80 FR 68490 - Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 214 (November 5, 2015)

Page Range		68490-68491
FR Document		2015-28099

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is announcing an extension to the comment period for the proposed rule on improvements to the generator regulations published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2015. EPA is proposing to revise the hazardous waste generator regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to improve compliance and thereby enhance protection of human health and the environment. Specifically, EPA proposes to revise certain components of the hazardous waste generator regulatory program; address gaps in the regulations; provide greater flexibility for hazardous waste generators to manage their hazardous waste in a cost-effective and protective manner; reorganize the hazardous waste regulations to make them more user-friendly and thus improve their usability by the regulated community; and make technical corrections and conforming changes to address inadvertent errors, remove obsolete references to programs that no longer exist, and improve the readability of the regulations. The comment period is being extended to December 24, 2015.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68490-68491]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28099]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 268, 270, 273, and 279

[EPA-HQ-RCRA-2012-0121; FRL-9936-51-OSWER]
RIN 2050-AG70

Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is
announcing an extension to the comment period for the proposed rule on
improvements to the generator regulations published in the Federal
Register on September 25, 2015. EPA is proposing to revise the
hazardous waste generator regulations under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) to improve compliance and thereby enhance
protection of human health and the environment. Specifically, EPA
proposes to revise certain components of the hazardous waste generator
regulatory program; address gaps in the regulations; provide greater
flexibility for hazardous waste generators to manage their hazardous
waste in a cost-effective and protective manner; reorganize the
hazardous waste regulations to make them more user-friendly and thus
improve their usability by the regulated community; and make technical
corrections and conforming changes to address inadvertent errors,
remove obsolete references to programs that no longer exist, and
improve the readability of the regulations. The comment period is being
extended to December 24, 2015.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule published September 25, 2015 (80
FR 57918) must be received on or before December 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
RCRA-2012-0121, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The
EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not
submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective
comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more detailed information on
specific

[[Page 68491]]

aspects of this rulemaking, contact Jim O'Leary, Office of Resource
Conservation and Recovery, Materials Recovery and Waste Management
Division, MC 5304P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 308-8827, (oleary.jim@epa.gov) or
Kathy Lett, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Materials
Recovery and Waste Management Division, MC 5304P, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, at
(703) 605-0761 (lett.kathy@epa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This document extends the public comment period established in the
Federal Register for 30 days. In that Federal Register notice, EPA
proposed revising and reorganizing the regulations for generators of
hazardous waste. The purpose of these proposed revisions is to make the
rules easier to understand, facilitate better compliance, provide
greater flexibility in how hazardous waste is managed, and improve
environmental protection by closing important gaps in the regulations.
Several requests were received from potential commenters to extend the
comment period to allow greater time to comment. EPA is hereby
extending the comment period, which was set to end on November 24,
2015, to December 24, 2015. Please note that late comments on this rule
making may not be considered.
To submit comments or access the docket, please follow the detailed
instructions as provided under ADDRESSES. If you have questions,
consult the individuals listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Dated: October 22, 2015.
Barnes Johnson,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 2015-28099 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

68490 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules

relationship or the distribution of power adopted by voluntary consensus The Environmental Protection
SUMMARY:
and responsibilities established in the standards bodies. NTTAA directs the Agency (EPA or the Agency) is
Clean Air Act. Thus, Executive Order EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, announcing an extension to the
13132 does not apply to this action. explanations when the Agency decides comment period for the proposed rule
not to use available and applicable on improvements to the generator
F. Executive Order 13175, Coordination
voluntary consensus standards. regulations published in the Federal
With Indian Tribal Governments
The EPA believes that this action is Register on September 25, 2015. EPA is
This action does not have tribal not subject to requirements of Section proposing to revise the hazardous waste
implications, as specified in Executive 12(d) of NTTAA because application of generator regulations under the
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, those requirements would be Resource Conservation and Recovery
2000), because the SIP revisions that the inconsistent with the Clean Air Act. Act (RCRA) to improve compliance and
EPA is proposing to approve and thereby enhance protection of human
disapprove would not apply on any J. Executive Order 12898: Federal health and the environment.
Indian reservation land or in any other Actions To Address Environmental Specifically, EPA proposes to revise
area where the EPA or an Indian tribe Justice in Minority Populations and certain components of the hazardous
has demonstrated that a tribe has Low-Income Population waste generator regulatory program;
jurisdiction, and the EPA notes that it Executive Order (E.O). 12898 (59 FR address gaps in the regulations; provide
will not impose substantial direct costs 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes federal greater flexibility for hazardous waste
on tribal governments or preempt tribal executive policy on environmental generators to manage their hazardous
law. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does justice. Its main provision directs waste in a cost-effective and protective
not apply to this action. federal agencies, to the greatest extent manner; reorganize the hazardous waste
G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of practicable and permitted by law, to regulations to make them more user-
Children From Environmental Health make environmental justice part of their friendly and thus improve their
Risks and Safety Risks mission by identifying and addressing, usability by the regulated community;
as appropriate, disproportionately high and make technical corrections and
The EPA interprets Executive Order and adverse human health or conforming changes to address
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) as environmental effects of their programs, inadvertent errors, remove obsolete
applying only to those regulatory policies, and activities on minority references to programs that no longer
actions that concern health or safety populations and low-income exist, and improve the readability of the
risks, such that the analysis required populations in the United States. regulations. The comment period is
under section 5–501 of the Executive The EPA lacks the discretionary being extended to December 24, 2015.
Order has the potential to influence the authority to address environmental DATES: Comments on the proposed rule
regulation. This action is not subject to justice in this rulemaking. published September 25, 2015 (80 FR
Executive Order 13045 because it is not 57918) must be received on or before
an economically significant regulatory List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
December 24, 2015.
action based on health or safety risks Environmental protection, Air ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR pollution control, Incorporation by identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
19885, April 23, 1997). This proposed reference, Intergovernmental relations, RCRA–2012–0121, to the Federal
SIP revision under section 110 and Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate eRulemaking Portal: http://
subchapter I, part D of the Clean Air Act matter, Reporting and recordkeeping www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
will not in-and-of itself create any new requirements, Sulfur dioxide, Volatile instructions for submitting comments.
regulations but simply approves and organic compounds. Once submitted, comments cannot be
disapproves the removal of certain State
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. edited or withdrawn. The EPA may
requirements from the SIP.
Dated: October 19, 2015. publish any comment received to its
H. Executive Order 13211, Actions That Jared Blumenfeld,
public docket. Do not submit
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, electronically any information you
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
Distribution, or Use consider to be Confidential Business
[FR Doc. 2015–28276 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am]
This proposed rule is not subject to Information (CBI) or other information
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355,
May 22, 2001) because it is not a Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
significant regulatory action under etc.) must be accompanied by a written
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION comment. The written comment is
Executive Order 12866. AGENCY considered the official comment and
I. National Technology Transfer and should include discussion of all points
Advancement Act 40 CFR Parts 260, 261, 262, 263, 264,
265, 268, 270, 273, and 279 you wish to make. The EPA will
Section 12(d) of the National generally not consider comments or
Technology Transfer and Advancement [EPA–HQ–RCRA–2012–0121; FRL–9936–51– comment contents located outside of the
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law OSWER] primary submission (i.e. on the web,
104–113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) cloud, or other file sharing system). For
directs the EPA to use voluntary RIN 2050–AG70 additional submission methods, the full
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

consensus standards in its regulatory EPA public comment policy,
activities unless to do so would be Hazardous Waste Generator information about CBI or multimedia
inconsistent with applicable law or Improvements submissions, and general guidance on
otherwise impractical. Voluntary AGENCY: Environmental Protection
making effective comments, please visit
consensus standards are technical Agency (EPA). http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
standards (e.g., materials specifications, commenting-epa-dockets.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of
test methods, sampling procedures, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
comment period.
business practices) that are developed or more detailed information on specific

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 214 / Thursday, November 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 68491

aspects of this rulemaking, contact Jim Proposed rule; extension of
ACTION: aspects of this rulemaking, contact
O’Leary, Office of Resource comment period. Kristin Fitzgerald, Office of Resource
Conservation and Recovery, Materials Conservation and Recovery (5304P),
Recovery and Waste Management The Environmental Protection
SUMMARY:
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Division, MC 5304P, Environmental Agency (EPA or the Agency) is
announcing an extension to the Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania DC 20460; telephone number: 703–308–
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) comment period for the proposed rule
on the management and disposal of 8286; email address: fitzgerald.kristin@
308–8827, (oleary.jim@epa.gov) or epa.gov or Joshua Smeraldi, Office of
Kathy Lett, Office of Resource hazardous waste pharmaceuticals
published in the Federal Register on Resource Conservation and Recovery
Conservation and Recovery, Materials
September 25, 2015. EPA is proposing (5304P), Environmental Protection
Recovery and Waste Management
new hazardous waste pharmaceutical Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Division, MC 5304P, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania regulations under the Resource NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, at Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) number: 703–308–0441; email address:
(703) 605–0761 (lett.kathy@epa.gov). to improve compliance and thereby smeraldi.josh@epa.gov.
enhance protection of human health and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
This document extends the public the environment. Specifically, EPA
proposed to revise the regulations to document extends the public comment
comment period established in the period established in the Federal
Federal Register for 30 days. In that improve the management and disposal
of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals and Register for 30 days. In that Federal
Federal Register notice, EPA proposed Register notice, EPA proposed new
revising and reorganizing the tailor them to address the specific issues
that hospitals, pharmacies and other regulations for the management of
regulations for generators of hazardous hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. The
waste. The purpose of these proposed healthcare-related facilities face. The
revisions are also intended to clarify the purpose of this proposed regulation is to
revisions is to make the rules easier to
regulation of the reverse distribution improve the management and disposal
understand, facilitate better compliance,
provide greater flexibility in how mechanism used by healthcare facilities of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals and
hazardous waste is managed, and for the management of unused and/or tailor them to address the specific issues
improve environmental protection by expired pharmaceuticals. The comment that hospitals, pharmacies and other
closing important gaps in the period is being extended to December healthcare-related facilities face. The
regulations. Several requests were 24, 2015. revisions are also intended to clarify the
received from potential commenters to DATES: Comments on the proposed rule regulation of the reverse distribution
extend the comment period to allow published September 25, 2015 (80 FR mechanism used by healthcare facilities
greater time to comment. EPA is hereby 58014) must be received on or before for the management of unused and/or
extending the comment period, which December 24, 2015. expired pharmaceuticals. Several
was set to end on November 24, 2015, ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, requests were received from potential
to December 24, 2015. Please note that identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– commenters to extend the comment
late comments on this rule making may RCRA–2007–0932, to the Federal period to allow greater time to
not be considered. eRulemaking Portal: http:// comment. EPA is hereby extending the
To submit comments or access the www.regulations.gov. Follow the online comment period, which was set to end
docket, please follow the detailed instructions for submitting comments. on November 24, 2015, to December 24,
instructions as provided under Once submitted, comments cannot be
2015. Please note that late comments on
ADDRESSES. If you have questions, edited or withdrawn. The EPA may
this rule making may not be considered.
consult the individuals listed under FOR publish any comment received to its
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. public docket. Do not submit To submit comments or access the
Dated: October 22, 2015. electronically any information you docket, please follow the detailed
consider to be Confidential Business instructions as provided under
Barnes Johnson,
Information (CBI) or other information ADDRESSES. If you have questions,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and
Recovery, Office of Solid Waste and whose disclosure is restricted by statute. consult the individuals listed under FOR
Emergency Response. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
[FR Doc. 2015–28099 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am]
etc.) must be accompanied by a written Dated: October 22, 2015.
comment. The written comment is
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Barnes Johnson,
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points Director, Office of Resource Conservation and
you wish to make. The EPA will Recovery, Office of Solid Waste and
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Emergency Response.
AGENCY generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the [FR Doc. 2015–28100 Filed 11–4–15; 8:45 am]
40 CFR Parts 261, 262, 266, 268, and primary submission (i.e. on the web, BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
273 cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
[EPA–HQ–RCRA–2007–0932; FRL–9936–49–
OSWER] EPA public comment policy,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

information about CBI or multimedia
RIN 2050–AG39 submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
Management Standards for Hazardous http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
Waste Pharmaceuticals commenting-epa-dockets.
AGENCY: Environmental Protection FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Agency (EPA). more detailed information on specific

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:03:05
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:03:05

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
Dates		Comments on the proposed rule published September 25, 2015 (80 FR 57918) must be received on or before December 24, 2015.
Contact		For more detailed information on specific aspects of this rulemaking, contact Jim O'Leary, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Materials Recovery and Waste Management Division, MC 5304P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 308-8827, ([email protected]) or Kathy Lett, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Materials Recovery and Waste Management Division, MC 5304P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, at (703) 605-0761 ([email protected]).
FR Citation		80 FR 68490
RIN Number		2050-AG70
CFR Citation		40 CFR 260 40 CFR 261 40 CFR 262 40 CFR 263 40 CFR 264 40 CFR 265 40 CFR 268 40 CFR 270 40 CFR 273 40 CFR 279