01-16427. NESHAP: Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to take action on NESHAP: Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors. The revisions make targeted amendments to the regulations for hazardous waste burning cement kilns, lightweight aggregate kilns, and incinerators promulgated on September 30, 1999 (NESHAP: Final Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors). The revisions make improvements to the implementation of the emission standards, primarily in the areas of compliance, testing and monitoring. We are proposing these revisions to make it easier to comply with the September 30, 1999 final rule.

In the “Rules and Regulations” section of the Federal Register, we are amending the September 30, 1999 final rule without prior proposal to incorporate these revisions because we view the amendments as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this approach in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive adverse comment on a distinct amendment, however, we will withdraw the direct final action for that amendment and the amendment will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on any amendment must do so at this time.

DATES:

Written comments must be received by August 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

If you wish to comment on this proposed rule, you must send an original and two copies of the comments referencing Docket Number F-2001-RC4P-FFFFF to: RCRA Information Center (RIC), Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA HQ), Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0002; or, (2) if using special delivery, such as overnight express service: RIC, Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, First Floor, Arlington, VA 22202. You may also submit comments electronically following the directions in the Supplementary Information section below.

You may view public comments and supporting materials in the RIC. The RIC is open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. To review docket materials, we recommend that you make an appointment by calling 703-603-9230. You may copy up to 100 pages from any regulatory document at no charge. Additional copies cost $ 0.15 per page. For information on accessing an electronic copy of the data base, see the Supplementary Information section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information, call the RCRA Call Center at 1-800-424-9346 or TDD 1-800-553-7672 (hearing impaired). Callers within the Washington Metropolitan Area must dial 703-412-9810 or TDD 703-412-3323 (hearing impaired). The RCRA Call Center is open Monday-Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, Eastern Standard Time. For more information on specific aspects of this proposed rule, contact Mr. Frank Behan at 703-308-8476, [e-mail], or write him at the Office of Solid Waste, 5302W, U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This document concerns NESHAP: Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors. For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action that is located in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register publication.

Submittal of Comments

You may submit comments electronically by sending electronic mail through the Internet to: [e-mail]. You should identify comments in electronic format with the docket number F-2001-RC4P-FFFFF. You must submit all electronic comments as an ASCII (text) file, avoiding the use of special characters or any type of encryption. The official record for this action will be kept in the paper form. Accordingly, we will transfer all comments received electronically into paper form and place them in the official record which will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the RIC as described above. We may seek clarification of electronic comments that are garbled in transmission or during conversion to paper form.

You should not electronically submit any confidential business information (CBI). You must submit an original and two copies of CBI under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

If you do not submit comments electronically, we are asking prospective commenters to voluntarily submit one additional copy of their comments on labeled personal computer diskettes in ASCII (text) format or a word processing format that can be converted to ASCII (text). It is essential that you specify on the disk label the word processing software and version/edition as well as the commenter's name. This will allow us to convert the comments into one of the word processing formats used by the Agency. Please use mailing envelopes designed to protect the diskettes. We emphasize that submission of diskettes is not mandatory, nor will it result in any advantage or disadvantage to any commenter.

I. Description of Proposed Amendments

Today's notice proposes specific changes to the NESHAP: Final Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors (Phase I) rule, published September 30, 1999 (64 FR 52828). After promulgation, commenters (primarily the regulated community) raised numerous issues through informal comments and during litigation settlement discussions. After considering the issues raised, we have decided to propose for comment a limited number of changes to the Phase I final rule, most of the proposed changes relating to compliance and implementation of the rule.

In the “Rules and Regulations” section of the Federal Register, we are amending the September 30, 1999 final rule without prior proposal to incorporate these revisions because we view the amendments as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this approach in the preamble to the direct final rule, and do not believe it necessary to repeat those discussions here. If we receive adverse comment on a distinct amendment, we will withdraw the direct final action for that amendment and the amendment will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on any amendment must do so at this time.

For further information, please see the “Rules and Regulations” section of today's Federal Register publication.

II. How Can I Influence EPA's Thinking on This Rule?

In developing this rule, we tried to address the concerns of all our stakeholders. Your comments will help us improve this rule. We invite you to provide different views on options we propose, new approaches we haven't considered, new data, how this rule may effect you, or other relevant information. We welcome your views on all aspects of this rule. Your comments will be most effective if you follow the suggestions below:

• Explain your views as clearly as possible and why you feel that way.
• Provide solid technical and cost data to support your views.
• If you estimate potential costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate.
• Tell us which parts you support, as well as those you disagree with.
• Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns. Offer specific alternatives.
• Refer your comments to specific sections of the proposal, such as the units or page numbers of the preamble, or the regulatory sections.
• Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this notice.
• Be sure to include the name, date, and docket number with your comments.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 63

• Air pollution control
• Hazardous substances
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

40 CFR Part 264

• Air pollution control
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Hazardous waste
• Insurance
• Packaging and containers
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Security measures
• Surety bonds

Dated: June 18, 2001.

Christine Todd Whitman,

Administrator.