Louisiana: Final Authorization of State-Initiated Changes and Incorporation by Reference of Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Program

During a review of Louisiana's regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified a variety of State-initiated changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA has determined that these changes are minor and satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization and is authorizing the State-initiated changes through this direct final action. The Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to authorize States to operate their hazardous waste management programs in lieu of the Federal program. The EPA uses the regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs'' to provide notice of the authorization status of State programs and to incorporate by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that will be subject to the EPA's inspection and enforcement. The rule codifies in the regulations the prior approval of Louisiana's hazardous waste management program and incorporates by reference authorized provisions of the State's statutes and regulations. The EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the State-initiated changes and incorporate by reference the State's hazardous waste program without a prior proposal because we believe these actions are not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose them. Unless we receive written comments which oppose the authorization in this codification document during the comment period, the decision to authorize Louisiana's State-initiated changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose the authorization, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect, and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the State-initiated changes.