Hazardous waste: Mixture rule revisions,

[Federal Register: October 3, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 192)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 50379-50380]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr03oc01-27]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 261

[FRN-7066-1]

RIN: 2050-AE07

Correction to Hazardous Waste Identification Rule (HWIR): Revisions to the Mixture Rule; Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing two clarifying revisions to the mixture rule. The first revision reinserts certain exemptions to the mixture rule which were inadvertently deleted. The second revision clarifies that mixtures consisting of certain excluded wastes (commonly referred to as Bevill wastes) and listed hazardous wastes that have been listed solely for the characteristic of ignitability, corrosivity, and/or reactivity, are exempt once the characteristic for which the hazardous waste was listed has been removed.

In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register, we are also simultaneously approving these clarifying revisions to the mixture rule as a direct final rule without prior proposal because we view these as noncontroversial revisions and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES: Written comments must be received by November 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and two copies of your comments referencing Docket number F-2001-

[[Page 50380]]

WH3P-FFFFF to (1) if using regular U.S. Postal Service mail: RCRA Docket Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0002, or (2) if using special delivery, such as overnight express service: RCRA Docket Information Center (RIC), Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, First Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22202. To reduce paper use, we are asking you to send one paper copy, and one electronic copy by diskette or Internet email. In this case, send your comments to the RCRA Information Center on labeled personal computer diskettes in ASCII (TEXT) format or a word processing format we can convert to ASCII (TEXT). Please include on the disk label the name, version, and edition of your word processing software as well as your name and docket number F-2001-WH3P-FFFFF. Protect your diskette by putting it in a protective mailing envelope. To send a copy by Internet email, address it to: rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Make sure this electronic copy is in an ASCII format that doesn't use special characters or encryption. Cite the docket Number F-2001-WH3P-FFFFF in your electronic file.

The RCRA Information Center is located at Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, First Floor, Arlington Virginia. If you would like to look at and copy supporting information for RCRA rules, please make an appointment with the RCRA Information Center by calling (703) 603-9230. Docket hours are from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. You may copy up to 100 pages from any regulatory document at no cost. Additional copies cost $0.15 per page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the RCRA Call Center at 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-7672 (hearing impaired). In the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, call 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323.

For more detailed information on specific aspects of this rulemaking, contact Tracy Atagi, Office of Solid Waste 5304W, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0002, 703-308-8672, atagi.tracy@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document concerns revising the mixture rule in order to correct errors made in a previous notice. For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.

Administrative Requirements

Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and is therefore not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. Because the purpose of today's action to make a clarification that will not change the current regulatory status quo, it has no economic impact and is not subject to the regulatory flexibility provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or to sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). In addition, this action does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments or impose a significant intergovernmental mandate, as described in sections 203 and 204 of UMRA. This rule also does not have tribal implications, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000). This rule 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 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.

This action does not involve technical standards; thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. The rule also does not involve special consideration of environmental justice related issues as required by Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 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, as required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996). 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.). 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.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 261

Environmental protection, Hazardous waste, Recycling, Waste treatment and disposal.

Dated: September 20, 2001. Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator.

[FR Doc. 01-24073Filed10-2-01; 8:45 am]

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