99-12001. Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants; North Dakota; Control of Emissions From Existing Hazardous/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 25831-25834]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-12001]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 62
    
    [FRL-6340-6]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated 
    Facilities and Pollutants; North Dakota; Control of Emissions From 
    Existing Hazardous/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are approving the section 111(d) Plan submitted by the 
    North Dakota Department of Health on October 6, 1998, to implement and 
    enforce the Emissions Guidelines (EG) for existing Hazardous/Medical/
    Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWI). The EG require States to develop 
    plans to reduce toxic air emissions from all HMIWIs.
    
    DATES: This direct final rule is effective on July 12, 1999, without 
    further notice, unless we receive adverse comments by June 14, 1999. If 
    we receive adverse comments, we will publish a timely withdrawal of the 
    direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that 
    the rule will not take effect.
    
    ADDRESSES: You should address comments on this action to Richard R. 
    Long, EPA Region 8, Office of Air and Radiation (8P-AR), 999 18th 
    Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202. Copies of all materials 
    considered in this rulemaking may be examined during normal business 
    hours at the following locations: EPA Region 8 offices, 999 18th 
    Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202, and at the North Dakota 
    Department of Health offices, 1200 Missouri Avenue, Bismarck, North 
    Dakota 58504-5264.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Paser at 303-312-6526.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Table of Contents
    
    I. What action is being taken by EPA today?
    II. Why do we need to regulate HMIWI emissions?
    III. What is a State Plan?
    IV. What does the North Dakota State Plan contain?
    V. Is my HMIWI subject to these regulations?
    VI. What steps do I need to take?
    VII. Administrative Requirements
    
    I. What Action Is Being Taken by EPA Today?
    
        We are approving North Dakota's State Plan, as submitted on October 
    6, 1998 for the control of air emissions from HMIWIs, except for those 
    HMIWIs located in Indian Country. When we developed our New Source 
    Performance Standard (NSPS) for HMIWIs, we also developed Emissions 
    Guidelines (EG) to control air emissions from older HMIWIs. (See 62 FR 
    48348-48391, September 15, 1997). North Dakota developed a State Plan, 
    as required by section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (the Act), to adopt 
    the EG into their body of regulations, and we are acting today to 
    approve it.
        We are publishing this action without prior proposal because we 
    view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse 
    comments. However, in a separate document in this Federal Register 
    publication, we are proposing to approve the revision should 
    significant, material, and adverse comments be filed. This action is 
    effective July 12, 1999, unless by June 14, 1999, adverse or critical 
    comments are received. If we receive such comments, this action will be 
    withdrawn before the effective date by publishing a subsequent document 
    that will withdraw the final action. All public comments received will 
    be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this action serving as 
    a proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this 
    action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do 
    so at this time. If no such comments are received, this action is 
    effective July 12, 1999.
    
    II. Why Do We Need To Regulate HMIWI Emissions?
    
        When burned, hospital waste and medical/infectious waste emit 
    various air pollutants, including hydrochloric acid, dioxin/furan, and 
    toxic metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury). Mercury is highly hazardous 
    and is of particular concern because it persists in the environment and 
    bioaccumulates through the food web. Serious developmental and adult 
    effects in humans, primarily damage to the nervous system, have been 
    associated with exposures to mercury. Harmful effects in wildlife have 
    also been reported; these include nervous system damage and behavioral 
    and reproductive deficits. Human and wildlife exposure to mercury occur 
    mainly through the ingestion of fish. When inhaled, mercury vapor 
    attacks also the lung tissue and is a cumulative poison. Short-term 
    exposure to mercury in certain forms can cause hallucinations and 
    impair consciousness. Long-term exposure to mercury in certain forms 
    can affect the central nervous system and cause kidney damage.
        Exposure to particulate matter has been linked with adverse health 
    effects, including aggravation of existing respiratory and 
    cardiovascular disease and increased risk of premature death. 
    Hydrochloric acid is a clear colorless gas. Chronic exposure to 
    hydrochloric acid has been reported to cause gastritis, chronic 
    bronchitis, dermatitis, and photosensitization. Acute exposure to high 
    levels of chlorine in humans may result in chest pain, vomiting, toxic 
    pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death. At lower levels, chlorine is a 
    potent irritant to the eyes, the upper respiratory tract, and lungs.
    
    [[Page 25832]]
    
        Exposure to dioxin and furan can cause skin disorders, cancer, and 
    reproductive effects such as endometriosis. These pollutants can also 
    affect the immune system.
    
    III. What Is a State Plan?
    
        Section 111(d) of the Act requires that pollutants, controlled 
    under the NSPS must also be controlled at older sources in the same 
    source category. Once an NSPS is promulgated, we then publish an EG 
    applicable to the control of the same pollutant from existing 
    (designated) facilities. States with designated facilities must then 
    develop a State Plan to adopt the EG into their body of regulations. 
    States must also include in this State Plan other elements, such as 
    inventories, legal authority, and public participation documentation, 
    to demonstrate the ability to and enforce.
    
    IV. What Does the North Dakota State Plan Contain?
    
        North Dakota adopted the Federal NSPS and EG by reference into its 
    State regulations at NDAC 33-15-12-02. The North Dakota State Plan 
    contains:
        1. A demonstration of the State's legal authority to implement the 
    section 111(d) State Plan;
        2. State rules adopted into NDAC 33-15-12 as the mechanism for 
    implementing the emission guidelines. The North Dakota 23-25-10 gives 
    the North Dakota Department of Health the authority to enforce any 
    properly adopted rule.
        3. An inventory of approximately 76 known designated facilities, 
    along with estimates of their toxic air emissions;
        4. Emission limits that are as protective as the EG;
        5. A compliance date of 3 years after environmental protection 
    agency approval of the state plan but not later than September 16, 
    2002.
        6. Testing, monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
    for the designated facilities;
        7. Records from the public hearing; and,
        8. Provisions for progress reports to EPA.
        The North Dakota State Plan was reviewed for approval with respect 
    to the following criteria: 40 CFR 60.23 through 60.26, Subpart B--
    Adoption and Submittal of State Plans for Designated Facilities; and, 
    40 CFR 60.30e through 60.39e, Subpart Ce--Emission Guidelines and 
    Compliance Times for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators. A 
    detailed discussion of our evaluation of the North Dakota State Plan is 
    included in our technical support document, located in the official 
    file for this action.
    
    V. Is My HMIWI Subject to These Regulations?
    
        The EG for existing HMIWIs affect any HMIWI built on or before June 
    20, 1996. If your facility meets this criterion, you are subject to 
    these regulations.
    
    VI. What Steps Do I Need To Take?
    
        You must meet the requirements listed in NDAC 33-15-12-02 Subpart 
    Ce, summarized as follows:
        1. Determine the size of your incinerator by establishing its 
    maximum design capacity.
        2. Each size category of HMIWI has certain emission limits 
    established which your incinerator must meet. See Table 1 of 40 CFR 
    part 60, subpart Ce to determine the specific emission limits which 
    apply to you. The emission limits apply at all times, except during 
    startup, shutdown, or malfunctions, provided that no waste has been 
    charged during these events. (40 CFR 60.33e, as listed at 62 FR 48382, 
    September 15, 1997).
        3. There are provisions to address small rural incincerators 40 CFR 
    60.33e(b), 60.36e, 60.37e(c)(d), and 60.38e(b), as listed at 62 FR 
    48380, September 15, 1997).
        4. You must meet a 10% opacity limit on your discharge, averaged 
    over a six-minute block (40 CFR 60.33e(c), as listed at 62 FR 48380, 
    September 15, 1997).
        5. You must have a qualified HMIWI operator available to supervise 
    the operation of your incinerator. This operator must be trained and 
    qualified through a State-approved program, or a training program that 
    meets the requirements listed under 40 CFR part 60.53c(c) (40 CFR 
    60.34e, as listed at 62 FR 48380).
        6. Your operator must be certified, as discussed in paragraph 5 
    above, no later than one year after we approve this North Dakota State 
    Plan (40 CFR 60.39e(e), as listed at 62 FR 48382).
        7. You must develop and submit to the North Dakota Department of 
    Health a waste management plan. This plan must be developed under 
    guidance provided by the American Hospital Association publication, An 
    Ounce of Prevention: Waste Reduction Strategies for Health Care 
    Facilities, 1993, and must be submitted to the Department of Health no 
    later than one year after we approve this State Plan (40 CFR 60.35e, as 
    listed at 62 FR 48380).
        8. You must conduct an initial performance test to determine your 
    incinerator's compliance with these emission limits. This performance 
    test must be completed within 36 months of North Dakota's State Plan 
    approval (40 CFR 60.37e and 60.8, as listed at 62 FR 48380).
        9. You must install and maintain devices to monitor the parameters 
    listed under Table 3 to Subpart Ec (40 CFR 60.37e(c), as listed at 62 
    FR 48381).
        10. You must document and maintain information concerning pollutant 
    concentrations, opacity measurements, charge rates, and other 
    operational data. This information must be maintained for a period of 
    five years (40 CFR 60.38e, as listed at 62 FR 48381).
        11. You must report to the North Dakota Health Department the 
    results of your initial performance test, the values for your site-
    specific operating parameters, and your waste management plan. This 
    information must be reported within 60 days following your initial 
    performance test, and must be signed by the facilities manager (40 CFR 
    60.38e, as listed at 62 FR 48381).
        12. In general, you must comply with all the requirements of this 
    State Plan within one year after we approve it; however, there are 
    provisions to extend your compliance date (40 CFR 60.39e, as listed at 
    62 FR 48381).
    
    VII. Administrative Requirements
    
    A. Executive Order 12866
    
        The Office of Management and Budget has exempted this regulatory 
    action from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory 
    Planning and Review.
    
    B. Executive Order 12875
    
    Executive Order 12875: Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership
        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
    
    [[Page 25833]]
    
    governments to provide meaningful and timely input in the development 
    of regulatory proposals containing significant unfunded mandates.
        Today's rule implements requirements specifically set forth by the 
    Congress in sections 111 and 129 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 
    1990, without the exercise of any discretion by EPA. Accordingly, the 
    requirements of section 1(a) of Executive Order 12875 do not apply to 
    this rule.
    
    C. Executive Order 13045
    
        Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
    Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), applies to any rule that: (1) is 
    determined to be economically significant as defined under E.O. 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 effects 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 an 
    economically significant action under Executive Order 12866.
    
    D. Executive Order 13084
    
    Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
    Governments
        Under E.O. 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
    required by statute, that significantly affects 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.
        Today's rule implements requirements specifically set forth by the 
    Congress in sections 111 and 129 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 
    1990, without the exercise of any discretion by EPA.
    
    E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency 
    to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to 
    notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the agency certifies 
    that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small 
    businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small governmental 
    jurisdictions. Pursuant to section 605(b) of the RFA, I certify that 
    this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
    number of small entities. This Federal action approves pre-existing 
    requirements under, State, law and imposes no new requirements on any 
    entity affected by this rule, including small entities. Therefore, 
    these amendments will not have a significant impact on a substantial 
    number of small entities.
    
    F. Unfunded Mandates
    
        Under Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
    (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA 
    must prepare a budgetary impact statement to accompany any proposed or 
    final rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result in estimated 
    costs to State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate; or to 
    private sector, of $100 million or more. Under Section 205, EPA must 
    select the most cost-effective and least burdensome alternative that 
    achieves the objectives of the rule and is consistent with statutory 
    requirements. Section 203 requires EPA to establish a plan for 
    informing and advising any small governments that may be significantly 
    or uniquely impacted by the rule.
        EPA has determined that the approval action promulgated does not 
    include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 
    million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments in the 
    aggregate, or to the private sector. This Federal action approves pre-
    existing requirements under State or local law, and imposes no new 
    requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or 
    tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this action.
    
    G. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
    
        The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
    provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
    the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
    to each House of Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United 
    States. 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 the rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
    major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    
    H. Petitions for Judicial Review
    
        Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
    judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
    of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by July 12, 1999. Filing a 
    petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
    does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial 
    review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial 
    review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such 
    rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings 
    to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 62
    
        Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
    Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Dated: April 30, 1999.
    Patricia D. Hull,
    Acting Administrator, Region VIII.
        40 CFR part 62 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.
    
    Subpart JJ--North Dakota
    
        2. Add a new undesignated center heading and Secs. 62.8610, 
    62.8611, and 62.8612 to subpart JJ to read as follows:
    
    [[Page 25834]]
    
    AIR EMISSIONS FROM HAZARDOUS/MEDICAL/INFECTIOUS WASTE INCINERATORS
    
    
    Sec. 62.8610  Identification of Plan.
    
        Section 111(d) Plan for Hazardous/Medical/Infectious Waste 
    Incinerators and the associated State regulation in section 33-15-12-02 
    of the North Dakota Administrative Code submitted by the State on 
    October 6, 1998.
    
    
    Sec. 62.8611  Identification of Sources.
    
        The plan applies to all existing hazardous/medical/infectious waste 
    incinerators for which construction was commenced on or before June 20, 
    1996, as described in 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ce.
    
    
    Sec. 62.8612  Effective Date.
    
        The effective date for the portion of the plan applicable to 
    existing hazardous/medical/infectious waste incinerators is July 12, 
    1999.
    [FR Doc. 99-12001 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/12/1999
Published:
05/13/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
99-12001
Dates:
This direct final rule is effective on July 12, 1999, without further notice, unless we receive adverse comments by June 14, 1999. If we receive adverse comments, we will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
Pages:
25831-25834 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
FRL-6340-6
PDF File:
99-12001.pdf
CFR: (3)
40 CFR 62.8610
40 CFR 62.8611
40 CFR 62.8612