined in the final control plan; 
    physical preparation necessary for the installation of the collection 
    and control system to be used to comply with the final emission limits 
    as outlined in the final control plan; or, alteration of an existing 
    collection and control system to be used to comply with the final 
    emission limits as outlined in the final control plan.
        Modification means an increase in the permitted volume design 
    capacity of the landfill by either horizontal or vertical expansion 
    based on its permitted design capacity as of May 30, 1991. Modification 
    does not occur until the owner or operator commences construction on 
    the horizontal or vertical expansion.
        Municipal solid waste landfill or MSW landfill means an entire 
    disposal facility in a contiguous geographical space where household 
    waste is placed in or on land. A municipal solid waste landfill may 
    also receive other types of RCRA Subtitle D wastes such as commercial 
    solid waste, nonhazardous sludge, conditionally exempt small quantity 
    generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Portions of a municipal 
    solid waste landfill may be separated by access roads. A municipal 
    solid waste landfill may be publicly or privately owned.
        Negative declaration letter means a letter to EPA declaring that 
    there are no existing MSW landfills in the State or that there are no 
    existing MSW landfills in the State that must install collection and 
    control systems according to the requirements of 40 CFR part 60, 
    subpart Cc. The negative declaration letter must include the design 
    capacities of any existing MSW landfills with a design capacity less 
    than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters.
        Protectorate means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
    the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the 
    Virgin Islands.
        State means any of the 50 United States and the protectorates of 
    the United States.
        State plan means a plan submitted pursuant to section 111(d) of the 
    Clean Air Act and 40 CFR part 60, subpart B that implements and 
    enforces 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cc. State plans include plans 
    developed by States, local agencies, and protectorates.
        Tribal plan means a plan submitted by a Tribal Authority pursuant 
    to 40 CFR parts 9, 35, 49, 50, and 81 that implements and enforces 40 
    CFR part 60, subpart Cc.
    
    
    Sec. 62.14352  Designated facilities.
    
        (a) The designated facility to which this subpart applies is each 
    municipal solid waste landfill in all States, protectorates, and Indian 
    Country that meets the conditions of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of 
    this section, except for landfills exempted by paragraphs (b) and (c) 
    of this section.
        (1) The municipal solid waste landfill commenced construction, 
    reconstruction, or modification before May 30, 1991 (landfills that 
    commence construction, modification, or reconstruction on or after May 
    30, 1991 are subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW), and
        (2) The municipal solid waste landfill has accepted waste at any 
    time since November 8, 1987 or the landfill has additional capacity for 
    future waste deposition.
        (b) A municipal solid waste landfill regulated by an EPA approved 
    and currently effective State or Tribal plan is not subject to the 
    requirements of this subpart. States that have an approved and 
    effective State plan are listed in table 1 of this subpart. 
    Notwithstanding the exclusions in table 1 of this subpart, any MSW 
    landfill located in a State or portion of Indian country that does not 
    have an EPA approved and currently effective State or Tribal plan is 
    subject to the requirements of this subpart.
        (c) A municipal solid waste landfill located in a State, locality, 
    or portion of Indian country that submitted a negative declaration 
    letter is not subject to the requirements of this subpart other than 
    the requirements in the definition of design capacity to recalculate 
    the site-specific density annually and in Sec. 62.14355 to submit an 
    amended design capacity report in the event that the recalculated 
    design capacity is equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 
    2.5 million cubic meters. However, if the existing municipal solid 
    waste landfill already has a design capacity equal to or greater than 
    2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters, then it is subject 
    to the requirements of the Federal plan. States, localities, or 
    portions of Indian country that submitted negative declaration letters 
    are listed in table 2 of this subpart.
        (d) Physical or operational changes made to an existing municipal 
    solid waste landfill solely to comply with an emission guideline are 
    not considered a modification or reconstruction and would not subject 
    an existing municipal solid waste landfill to the requirements of 40 
    CFR part 60, subpart WWW.
        (e) For purposes of obtaining an operating permit under title V of 
    the Clean Air Act, the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste 
    landfill subject to this subpart with a design capacity less than 2.5 
    million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters is not subject to the 
    requirement to obtain an operating permit for the landfill under part 
    70 or 71 of this chapter, unless the landfill is otherwise subject to 
    either part 70 or 71. For purposes of submitting a timely application 
    for an operating permit under part 70 or 71, the owner or operator of a 
    municipal solid waste landfill subject to this subpart with a design 
    capacity greater than or equal to 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million 
    cubic meters on January 7, 2,000 and not otherwise subject to either 
    part 70 or 71, becomes subject to the requirements of 
    Sec. 70.5(a)(1)(i) or Sec. 71.5(a)(1)(i) of this chapter April 6, 2000, 
    even if the initial design capacity report is submitted earlier. In 
    addition, the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill 
    subject to this subpart with a design capacity less than 2.5 million 
    megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters on January 7, 2000, and not 
    otherwise subject to either part 70 or 71, but whose design capacity 
    subsequently increases to equal or exceed 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 
    million cubic meters by a change that is not a modification or 
    reconstruction becomes subject to the requirements of 
    Sec. 70.5(a)(1)(i) or Sec. 71.5(a)(1)(i) of this chapter upon the date 
    the amended design capacity report is due.
        (f) When a municipal solid waste landfill subject to this subpart 
    is closed, the owner or operator is no longer subject to the 
    requirement to maintain an operating permit under part 70 or 71 of this 
    chapter for the landfill if the landfill is not otherwise subject to 
    the
    
    [[Page 60705]]
    
    requirements of either part 70 or 71 and if either of the following 
    conditions are met:
        (1) The landfill was never subject to the requirement for a control 
    system under Sec. 62.14353 of this subpart; or
        (2) The owner or operator meets the conditions for control system 
    removal specified in 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2)(v).
    
    
    Sec. 62.14353  Standards for municipal solid waste landfill emissions.
    
        (a) The owner or operator of a designated facility having a design 
    capacity less than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 million cubic meters 
    must comply with the requirements of 40 CFR 60.752(a) in addition to 
    the applicable reporting and recordkeeping requirements specified in 
    this subpart.
        (b) The owner or operator of a designated facility having a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million 
    cubic meters must comply with the requirements of 40 CFR 60.752(b) in 
    addition to the applicable reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
    specified in this subpart.
    
    
    Sec. 62.14354  Procedures, test methods, and monitoring.
    
        (a) The owner or operator of a designated facility having a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million 
    cubic meters must calculate the landfill nonmethane organic compounds 
    emission rate using the procedures listed in 40 CFR 60.754, as 
    applicable, to determine whether the landfill nonmethane organic 
    compounds emission rate equals or exceeds 50 megagrams per year.
        (b) The owner or operator of a designated facility with a gas 
    collection and control system used to comply with Sec. 62.14353(b) must 
    comply with the operational standards in 40 CFR 60.753; the test 
    procedures in 40 CFR 60.754(b) and (d); the compliance provisions in 40 
    CFR 60.755; and the monitoring provisions in 40 CFR 60.756, unless 
    alternative procedures have been approved.
    
    
    Sec. 62.14355  Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        (a) The owner or operator of a designated facility must comply with 
    the recordkeeping and reporting provisions listed in 40 CFR 60.757 and 
    60.758, except as provided for under paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of 
    this section.
        (1) The initial design capacity report for a designated facility is 
    due within 90 days of the effective date of this subpart. Existing MSW 
    landfills with a design capacity less than 2.5 million megagrams or 2.5 
    million cubic meters that are located in States that submitted a 
    negative declaration letter are not required to submit an initial 
    design capacity report provided that the MSW landfill's design capacity 
    was included in the negative declaration letter.
        (2) The initial nonmethane organic compounds emission rate report 
    for a designated facility is due within 90 days of the effective date 
    of this subpart.
        (b) The owner or operator of a designated facility must submit 
    notification to the EPA Regional Office within 10 business days of 
    completing each increment of progress. Each notification must indicate 
    which increment of progress specified in Sec. 62.14356(a)(1) through 
    (a)(5) of this subpart has been achieved. The notification must be 
    signed by the owner or operator of the landfill.
        (1) For the first increment of progress, the final control plan 
    (collection and control system design plan) must be submitted in 
    addition to the notification. A copy of the design plan must also be 
    kept on site at the landfill.
        (2) For the second increment of progress, a signed copy of the 
    contract(s) awarded must be submitted in addition to the notification.
        (c) The owner or operator of a designated facility who fails to 
    meet any increment of progress specified in Sec. 62.14356(a)(1) through 
    (a)(5) of this subpart according to the applicable schedule in 
    Sec. 62.14356 of this subpart must submit notification that the owner 
    or operator failed to meet the increment to the EPA Regional Office 
    within 10 business days of the applicable date in Sec. 62.14356.
        (d) The owner or operator (or the State or Tribal air pollution 
    control authority) that is submitting alternative dates for increments 
    2 and 3 according to Sec. 62.14356(d) of this subpart must do so by the 
    date specified for submitting the final control plan. The date for 
    submitting the final control plan is specified in Sec. 62.14356(c)(1) 
    and (c)(2) of this subpart, as applicable. The owner or operator (or 
    the State or Tribal air pollution control authority) must submit a 
    justification if any of the alternative dates are later than the 
    increment dates in table 3 of this subpart. In addition to submitting 
    the alternative dates to the appropriate EPA Regional Office, the owner 
    or operator must also submit the alternative dates to the State.
    
    
    Sec. 62.14356  Compliance schedules and increments of progress.
    
        (a) Increments of progress. The owner or operator of a designated 
    facility that has a design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 
    million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters and a nonmethane organic 
    compound emission rate greater than or equal to 50 megagrams per year 
    must achieve the increments of progress specified in paragraphs (a)(1) 
    through (a)(5) of this section to install air pollution control devices 
    to meet the emission standards specified in Sec. 62.14353(b) of this 
    subpart. (Refer to Sec. 62.14351 for a definition of each increment of 
    progress.)
        (1) Submit control plan: Submit a final control plan (collection 
    and control system design plan) according to the requirements of 
    Sec. 62.14353(b) of this subpart and 40 CFR 60.752(b)(2).
        (2) Award contract(s): Award contract(s) to initiate on-site 
    construction or initiate on-site installation of emission collection 
    and/or control equipment.
        (3) Initiate on-site construction: Initiate on-site construction or 
    initiate on-site installation of emission collection and/or control 
    equipment as described in the EPA-approved final control plan.
        (4) Complete on-site construction: Complete on-site construction 
    and installation of emission collection and/or control equipment.
        (5) Achieve final compliance: Complete construction in accordance 
    with the design specified in the EPA-approved final control plan and 
    connect the landfill gas collection system and air pollution control 
    equipment such that they are fully operating. The initial performance 
    test must be conducted within 180 days after the date the facility is 
    required to achieve final compliance.
        (b) Compliance date. For each designated facility that has a design 
    capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million 
    cubic meters and a nonmethane organic compound emission rate greater 
    than or equal to 50 Mg per year, planning, awarding of contracts, and 
    installation of municipal solid waste landfill air emission collection 
    and control equipment capable of meeting the standards in 
    Sec. 62.14353(b) must be accomplished within 30 months after the date 
    the initial emission rate report (or the annual emission rate report) 
    first shows that the nonmethane organic compounds emission rate equals 
    or exceeds 50 megagrams per year.
        (c) Compliance schedules. The owner or operator of a designated 
    facility that has a design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5 
    million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters and a nonmethane organic 
    compound emission rate greater than or equal to 50 megagrams per year 
    must achieve the increments of progress specified in paragraphs (a)(1) 
    through
    
    [[Page 60706]]
    
    (a)(5) of this section according to the schedule specified in paragraph 
    (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section, unless a site-specific schedule is 
    approved by EPA.
        (1) The owner or operator of a designated facility must achieve the 
    increments of progress according to the schedule in table 3 of this 
    subpart, except for those affected facilities specified in paragraph 
    (c)(2) of this section. Once this subpart becomes effective on January 
    7, 2000, any designated facility to which this subpart applies will 
    remain subject to the schedule in table 3 if a subsequently approved 
    State or Tribal plan contains a less stringent schedule, (i.e., a 
    schedule that provides more time to comply with increments 1, 4 and/or 
    5 than does this Federal plan).
        (2) The owner or operator of the specified designated facility in 
    table 4 of this subpart must achieve the increments of progress 
    according to the schedule in table 4 of this subpart.
        (d) For designated facilities that are subject to the schedule 
    requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the owner or operator 
    (or the State or Tribal air pollution control authority) may submit to 
    the appropriate EPA Regional Office for approval alternative dates for 
    achieving increments 2 and 3.
    
    Tables to Subpart GGG
    
       Table 1 of Subpart GGG.--States That Have an Approved and Effective
                                  State Plan a
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Effective date
                           State plan                          of state plan
    -----------------------------------------------------------------b------
    Alabama.................................................        12/07/98
    Allegheny County, Pennsylvania..........................        04/16/99
    Arizona.................................................        11/19/99
    California..............................................        11/22/99
    Colorado................................................        09/28/98
    Delaware................................................        11/16/99
    Florida.................................................        08/03/99
    Georgia.................................................        01/12/99
    Illinois................................................        01/22/99
    Iowa....................................................        06/22/98
    Kansas..................................................        05/19/98
    Kentucky................................................        06/21/99
    Louisiana...............................................        10/28/97
    Maryland................................................         11/8/99
    Minnesota...............................................        09/25/98
    Missouri................................................        06/23/98
    Montana.................................................        09/08/98
    Nashville, Tennessee....................................        02/16/99
    Nebraska................................................        06/23/98
    Nevada..................................................        11/19/99
    New Mexico..............................................        02/10/98
    New York................................................        09/17/99
    North Dakota............................................        02/13/98
    Ohio....................................................        10/06/98
    Oklahoma................................................        05/18/99
    Oregon..................................................        08/25/98
    South Carolina..........................................        10/25/99
    South Dakota............................................        08/02/99
    Tennessee...............................................        11/29/99
    Texas...................................................        08/16/99
    Utah....................................................        03/16/98
    Wyoming.................................................       07/31/98
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a This table is provided as a matter of convenience and is not
      controlling in determining whether a MSW landfill is subject to the
      Federal plan. A MSW landfill is subject to this Federal plan if it
      commenced construction before May 30, 1991 and has not been modified
      or reconstructed on or after that date and is not covered by an
      approved and currently effective State or Tribal plan.
    b The State plan is expected to become effective on the date indicated.
      However, if the State plan does not become effective on the date
      indicated, the Federal plan applies until the State plan becomes
      effective.
    
    
      Table 2 of Subpart GGG.--States That Submitted a Negative Declaration
                                    Letter a
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Date of
          State, locality, or portion of Indian country          negative
                                                                declaration
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    District of Columbia....................................        09/11/97
    New Hampshire...........................................        07/22/98
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..............................        02/27/96
    Rhode Island............................................        05/27/98
    Vermont.................................................       08/20/96
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a A MSW landfill with a design capacity equal to or greater than 2.5
      million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters located in an area for
      which a negative declaration letter was submitted is subject to the
      Federal plan, notwithstanding the negative declaration letter and this
      table 2.
    
    
     Table 3 of Subpart GGG.--Generic Compliance Schedule and Increments of
                                   Progress a
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Increment                               Date
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Increment 1--Submit final control plan.  1 year after initial NMOC
                                              emission rate report or the
                                              first annual emission rate
                                              report showing NMOC emissions
                                               50 Mg/yr.b
    Increment 2--Award Contracts...........  20 months after initial NMOC
                                              emission rate report or the
                                              first annual emission rate
                                              report showing NMOC emissions
                                               50 Mg/yr.b
    Increment 3--Begin on-site construction  24 months after initial NMOC
                                              emission rate report or the
                                              first annual emission rate
                                              report showing NMOC emissions
                                               50 Mg/yr.b
    Increment 4--Complete on-site            30 months after initial NMOC
     construction.                            emission rate report or the
                                              first annual emission rate
                                              report showing NMOC emissions
                                               50 Mg/yr.b
    Increment 5--Final compliance..........  30 months after initial NMOC
                                              emission rate report or the
                                              first annual emission rate
                                              report showing NMOC emissions
                                               50 Mg/yr.b
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a Table 3 of subpart GGG applies to landfills with design capacities 2.5 million megagrams and 2.5 million cubic meters that are
      subject to this subpart except those with site-specific compliance
      schedules shown in table 4 of subpart GGG.
    b NMOC = nonmethane organic compounds Mg/yr = megagrams per year
    
        Table 4 of Subpart GGG--Site-Specific Compliance Schedules and 
    Increments of Progress [Reserved]
    [FR Doc. 99-28726 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/7/2000
Published:
11/08/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-28726
Dates:
The effective date of this MSW landfills Federal plan is January 7, 2000.
Pages:
60689-60706 (18 pages)
Docket Numbers:
AD-FRL-6469-8
RINs:
2060-AI50: Federal Plan Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills that Commenced Construction Prior to 5/30/91 and Have Not Been Modified or Reconstructed Since 5/30/91
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2060-AI50/federal-plan-requirements-for-municipal-solid-waste-landfills-that-commenced-construction-prior-to-5
PDF File:
99-28726.pdf
CFR: (17)
40 CFR 62.14356(a)
40 CFR 70.5(a)(1)(i)
40 CFR 62.14353(b)
40 CFR 62.14352(d)
40 CFR 2.5
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