81_FR_20341 81 FR 20274 - Tentative Determination To Approve Site Specific Flexibility for Closure and Monitoring of the Picacho Landfill

81 FR 20274 - Tentative Determination To Approve Site Specific Flexibility for Closure and Monitoring of the Picacho Landfill

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 67 (April 7, 2016)

Page Range20274-20277
FR Document2016-07996

The Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, is making a tentative determination to approve two Site Specific Flexibility Requests (SSFRs) from Imperial County (County or Imperial County) to close and monitor the Picacho Solid Waste Landfill (Picacho Landfill or Landfill). The Picacho Landfill is a commercial municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) operated by Imperial County from 1977 to the present on the Quechan Indian Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in California. Imperial County is seeking approval from EPA to use an alternative final cover and to modify the prescribed list of detection-monitoring parameters for ongoing monitoring. The Quechan Indian Tribe (Tribe) reviewed the proposed SSFRs and determined that they met tribal requirements. EPA is now seeking public comment on EPA's tentative determination to approve the SSFRs.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20274-20277]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07996]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 258

[FRL-9944-66-Region 9]


Tentative Determination To Approve Site Specific Flexibility for 
Closure and Monitoring of the Picacho Landfill

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, is making a 
tentative determination to approve two Site Specific Flexibility 
Requests (SSFRs) from Imperial County (County or Imperial County) to 
close and monitor the Picacho Solid Waste Landfill (Picacho Landfill or 
Landfill). The Picacho Landfill is a commercial municipal solid waste 
landfill (MSWLF) operated by Imperial County from 1977 to the present 
on the Quechan Indian Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in 
California.
    Imperial County is seeking approval from EPA to use an alternative 
final cover and to modify the prescribed list of detection-monitoring 
parameters for ongoing monitoring. The Quechan Indian Tribe (Tribe) 
reviewed the proposed SSFRs and determined that they met tribal 
requirements. EPA is now seeking public comment on EPA's tentative 
determination to approve the SSFRs.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 9, 2016. If 
sufficient public interest is expressed by April 22, 2016, EPA will 
hold a public hearing at the Quechan Community Center, located at 604 
Picacho Rd., in Winterhaven, CA on May 9, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 
p.m. If by April 22, 2016 EPA does not receive information indicating 
sufficient public interest for a public hearing, EPA may cancel the 
public hearing with no further notice. If you are interested in 
attending the public hearing, contact Steve Wall at (415) 972-3381 to 
verify that a hearing will be held.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
RCRA-2015-0445, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (415) 947-3564.
     Mail: Steve Wall, Environmental Protection Agency Region 
IX, Mail code: LND 2-3, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-
3901.
    Instructions: EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
    If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any email, Web site submittal, disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment.
    Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise 
protected through http://www.regulations.gov or email. See below for 
instructions regarding submitting CBI.
    The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' 
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through 
http://www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically 
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
public docket and made available on the Internet.
    Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any 
form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Tips for Submitting Comments to EPA

1. Preparing Your Comments

    When submitting comments, remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-RCRA-
2015-0445 and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal 
Register date and page number).
     Explain why you agree or disagree, suggest alternatives, 
and provide suggestions for substitute language for your requested 
changes.

[[Page 20275]]

     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
verified.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.
2. Submitting Confidential Business Information (CBI)
     Do not submit CBI to EPA through http://www.regulations.gov or email.
     Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you 
claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail 
to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify 
electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that 
is claimed as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except 
in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
     In addition to one complete version of the comment that 
includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does 
not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for 
inclusion in the public docket.
3. Additional Background Information
    All documents in the administrative record docket for this 
determination are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. 
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly 
available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly 
available docket materials are available electronically in http://www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the EPA Library, located at the 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San 
Francisco, California. The EPA Library is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m., Monday through Thursday, excluding legal holidays, and is located 
in a secured building. To review docket materials at the EPA Library, 
it is recommended that the public make an appointment by calling (415) 
947-4406 during normal business hours. Copying arrangements will be 
made through the EPA Library and billed directly to the recipient. 
Copying costs may be waived depending on the total number of pages 
copied.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Wall, Land Division, LND 2-3 
Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 
94105-3901; telephone number: (415) 972-3381; fax number: (415) 947-
3564; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Legal Authority for This Proposal

    Under sections 1008, 2002, 4004, and 4010 of the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) as amended by the 
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA), 42 U.S.C. 6901 et 
seq., Congress required EPA to establish revised minimum federal 
criteria for MSWLFs, including landfill location restrictions, 
operating standards, design standards, and requirements for ground 
water monitoring, corrective action, closure and post-closure care, and 
financial assurance. Under RCRA section 4005, states are to develop 
permit programs for facilities that may receive household hazardous 
waste or waste from conditionally exempt small quantity generators of 
hazardous waste, and EPA is to determine whether the state's program is 
adequate to ensure that facilities will comply with the revised federal 
criteria.
    The MSWLF criteria are in the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 
part 258. These regulations are prescriptive, self-implementing and 
apply directly to owners and operators of MSWLFs. Many of these 
criteria include a flexible performance standard as an alternative to 
the prescriptive, self-implementing regulation. The flexible standard 
is not self-implementing, and requires approval by the Director of an 
EPA-approved state MSWLF permitting program. However, EPA's approval of 
a state program generally does not extend to Indian Country because 
states generally do not have authority over Indian Country. For this 
reason, owners and operators of MSWLF units located in Indian Country 
cannot take advantage of the flexibilities available to those 
facilities that are within the jurisdiction of an EPA-approved state 
program. However, the EPA has the authority under sections 2002, 4004, 
and 4010 of RCRA to promulgate site-specific rules to enable such 
owners and operators to use the flexible standards. See Yankton Sioux 
Tribe v. EPA, 950 F. Supp. 1471 (D.S.D. 1996); Backcountry Against 
Dumps v. EPA, 100 F.3d 147 (D.C. Cir. 1996). EPA refers to such rules 
as ``Site Specific Flexibility Determinations'' and has developed draft 
guidance for owners and operators on preparing a request for such a 
site-specific rule, entitled ``Site-Specific Flexibility Requests for 
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in Indian Country Draft Guidance,'' 
EPA530-R-97-016, August 1997) (Draft Guidance).

II. Background

    The Picacho Landfill is located on Quechan tribal lands on the Fort 
Yuma Indian Reservation approximately four miles north-northeast of the 
community of Winterhaven, in Imperial County, California. The Picacho 
Landfill is a commercial MSWLF operated by Imperial County from 1977 to 
the present. The landfill site is approximately 12.5 acres.
    In January 2006, the Tribe requested that EPA provide comments on 
the County's closure plan. Between 2006 and 2011, EPA worked with the 
Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the County to develop and 
reach agreement on the closure plan and SSFRs. During this time, EPA 
also reviewed the SSFRs to determine whether they met technical and 
regulatory requirements. On October 27, 2010, Imperial County submitted 
its Picacho Final Closure/Post[hyphen]Closure Maintenance Plan. EPA 
provided a final round of comments on February 10, 2011, which Imperial 
County incorporated as an addendum. On April 30, 2012, the Tribe 
approved the Picacho Landfill Final Closure/Postclosure Maintenance 
Plan as amended, and, pursuant to EPA's Draft Guidance, the Tribe 
forwarded to EPA two SSFRs that had been submitted by Imperial County 
to close and monitor the Picacho Landfill. The requests seek EPA 
approval to use an alternative final cover meeting the performance 
requirements of 40 CFR 258.60(a), and to modify the prescribed list of 
detection-monitoring parameters provided in 40 CFR 258.54(a)(1) and (2) 
for ongoing monitoring.

III. Basis for Proposal

    EPA is basing its tentative determination to approve the site-
specific flexibility request on the Tribe's approval, dated April 30, 
2012, EPA's independent review of the Picacho Landfill Final Closure/
Postclosure Maintenance Plan as amended, and the associated SSFRs.

A. Alternative Final Cover SSFR: Alternative Final Cover System

    The regulations require the installation of a final cover system 
specified in 40 CFR 258.60(a), which consists of an infiltration layer 
with a minimum of 18 inches of compacted clay with a permeability of 1 
x 10-\5\ cm/sec, covered by an erosion layer with a

[[Page 20276]]

minimum six inches of topsoil. Imperial County seeks approval for an 
alternative final cover designed to satisfy the performance criteria 
specified in 40 CFR 258.60(b); Imperial County proposes to replace this 
with an alternative cover which would consist of two and a half feet of 
native soil to control infiltration covered by six inches of a soil 
gravel mixture to control erosion.
    EPA is basing its tentative determination on a number of factors, 
including: (1) Research showing that prescriptive, self-implementing 
requirements for final covers, comprised of low permeability compacted 
clay, do not perform well in the arid west. The clay dries out and 
cracks, which allows increased infiltration along the cracks; (2) 
Research showing that in arid environments thick soil covers comprised 
of native soil can perform as well or better than the prescriptive 
cover; and (3) Imperial County's analysis demonstrates, based on site-
specific climatic conditions and soil properties, that the proposed 
alternative soil final cover will achieve equivalent reduction in 
infiltration as the prescriptive cover design and that the proposed 
erosion layer provides equivalent protection from wind and water 
erosion. This analysis is provided in Appendix D and Appendix D-1 of 
the Picacho Landfill Final Closure/Postclosure Maintenance Plan dated 
October 27, 2010 and amended on February 20, 2011.

B. Groundwater Monitoring SSFR: Alternative Detection Monitoring 
Parameters

    The regulations require post-closure monitoring of 15 heavy metals, 
listed in 40 CFR part 258, Appendix I. Imperial County, proposes to 
replace these, with the exception of arsenic, with the alternative 
inorganic indicator parameters chloride, nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, 
and total dissolved solids.
    EPA's tentative determination is based on the fact that the County 
has performed over 15 years of semi-annual groundwater monitoring at 
the site, and during that time arsenic was the only heavy metal 
detected at a value that slightly exceeded the federal maximum 
contaminant level (MCL), a standard used for drinking water.

IV. Additional Findings

    In order to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, 54 
U.S.C. 100101 et seq., Imperial County Department of Public Works will 
coordinate with the Tribe to arrange for a qualified Native American 
monitor to be present during any work. If buried or previously 
unidentified resources are located during project activities, all work 
within the vicinity of the find will cease, and the provisions pursuant 
to 36 CFR 800.13(b) will be implemented. If, during the course of the 
Landfill closure activities, previously undocumented archaeological 
material or human remains are encountered, all work shall cease in the 
immediate area and a qualified archaeologist shall be retained to 
evaluate the significance of the find and recommend further management 
actions.
    Though no known threatened or endangered species or their habitat 
exist on the site, in order to ensure compliance with the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536 et seq., a preconstruction survey will be 
conducted prior to cover installation to ensure no threatened or 
endangered species are present. In particular, the survey will look for 
the presence of desert tortoises, which may occur in Imperial County. 
Should desert tortoises or other threatened or endangered species be 
encountered in the survey, or at any time during the closure of the 
Picacho Landfill, the County shall contact the USFWS to develop 
avoidance measures to ensure that impacts to the species are minimized. 
Following closure and vegetation restoration activities, the project 
site may become suitable for threatened and endangered species. This 
would be a beneficial effect.
    Under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 
FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this rule is not of general applicability 
and therefore is not a regulatory action subject to review by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    This rule does not impose an information collection burden under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.) because it applies to a particular facility only.
    Because this rule is of particular applicability relating to a 
particular facility, it is not subject to the regulatory flexibility 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or 
to sections 202, 204, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). Because this rule will affect only a 
particular facility, it will not significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments, as specified in section 203 of UMRA.
    Because this rule will affect only a particular facility, this 
proposed rule does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the 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 13132, ``Federalism,'' (64 FR 43255, 
August 10, 1999). Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this 
rule.
    This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045, 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically 
significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and because the Agency 
does not have reason to believe the environmental health or safety 
risks addressed by this action present a disproportionate risk to 
children. The basis for this belief is EPA's conservative analysis of 
the potential risks posed by SRPMIC's proposal and the controls and 
standards set forth in the application.
    This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
    As required by section three of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform,'' (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this rule, 
EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and 
ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal 
standard for affected conduct.
    Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments,'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
calls for EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have tribal implications.'' See also ``EPA Policy for the 
Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations,'' 
(November 8, 1984) and ``EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribes,'' (May 4, 2011). EPA consulted with the Tribe 
throughout Imperial County's development of its closure and monitoring 
plans for the Picacho Landfill.
    EPA specifically solicits any additional comment on this tentative 
determination from tribal officials of the Quechan Indian Tribe.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 258

    Environmental protection, Municipal landfills, Final cover, Post-
closure care groundwater Monitoring, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waste treatment and disposal, Water pollution control.


[[Page 20277]]


    Dated: March 28, 2016.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, 40 CFR part 258, Criteria 
for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, is proposed to be amended as 
follows:

PART 258--CRITERIA FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS

0
1. The authority citation continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1345(d) and (e); 42 U.S.C. 6902(a), 6907, 
6912(a), 6944, 6945(c) and 6949a(c), 6981(a).

Subpart F--Closure and Post-Closure Care

0
2. Section 258.62 is amended by adding paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  258.62  Approval of site-specific flexibility requests in Indian 
Country.

* * * * *
    (b) Picacho Municipal Solid Waste Landfill--Alternative list of 
detection monitoring parameters and alternative final cover. This 
paragraph (b) applies to the Picacho Landfill, a Municipal Solid Waste 
landfill operated by Imperial County on the Quechan Indian Tribe of the 
Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in California.
    (1) In accordance with 40 CFR 258.54(a), the owner and operator may 
modify the list of heavy metal detection monitoring parameters 
specified in 40 CFR 258, Appendix I, as required during Post-Closure 
Care by 40 CFR 258.61(a)(3), by replacing monitoring of the inorganic 
constituents with the exception of arsenic, with the inorganic 
indicator parameters chloride, nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, and total 
dissolved solids.
    (2) In accordance with 40 CFR 258.60(b), the owner and operator may 
replace the prescriptive final cover set forth in 40 CFR 258.60(a), 
with an alternative final cover as follows:
    (i) The owner and operator may install an evapotranspiration cover 
system as an alternative final cover for the 12.5 acre site.
    (ii) The alternative final cover system shall be constructed to 
achieve an equivalent reduction in infiltration as the infiltration 
layer specified in Sec.  258.60(a)(1) and (2), and provide an 
equivalent protection from wind and water erosion as the erosion layer 
specified in Sec.  258.60(a)(3).
    (iii) The final cover system shall consist of a minimum three-feet-
thick multi-layer cover system comprised, from bottom to top, of:
    (A) A minimum 30-inch thick infiltration layer consisting of:
    (1) Existing intermediate cover; and
    (2) additional cover soil which, prior to placement, shall be 
wetted to optimal moisture as determined by ASTM D 1557 and thoroughly 
mixed to near uniform condition, and the material shall then be placed 
in lifts with an uncompacted thickness of six to eight inches, spread 
evenly and compacted to 90 percent of the maximum dry density as 
determined by ASMT D 1557, and shall:
    (i) Exhibit a grain size distribution that excludes particles in 
excess of three inches in diameter;
    (ii) have a minimum fines content (percent by weight passing U.S. 
No. 200 Sieve) of seven percent for an individual test and eight 
percent for the average of ten consecutive tests;
    (iii) have a grain size distribution with a minimum of five percent 
finer than five microns for an individual test and six percent for the 
average of ten consecutive tests; and
    (iv) exhibit a maximum saturated hydraulic conductivity on the 
order of 1.0E-03 cm/sec.; and
    (3) a minimum six-inch surface erosion layer comprised of a rock/
soil admixture. The surface erosion layer admixture and gradations for 
3% slopes and 3:1 slopes are detailed below:
    (i) 3% slopes: For the 3% slopes the surface admixture shall be 
composed of pea gravel (\3/8\-inch to \1/2\-inch diameter) mixed with 
cover soil at the ratio of 25% rock to soil by volume with a minimum 
six-inch erosion layer.
    (ii) For the 3:1 side slopes the surface admixture shall be 
composed of either: gravel/rock (\3/4\-inch to one-inch diameter) mixed 
with additional cover soil as described in paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A)(2) 
of this section at the ratio of 50% rock to soil by volume and result 
in a minimum six-inch erosion layer, or gravel/rock (\3/4\-inch to two-
inch diameter) mixed with additional cover soil as described in 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A)(2) of this section at the ratio of 50% rock to 
soil by volume and result in a minimum 12-inch erosion layer.
    (iii) The owner and operator shall place documentation 
demonstrating compliance with the provisions of this Section in the 
operating record.
    (iv) All other applicable provisions of 40 CFR part 258 remain in 
effect.

[FR Doc. 2016-07996 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                               20274                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               requirements and those we have                            Dated: April 1, 2016.                                   • http://www.regulations.gov: Follow
                                               determined as necessary for                             Michael K. Yudin,                                      the on-line instructions for submitting
                                               administering the Department’s                          Assistant Secretary for Special Education and          comments.
                                               programs and activities.                                Rehabilitative Services.                                  • Email: wall.steve@epa.gov.
                                                  Through this priority, experiential                  [FR Doc. 2016–07933 Filed 4–6–16; 8:45 am]                • Fax: (415) 947–3564.
                                               learning and TA will be provided to                     BILLING CODE 4000–01–P                                    • Mail: Steve Wall, Environmental
                                               novice interpreters in order for them to                                                                       Protection Agency Region IX, Mail code:
                                               achieve national certification. These                                                                          LND 2–3, 75 Hawthorne Street, San
                                               activities will help interpreters to more                                                                      Francisco, CA 94105–3901.
                                                                                                       ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               effectively meet the communication                      AGENCY                                                    Instructions: EPA’s policy is that all
                                               needs of individuals who are deaf or                                                                           comments received will be included in
                                               hard of hearing and individuals who are                 40 CFR Part 258                                        the public docket without change and
                                                                                                                                                              may be made available online at
                                               Deaf-Blind. The training ultimately will
                                                                                                       [FRL–9944–66–Region 9]                                 http://www.regulations.gov, including
                                               improve the quality of VR services and
                                                                                                                                                              any personal information provided,
                                               the competitive integrated employment                   Tentative Determination To Approve                     unless the comment includes
                                               outcomes achieved by individuals with                   Site Specific Flexibility for Closure and              information claimed to be Confidential
                                               disabilities. This priority would                       Monitoring of the Picacho Landfill                     Business Information (CBI) or other
                                               promote the efficient and effective use                                                                        information whose disclosure is
                                               of Federal funds.                                       AGENCY: Environmental Protection
                                                                                                       Agency (EPA).                                          restricted by statute.
                                                  Intergovernmental Review: This                                                                                 If you submit an electronic comment,
                                                                                                       ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
                                               program is subject to Executive Order                                                                          EPA recommends that you include your
                                               12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR                     SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                name and other contact information in
                                               part 79. One of the objectives of the                   Agency, Region IX, is making a tentative               the body of your comment and with any
                                               Executive order is to foster an                         determination to approve two Site                      email, Web site submittal, disk or CD–
                                               intergovernmental partnership and a                     Specific Flexibility Requests (SSFRs)                  ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read
                                               strengthened federalism. The Executive                  from Imperial County (County or                        your comment due to technical
                                               order relies on processes developed by                  Imperial County) to close and monitor                  difficulties and cannot contact you for
                                               State and local governments for                         the Picacho Solid Waste Landfill                       clarification, EPA may not be able to
                                               coordination and review of proposed                     (Picacho Landfill or Landfill). The                    consider your comment.
                                               Federal financial assistance.                           Picacho Landfill is a commercial                          Do not submit information that you
                                                                                                       municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF)                 consider to be CBI or otherwise
                                                  This document provides early                                                                                protected through http://
                                                                                                       operated by Imperial County from 1977
                                               notification of our specific plans and                                                                         www.regulations.gov or email. See
                                                                                                       to the present on the Quechan Indian
                                               actions for this program.                                                                                      below for instructions regarding
                                                                                                       Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian
                                                  Accessible Format: Individuals with                  Reservation in California.                             submitting CBI.
                                               disabilities can obtain this document in                  Imperial County is seeking approval                     The http://www.regulations.gov Web
                                               an accessible format (e.g., braille, large              from EPA to use an alternative final                   site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
                                               print, audiotape, or compact disc) on                   cover and to modify the prescribed list                which means EPA will not know your
                                               request to the program contact person                   of detection-monitoring parameters for                 identity or contact information unless
                                               listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                    ongoing monitoring. The Quechan                        you provide it in the body of your
                                               CONTACT.                                                Indian Tribe (Tribe) reviewed the                      comment.
                                                  Electronic Access to This Document:                  proposed SSFRs and determined that                        If you send an email comment
                                                                                                       they met tribal requirements. EPA is                   directly to EPA without going through
                                               The official version of this document is
                                                                                                       now seeking public comment on EPA’s                    http://www.regulations.gov, your email
                                               the document published in the Federal
                                                                                                       tentative determination to approve the                 address will be automatically captured
                                               Register. Free Internet access to the                                                                          and included as part of the comment
                                                                                                       SSFRs.
                                               official edition of the Federal Register                                                                       that is placed in the public docket and
                                               and the Code of Federal Regulations is                  DATES:  Comments must be received on
                                                                                                       or before May 9, 2016. If sufficient                   made available on the Internet.
                                               available via the Federal Digital System                                                                          Electronic files should avoid the use
                                               at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you                public interest is expressed by April 22,
                                                                                                       2016, EPA will hold a public hearing at                of special characters, any form of
                                               can view this document, as well as all                                                                         encryption, and be free of any defects or
                                               other documents of this Department                      the Quechan Community Center,
                                                                                                       located at 604 Picacho Rd., in                         viruses.
                                               published in the Federal Register, in
                                               text or Portable Document Format                        Winterhaven, CA on May 9, 2016 from                    Tips for Submitting Comments to EPA
                                                                                                       6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If by April 22,
                                               (PDF). To use PDF you must have                                                                                1. Preparing Your Comments
                                                                                                       2016 EPA does not receive information
                                               Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
                                                                                                       indicating sufficient public interest for a              When submitting comments,
                                               available free at the site.                             public hearing, EPA may cancel the                     remember to:
                                                  You may also access documents of the                 public hearing with no further notice. If                • Identify the rulemaking by Docket
                                               Department published in the Federal                     you are interested in attending the
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                              ID No. EPA–R09–RCRA–2015–0445 and
                                               Register by using the article search                    public hearing, contact Steve Wall at                  other identifying information (subject
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                                               the Department.                                         RCRA–2015–0445, by one of the                          suggestions for substitute language for
                                                                                                       following methods:                                     your requested changes.


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            20275

                                                  • Describe any assumptions and                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       Specific Flexibility Requests for
                                               provide any technical information and/                  Steve Wall, Land Division, LND 2–3                     Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in
                                               or data that you used.                                  Environmental Protection Agency, 75                    Indian Country Draft Guidance,’’
                                                  • If you estimate potential costs or                 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA                    EPA530–R–97–016, August 1997) (Draft
                                               burdens, explain how you arrived at                     94105–3901; telephone number: (415)                    Guidance).
                                               your estimate in sufficient detail to                   972–3381; fax number: (415) 947–3564;                  II. Background
                                               allow for it to be verified.                            e-mail address: wall.steve@epa.gov.
                                                  • Provide specific examples to                                                                                 The Picacho Landfill is located on
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               illustrate your concerns, and suggest                                                                          Quechan tribal lands on the Fort Yuma
                                               alternatives.                                           I. Legal Authority for This Proposal                   Indian Reservation approximately four
                                                                                                                                                              miles north-northeast of the community
                                                  • Make sure to submit your                              Under sections 1008, 2002, 4004, and
                                                                                                                                                              of Winterhaven, in Imperial County,
                                               comments by the comment period                          4010 of the Resource Conservation and
                                                                                                                                                              California. The Picacho Landfill is a
                                               deadline identified.                                    Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) as
                                                                                                                                                              commercial MSWLF operated by
                                                                                                       amended by the Hazardous and Solid
                                               2. Submitting Confidential Business                                                                            Imperial County from 1977 to the
                                                                                                       Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA), 42
                                               Information (CBI)                                                                                              present. The landfill site is
                                                                                                       U.S.C. 6901 et seq., Congress required
                                                                                                                                                              approximately 12.5 acres.
                                                 • Do not submit CBI to EPA through                    EPA to establish revised minimum                          In January 2006, the Tribe requested
                                               http://www.regulations.gov or email.                    federal criteria for MSWLFs, including                 that EPA provide comments on the
                                                 • Clearly mark the part or all of the                 landfill location restrictions, operating              County’s closure plan. Between 2006
                                               information that you claim to be CBI.                   standards, design standards, and                       and 2011, EPA worked with the Tribe,
                                               For CBI information in a disk or CD–                    requirements for ground water                          the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and
                                               ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the                      monitoring, corrective action, closure                 the County to develop and reach
                                               outside of the disk or CD–ROM as CBI                    and post-closure care, and financial                   agreement on the closure plan and
                                               and then identify electronically within                 assurance. Under RCRA section 4005,                    SSFRs. During this time, EPA also
                                               the disk or CD–ROM the specific                         states are to develop permit programs                  reviewed the SSFRs to determine
                                               information that is claimed as CBI.                     for facilities that may receive household              whether they met technical and
                                               Information so marked will not be                       hazardous waste or waste from                          regulatory requirements. On October 27,
                                               disclosed except in accordance with                     conditionally exempt small quantity                    2010, Imperial County submitted its
                                               procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.                  generators of hazardous waste, and EPA                 Picacho Final Closure/Post-Closure
                                                 • In addition to one complete version                 is to determine whether the state’s                    Maintenance Plan. EPA provided a final
                                               of the comment that includes                            program is adequate to ensure that                     round of comments on February 10,
                                               information claimed as CBI, a copy of                   facilities will comply with the revised                2011, which Imperial County
                                               the comment that does not contain the                   federal criteria.                                      incorporated as an addendum. On April
                                               information claimed as CBI must be                         The MSWLF criteria are in the Code                  30, 2012, the Tribe approved the
                                               submitted for inclusion in the public                   of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR part                  Picacho Landfill Final Closure/
                                               docket.                                                 258. These regulations are prescriptive,               Postclosure Maintenance Plan as
                                                                                                       self-implementing and apply directly to                amended, and, pursuant to EPA’s Draft
                                               3. Additional Background Information                    owners and operators of MSWLFs.                        Guidance, the Tribe forwarded to EPA
                                                  All documents in the administrative                  Many of these criteria include a flexible              two SSFRs that had been submitted by
                                               record docket for this determination are                performance standard as an alternative                 Imperial County to close and monitor
                                               listed in the http://www.regulations.gov                to the prescriptive, self-implementing                 the Picacho Landfill. The requests seek
                                               index. Although listed in the index,                    regulation. The flexible standard is not               EPA approval to use an alternative final
                                               some information is not publicly                        self-implementing, and requires                        cover meeting the performance
                                               available, e.g., CBI or other information               approval by the Director of an EPA-                    requirements of 40 CFR 258.60(a), and
                                               whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              approved state MSWLF permitting                        to modify the prescribed list of
                                               Certain other material, such as                         program. However, EPA’s approval of a                  detection-monitoring parameters
                                               copyrighted material, will be publicly                  state program generally does not extend                provided in 40 CFR 258.54(a)(1) and (2)
                                               available only in hard copy. Publicly                   to Indian Country because states                       for ongoing monitoring.
                                               available docket materials are available                generally do not have authority over
                                               electronically in http://                               Indian Country. For this reason, owners                III. Basis for Proposal
                                               www.regulations.gov and in hard copy                    and operators of MSWLF units located                      EPA is basing its tentative
                                               at the EPA Library, located at the                      in Indian Country cannot take advantage                determination to approve the site-
                                               Environmental Protection Agency,                        of the flexibilities available to those                specific flexibility request on the Tribe’s
                                               Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San                     facilities that are within the jurisdiction            approval, dated April 30, 2012, EPA’s
                                               Francisco, California. The EPA Library                  of an EPA-approved state program.                      independent review of the Picacho
                                               is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,                    However, the EPA has the authority                     Landfill Final Closure/Postclosure
                                               Monday through Thursday, excluding                      under sections 2002, 4004, and 4010 of                 Maintenance Plan as amended, and the
                                               legal holidays, and is located in a                     RCRA to promulgate site-specific rules                 associated SSFRs.
                                               secured building. To review docket                      to enable such owners and operators to
                                               materials at the EPA Library, it is                     use the flexible standards. See Yankton                A. Alternative Final Cover SSFR:
                                                                                                                                                              Alternative Final Cover System
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                                               recommended that the public make an                     Sioux Tribe v. EPA, 950 F. Supp. 1471
                                               appointment by calling (415) 947–4406                   (D.S.D. 1996); Backcountry Against                       The regulations require the
                                               during normal business hours. Copying                   Dumps v. EPA, 100 F.3d 147 (D.C. Cir.                  installation of a final cover system
                                               arrangements will be made through the                   1996). EPA refers to such rules as ‘‘Site              specified in 40 CFR 258.60(a), which
                                               EPA Library and billed directly to the                  Specific Flexibility Determinations’’ and              consists of an infiltration layer with a
                                               recipient. Copying costs may be waived                  has developed draft guidance for owners                minimum of 18 inches of compacted
                                               depending on the total number of pages                  and operators on preparing a request for               clay with a permeability of 1 × 10¥5 cm/
                                               copied.                                                 such a site-specific rule, entitled ‘‘Site-            sec, covered by an erosion layer with a


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                                               20276                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               minimum six inches of topsoil. Imperial                 located during project activities, all                 power and responsibilities among the
                                               County seeks approval for an alternative                work within the vicinity of the find will              various levels of government, as
                                               final cover designed to satisfy the                     cease, and the provisions pursuant to 36               specified in Executive Order 13132,
                                               performance criteria specified in 40 CFR                CFR 800.13(b) will be implemented. If,                 ‘‘Federalism,’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                               258.60(b); Imperial County proposes to                  during the course of the Landfill closure              1999). Thus, Executive Order 13132
                                               replace this with an alternative cover                  activities, previously undocumented                    does not apply to this rule.
                                               which would consist of two and a half                   archaeological material or human                          This rule also is not subject to
                                               feet of native soil to control infiltration             remains are encountered, all work shall                Executive Order 13045, ‘‘Protection of
                                               covered by six inches of a soil gravel                  cease in the immediate area and a                      Children from Environmental Health
                                               mixture to control erosion.                             qualified archaeologist shall be retained              Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
                                                  EPA is basing its tentative                          to evaluate the significance of the find               April 23, 1997), because it is not
                                               determination on a number of factors,                   and recommend further management                       economically significant as defined in
                                               including: (1) Research showing that                    actions.                                               Executive Order 12866, and because the
                                               prescriptive, self-implementing                            Though no known threatened or                       Agency does not have reason to believe
                                               requirements for final covers, comprised                endangered species or their habitat exist              the environmental health or safety risks
                                               of low permeability compacted clay, do                  on the site, in order to ensure                        addressed by this action present a
                                               not perform well in the arid west. The                  compliance with the Endangered                         disproportionate risk to children. The
                                               clay dries out and cracks, which allows                 Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536 et seq., a
                                                                                                                                                              basis for this belief is EPA’s
                                               increased infiltration along the cracks;                preconstruction survey will be
                                                                                                                                                              conservative analysis of the potential
                                               (2) Research showing that in arid                       conducted prior to cover installation to
                                                                                                                                                              risks posed by SRPMIC’s proposal and
                                               environments thick soil covers                          ensure no threatened or endangered
                                                                                                                                                              the controls and standards set forth in
                                               comprised of native soil can perform as                 species are present. In particular, the
                                                                                                                                                              the application.
                                               well or better than the prescriptive                    survey will look for the presence of
                                               cover; and (3) Imperial County’s                        desert tortoises, which may occur in                      This rule is not subject to Executive
                                               analysis demonstrates, based on site-                   Imperial County. Should desert tortoises               Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning
                                               specific climatic conditions and soil                   or other threatened or endangered                      Regulations That Significantly Affect
                                               properties, that the proposed alternative               species be encountered in the survey, or               Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66
                                               soil final cover will achieve equivalent                at any time during the closure of the                  FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is
                                               reduction in infiltration as the                        Picacho Landfill, the County shall                     not a significant regulatory action under
                                               prescriptive cover design and that the                  contact the USFWS to develop                           Executive Order 12866.
                                               proposed erosion layer provides                         avoidance measures to ensure that                         As required by section three of
                                               equivalent protection from wind and                     impacts to the species are minimized.                  Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice
                                               water erosion. This analysis is provided                Following closure and vegetation                       Reform,’’ (61 FR 4729, February 7,
                                               in Appendix D and Appendix D–1 of                       restoration activities, the project site               1996), in issuing this rule, EPA has
                                               the Picacho Landfill Final Closure/                     may become suitable for threatened and                 taken the necessary steps to eliminate
                                               Postclosure Maintenance Plan dated                      endangered species. This would be a                    drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize
                                               October 27, 2010 and amended on                         beneficial effect.                                     potential litigation, and provide a clear
                                               February 20, 2011.                                         Under Executive Order 12866,                        legal standard for affected conduct.
                                                                                                       ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review’’ (58                    Executive Order 13175, entitled
                                               B. Groundwater Monitoring SSFR:                         FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this rule is
                                               Alternative Detection Monitoring                                                                               ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
                                                                                                       not of general applicability and                       Indian Tribal Governments,’’ (65 FR
                                               Parameters                                              therefore is not a regulatory action                   67249, November 9, 2000), calls for EPA
                                                  The regulations require post-closure                 subject to review by the Office of                     to develop an accountable process to
                                               monitoring of 15 heavy metals, listed in                Management and Budget (OMB).                           ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
                                               40 CFR part 258, Appendix I. Imperial                      This rule does not impose an
                                                                                                                                                              tribal officials in the development of
                                               County, proposes to replace these, with                 information collection burden under the
                                                                                                                                                              regulatory policies that have tribal
                                               the exception of arsenic, with the                      provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
                                                                                                                                                              implications.’’ See also ‘‘EPA Policy for
                                               alternative inorganic indicator                         Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
                                                                                                                                                              the Administration of Environmental
                                               parameters chloride, nitrate as nitrogen,               because it applies to a particular facility
                                                                                                                                                              Programs on Indian Reservations,’’
                                               sulfate, and total dissolved solids.                    only.
                                                                                                          Because this rule is of particular                  (November 8, 1984) and ‘‘EPA Policy on
                                                  EPA’s tentative determination is
                                                                                                       applicability relating to a particular                 Consultation and Coordination with
                                               based on the fact that the County has
                                                                                                       facility, it is not subject to the regulatory          Indian Tribes,’’ (May 4, 2011). EPA
                                               performed over 15 years of semi-annual
                                                                                                       flexibility provisions of the Regulatory               consulted with the Tribe throughout
                                               groundwater monitoring at the site, and
                                                                                                       Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or             Imperial County’s development of its
                                               during that time arsenic was the only
                                                                                                       to sections 202, 204, and 205 of the                   closure and monitoring plans for the
                                               heavy metal detected at a value that
                                                                                                       Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995                   Picacho Landfill.
                                               slightly exceeded the federal maximum
                                               contaminant level (MCL), a standard                     (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104–4). Because this                      EPA specifically solicits any
                                               used for drinking water.                                rule will affect only a particular facility,           additional comment on this tentative
                                                                                                       it will not significantly or uniquely                  determination from tribal officials of the
                                               IV. Additional Findings                                 affect small governments, as specified in              Quechan Indian Tribe.
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                                                 In order to comply with the National                  section 203 of UMRA.                                   List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 258
                                               Historic Preservation Act, 54 U.S.C.                       Because this rule will affect only a
                                               100101 et seq., Imperial County                         particular facility, this proposed rule                   Environmental protection, Municipal
                                               Department of Public Works will                         does not have federalism implications.                 landfills, Final cover, Post-closure care
                                               coordinate with the Tribe to arrange for                It will not have substantial direct effects            groundwater Monitoring, Reporting and
                                               a qualified Native American monitor to                  on the States, on the relationship                     recordkeeping requirements, Waste
                                               be present during any work. If buried or                between the national government and                    treatment and disposal, Water pollution
                                               previously unidentified resources are                   the States, or on the distribution of                  control.


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                                        20277

                                                 Dated: March 28, 2016.                                             water erosion as the erosion layer                                      (iii) The owner and operator shall
                                               Jared Blumenfeld,                                                    specified in § 258.60(a)(3).                                          place documentation demonstrating
                                               Regional Administrator, Region IX.                                      (iii) The final cover system shall                                 compliance with the provisions of this
                                                 For the reasons stated in the                                      consist of a minimum three-feet-thick                                 Section in the operating record.
                                               preamble, 40 CFR part 258, Criteria for                              multi-layer cover system comprised,                                     (iv) All other applicable provisions of
                                                                                                                    from bottom to top, of:                                               40 CFR part 258 remain in effect.
                                               Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, is
                                                                                                                       (A) A minimum 30-inch thick
                                               proposed to be amended as follows:                                                                                                         [FR Doc. 2016–07996 Filed 4–6–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                    infiltration layer consisting of:
                                                                                                                       (1) Existing intermediate cover; and                               BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                               PART 258—CRITERIA FOR MUNICIPAL
                                                                                                                       (2) additional cover soil which, prior
                                               SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS
                                                                                                                    to placement, shall be wetted to optimal
                                                                                                                    moisture as determined by ASTM D                                      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               ■ 1. The authority citation continues to                                                                                                   AGENCY
                                               read as follows:                                                     1557 and thoroughly mixed to near
                                                                                                                    uniform condition, and the material
                                                 Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1345(d) and (e); 42                                                                                                 40 CFR Part 300
                                                                                                                    shall then be placed in lifts with an
                                               U.S.C. 6902(a), 6907, 6912(a), 6944, 6945(c)
                                               and 6949a(c), 6981(a).                                               uncompacted thickness of six to eight
                                                                                                                    inches, spread evenly and compacted to                                [EPA–HQ–SFUND–1994–0002; EPA–HQ–
                                                                                                                    90 percent of the maximum dry density                                 OLEM–2016–0151, 0152, 0153, 0154, 0155,
                                               Subpart F—Closure and Post-Closure                                                                                                         0156, 0157 and 0158; FRL–9944–35–OLEM]
                                               Care                                                                 as determined by ASMT D 1557, and
                                                                                                                    shall:                                                                National Priorities List
                                               ■ 2. Section 258.62 is amended by                                       (i) Exhibit a grain size distribution
                                               adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:                             that excludes particles in excess of three                            AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                                                                                    inches in diameter;                                                   Agency (EPA).
                                               § 258.62 Approval of site-specific flexibility
                                               requests in Indian Country.
                                                                                                                       (ii) have a minimum fines content
                                                                                                                                                                                          ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                                                                                    (percent by weight passing U.S. No. 200
                                               *       *    *     *     *                                           Sieve) of seven percent for an individual
                                                  (b) Picacho Municipal Solid Waste                                                                                                       SUMMARY:   The Comprehensive
                                                                                                                    test and eight percent for the average of
                                               Landfill—Alternative list of detection                                                                                                     Environmental Response,
                                                                                                                    ten consecutive tests;
                                               monitoring parameters and alternative                                   (iii) have a grain size distribution with                          Compensation, and Liability Act
                                               final cover. This paragraph (b) applies to                           a minimum of five percent finer than                                  (‘‘CERCLA’’ or ‘‘the Act’’), as amended,
                                               the Picacho Landfill, a Municipal Solid                              five microns for an individual test and                               requires that the National Oil and
                                               Waste landfill operated by Imperial                                  six percent for the average of ten                                    Hazardous Substances Pollution
                                               County on the Quechan Indian Tribe of                                consecutive tests; and                                                Contingency Plan (‘‘NCP’’) include a list
                                               the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in                                     (iv) exhibit a maximum saturated                                   of national priorities among the known
                                               California.                                                          hydraulic conductivity on the order of                                releases or threatened releases of
                                                  (1) In accordance with 40 CFR                                     1.0E–03 cm/sec.; and                                                  hazardous substances, pollutants or
                                               258.54(a), the owner and operator may                                   (3) a minimum six-inch surface                                     contaminants throughout the United
                                               modify the list of heavy metal detection                             erosion layer comprised of a rock/soil                                States. The National Priorities List
                                               monitoring parameters specified in 40                                admixture. The surface erosion layer                                  (‘‘NPL’’) constitutes this list. The NPL is
                                               CFR 258, Appendix I, as required during                              admixture and gradations for 3% slopes                                intended primarily to guide the
                                               Post-Closure Care by 40 CFR                                          and 3:1 slopes are detailed below:                                    Environmental Protection Agency
                                               258.61(a)(3), by replacing monitoring of                                (i) 3% slopes: For the 3% slopes the                               (‘‘EPA’’ or ‘‘the agency’’) in determining
                                               the inorganic constituents with the                                  surface admixture shall be composed of                                which sites warrant further
                                               exception of arsenic, with the inorganic                             pea gravel (3⁄8-inch to 1⁄2-inch diameter)                            investigation. These further
                                               indicator parameters chloride, nitrate as                            mixed with cover soil at the ratio of                                 investigations will allow the EPA to
                                               nitrogen, sulfate, and total dissolved                               25% rock to soil by volume with a                                     assess the nature and extent of public
                                               solids.                                                              minimum six-inch erosion layer.                                       health and environmental risks
                                                  (2) In accordance with 40 CFR                                        (ii) For the 3:1 side slopes the surface                           associated with the site and to
                                               258.60(b), the owner and operator may                                admixture shall be composed of either:                                determine what CERCLA-financed
                                               replace the prescriptive final cover set                             gravel/rock (3⁄4-inch to one-inch                                     remedial action(s), if any, may be
                                               forth in 40 CFR 258.60(a), with an                                   diameter) mixed with additional cover                                 appropriate. This rulemaking proposes
                                               alternative final cover as follows:                                  soil as described in paragraph                                        to add eight sites to the General
                                                  (i) The owner and operator may                                    (b)(2)(iii)(A)(2) of this section at the                              Superfund section of the NPL. This
                                               install an evapotranspiration cover                                  ratio of 50% rock to soil by volume and                               proposed rule also withdraws a
                                               system as an alternative final cover for                             result in a minimum six-inch erosion                                  previous proposal to add a site to the
                                               the 12.5 acre site.                                                  layer, or gravel/rock (3⁄4-inch to two-                               NPL.
                                                  (ii) The alternative final cover system                           inch diameter) mixed with additional
                                               shall be constructed to achieve an                                   cover soil as described in paragraph                                  DATES: Comments regarding any of these
                                               equivalent reduction in infiltration as                              (b)(2)(iii)(A)(2) of this section at the                              proposed listings must be submitted
                                               the infiltration layer specified in                                  ratio of 50% rock to soil by volume and                               (postmarked) on or before June 6, 2016.
                                               § 258.60(a)(1) and (2), and provide an                               result in a minimum 12-inch erosion                                   ADDRESSES: Identify the appropriate
                                               equivalent protection from wind and                                  layer.                                                                docket number from the table below.
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                                                                                                                 DOCKET IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS BY SITE
                                                                              Site name                                                                    City/county, state                                          Docket ID No.

                                               Argonaut Mine ................................................................   Jackson, CA ...................................................................   EPA–HQ–OLEM–2016–0151
                                               Bonita Peak Mining District ............................................         San Juan County, CO ....................................................          EPA–HQ–OLEM–2016–0152
                                               Riverside Ground Water Contamination ........................                    Indianapolis, IN ..............................................................   EPA–HQ–OLEM–2016–0153



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Document Created: 2016-04-06 23:43:55
Document Modified: 2016-04-06 23:43:55
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of proposed rulemaking.
DatesComments must be received on or before May 9, 2016. If sufficient public interest is expressed by April 22, 2016, EPA will hold a public hearing at the Quechan Community Center, located at 604 Picacho Rd., in Winterhaven, CA on May 9, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If by April 22, 2016 EPA does not receive information indicating sufficient public interest for a public hearing, EPA may cancel the public hearing with no further notice. If you are interested in attending the public hearing, contact Steve Wall at (415) 972-3381 to verify that a hearing will be held.
ContactSteve Wall, Land Division, LND 2-3 Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901; telephone number: (415) 972-3381; fax number: (415) 947-
FR Citation81 FR 20274 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Municipal Landfills; Final Cover; Post-Closure Care Groundwater Monitoring; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Waste Treatment and Disposal and Water Pollution Control

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