P. 1 

# /OIClo)PfR-|-|. |

Tuesda y Jul y 19 , 1988



# Par t I I


# Environmenta l Protectio n Agency

4 0 CF R Part s 117 , 302 , an d 35 5 Reportin g Exemption s fo r Federall y Permttte d Release * o f Hazardou s Substances ; Propose d Rul eP. 2

2726 8 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule s

ENVIRONMENTA L PROTECTIO N AGENC Y

4 0 CF R Part s 117,302 , an d 35 5 [FRL-3207-3 ] Reportin g Exemption s fo r Federall y Permitte d Release s o f Hazardou s Substance s AGENCY : Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y (EPA)

. ACTION : Propose d rule

. SUMMARY : Sectio n 103(a ) o f th e Comprehensiv e Environmenta l Response , Compensation , an d Liabilit y Ac to f 198 0 (CERCLA) , a s amended , require s tha tth e perso n i n charg e o f a vesse l o r facilit y fro m whic h a hazardou s substanc e ha s bee n release d i n a quantit y tha ti s equa l t o o r greate r tha n it s reportabl e quantit y (RQ ) shal l immediatel y notif

y th e Nationa l Respons e Cente r o f

th e release

. Sectio n 102(b ) set s a n R Q o f

on e poun d o f hazardou s substances , excep tthos e fo r whic h RQ s hav e bee n establishe d pursuan tt o sectio n 311a(b)(4 ) o f th e clea n Wate r Act

. Sectio n 102(a ) authorize s th e U.S

. Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y (EPA ) t o adjus tRQ s fo r hazardou s substance s an d t o designat e a s hazardou s substance s thos e substance s that , whe n release d int o th e environment , ma y presen t substantia l dange r t o th e publi c healt h
o r welfar e o r th e environment

. Th e notificatio n requiremen tunde r section s 103(a ) an d 103(b ) o f CERCLA applie s t o an y releas e o f a hazardou s substanc e "othe r tha n a federall y permitte d release. " Sectio n 101(10 ) o f CERCLA define s "federall y permitte d release " i n term s o f

th e discharg e requirement s o f

a numbe r o f

Stat e an d Federa l programs . Sectio n 107(j ) o f CERCL A als o exempt s a "federall y permitte d release " fro m liabilit y unde r CERCL A fo r respons e cost s an d damage s incurre d du e t o th e release

. Th e purpos e o f

thi s rulemakin g i s t o clarif y th e federall y permitte d releas e exemptio n fro m CERCL A releas e reportin g an d liabilit y provisions

. Today' s propose d rul e als o addresse s thi s exemptio n fro m th e notificatio n requirement s unde r Titl e II I o f th e Superfun d Amendment s an d Reauthorizatio n Ac to f 1986

. Th e Agenc y als o propose s i n thi s rul e t o mak e conformin g change s t o th e regulatio n (4 0 CF R Par t117 ) describin g th e notificatio n requirement s fo r release s o f

hazardou s substance s unde r sectio n 31 1 o f

th e Clea n Wate r Act

. Finally , thi s rulemakin g addresse s severa l issue s relate d t o whic h release s int o th e environmen trequir e notificatio n unde r CERCLA

. DATES : Comment s mus tb e submitte d o n o r befor e Septembe r 19,1988

. ADDRESSES : Comments: Comment s shoul d b e submitte d i n triplicat e to : Emergenc y Respons e Division , Superfun d Docke t Clerk , Attention : Docke tNumbe r 101(10 ) FPR , Roo m LG-100 , U.S

. Environmenta l Protectio n Agency , 40 1 M Stree tSW. , Washington , D C 20460

. Docket- Copie s o f

material s relevan t t o thi s rulemakin g ar e kep ti n Roo m LG

100 , a tth e abov e address

. Th e docke ti s availabl e fo r inspectio n betwee n 9:0 0
a.m . an d 4:0 0 p.m . Monda y throug h Friday , excludin g Federa l holidays

. Appointment s t o revie w th e docke tca n b e mad e b y callin g 202/382-3046

. A s provide d i n 4 0 CF

R Par t2 , a reasonabl e fe e (th e first5 0 page s ar e fre e an d eac h additiona l pag e cost s $.20 ) ma y b e charge d fo r copyin g services

. FO R FURTHE R INFORMATIO N CONTACT : Mr

. Huber tWatters , Projec tOfficer , Respons e Standard s an d Criteri a Branch , Emergenc y Respons e Divisio n (WH-548B) , U.S

. Environmenta l Protectio n Agency , 401 M Stree tSW. , Washington

. D C 20460 , (202 ) 382-2463 ; o r th e RCRA/Superfun d Hotline , 1-800/424

- 9356 : i n Washington , DC , 1-202/382

- 3000

. Th e toll-fre e telephon e numbe r o f th e Nationa l Respons e Cente r i s 1-800/424

- 8802 ; i n th e Washington , D C metropolita n area , th e numbe r i s 1-202 / 428-2675

. SUPPLEMENTAR

Y INFORMATION

: Th e content s o f

today' s preambl e ar e liste d i n th e followin g outline : I

. Introductio

n and Genera

l Comment

s A

. Backgroun

d B

. Relationshi p t

o Reportin

g Under Titl e II

I n . Element

s o f th e Exemptio

n m . Notificatio n fo

r Certai n Type s o f Release s A

. I n Genera l B

. PC B Wast e Disposal IV

. Discharege s t

o POTW s V

. Regulator

y Analyses. A

. Executiv e Orde

r No

. 1229 1 B

. Regulator

y Flexibilit

y Ac t C Paperwor

k Reductio n Ac t I

. Introductio n an d Genera l Comment s A. Background Th e Comprehensiv e Environmenta l Response , Compensation , an d Liabilit y Ac to f 198 0 (Pub

. L 98-510) , 4 2 U.S.C

. 960 1 et seq. (CERCL

A o r th e Act) , enacte d o n Decembe r 11,1980 , an d amende d b y th e Superfun d Amendment s an d Reauthorizatio n Ac to f 198 6 (SARA ) (Pub

. L 99-499) , establishe s broa d Federa l authorit y t o respon d t o release s o r threat s o f

release s o f

hazardou s substance s fro m vessel s an d facilities

.

Sectio n 101(14 ) o f

CERCL A define s th e ter m "hazardou s substances " chiefl y b y referenc e t o othe r environmenta l statute s wit h authorit y furthe r grante d t o th e U.S

. Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y (EPA ) t o designat e additiona l hazardou s substance s unde r CERCL A sectio n 102(a)

. Th e CERCL A lis t currentl y contain s 72 1 hazardou s substances

. Sectio n 103(a ) o f

th e Ac trequire s that , a s soo n a s th e perso n i n charg e o f a vesse l o r facilit y ha s knowledg e o f a releas e o f

a hazardou s substanc e fro m suc h vesse l o r facilit y i n a quantit y equa l t o o r greater tha n th e reportabl e quantit y (RQ ) fo r tha tsubstance , th e perso n shal l notif

y th e Nationa l Respons e Cente r immediately

. Sectio n ' 102(b ) o f CERCL A establishe s RQ s fo r release s o f

hazardou s substance s a ton e pound , excep tfo r thos e substance s whos e RQ s wer e establishe d a ta differen tleve l pursuan tt o sectio n 311(b)(4 ) o f

th e Clea n Wate r Ac t(CWA)

. Sectio n 102(a ) o f

CERCL A authorize s th e EP A Administrato r t o adjus tal l o f thes e RQ s b y regulatio n (se e 4 0 CF R 302.4)

. Sectio n 10 9 o f

CERCL A an d sectio n 32 5 o f SAR A Titl e II

I authoriz e EP

A t o asses s civi l penaltie s fo r failur e t o repor t release s o f

hazardou s substance s tha t equa l o r excee d thei r RQs

. Sectio n 10 3
o f CERCLA , a s amended , authorize s EP A t o see k crimina l penaltie s fo r submittin g fals e o r misleadin g informatio n i n a notificatio n mad e pursuan tt o CERCL

A sectio n 103 , an d increase s th e maximu m penaltie s an d year s o f imprisonmen tfo r violatio n o f th e CERCL

A sectio n 10 3 reportin g requiremen t On e o f th e exemption s fro m sectio n 10 3 reportin g requirement s i s fo r "federall y permitte d releases. " Th e definitio n o f

"federall y permitte d release " i n CERCL

A sectio n 101(10 ) specificall y identifie s release s permitte d unde r othe r environmenta l statutes , includin g th e followin g genera l type s o f releases :

• Discharge s covere d b y a Nationa l Pollutan tDischarg e Eliminatio n Syste m (NPDES ) permit , permi tapplication , o r permi tadministrativ e record ;

• Discharge s i n complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e permi tfo r dredge d
o r fill material s unde r sectio n 40 4 o f th e CWA ;

• Release s i n complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e Resourc e Conservatio n an d Recover y Ac t(RCRA ) hazardou s wast e managemen tfacilit y fina l permit ;

• Release s i n complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e permi tunde r th eP. 3

Federa l Registe r /

Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , July 19 , 198 8 / "Propose d Rule 9 2728 9

Marin e Protection , Research , and Sanctuarie s Act ;

• Any injection s o

f fluid s authorize d unde r federall y approve d undergroun d injectio n control program s (including federall y authorized State programs) pursuan tt o Par tC o f the Saf e Drinkin g Wate r Act ;

• An y air emission s subjec

tt o permi t o r contro l regulation s unde

r certai n provision s o

f th e Clea n Ai r Ac t(CAA) ;

• An y injection s o

f fluid s o r othe r material s authorized b y applicabl e Stat e la w fo r the purpos e o

f stimulatin g o r treatin g well s fo r th e production o

f crude oil , natura

l gas , o r water , o r fo r other production o

r enhance d recover

y purposes ;

• Th e introductio n o

f an y pollutant int o a publicl y owne d treatmen twork s whe n suc h pollutanti s specifie d i n an d in complianc e wit

h pretreatmen

t standard s and a pretreatmen tprogra m submitte d t

o EP A fo r approval ; an d

• Any releas e o

f source , specia l nuclear , o r byproduc

tmateria l i n complianc e wit

h a legall y enforceabl e license , permit

, regulation , o

r orde r issue d pursuan

tt o th e Atomi c Energ

y Act

. I n th e Ma y 25,198 3 Notic e o

f Proposed Rulemakin

g (NPRM ) (48 F R 23552 ) t o adjustcertai n RQB , EP

A explaine d the Agency' s interpretatio n o f eac h o f the type s o

f release s exempte d b y the definitio n o

f "federall y permitted release. " EP

A ha s decide d t

o repropos e th e rul e fo r federall y permitted release s toda y rathe r tha n publis h a fina

l rule becaus e o f the amoun

to f time tha tha s passe d sinc e th e origina

l proposal

. Today' s propose d regulatio n woul d ad d a definitio n o f

"federall y permitte d release " t o 4 0 CF R 302.3 , Definitions. 1 EP A receive d man

y comment

s o n variou s aspect s o

f th e federall y permitte d releas e exemption , mos to f whic h urge d a broade r interpretatio n o f on e o r mor e o f the exemptio n categories

. Genera l comment

s o n th e scop e o f

th e exemptio n ar

e discusse d below , followe d b y discussio n o f comment s o n specifi c type s o

f federall y permitte d releases

. Several commenter s discusse d th e potentia l duplicatio n betwee n CERCL A reportin g requirement

s an d reportin

g requirement

s unde r existin g permi

t program s fo r release s exceedin g level s se tb y the term

s o f th e permi tThes e commenter

s suggeste d tha tbecaus e permi tprogram s alread y ma

y requir e notificatio n o

f a regulator

y authorit y i n the even to

f a releas e exceedin g permi t levels , suc

h release s shoul d b e exemp t

1 Further , today' s proposa

l revise s the definitio n o f "release " t

o reflec tSAR A amendment

s t o CERCL A sectio n 101(221

. ' " fro m notificatio n whe n permitted revel s ar e exceede d b y a

n R Q o r more . CERCL A sectio n 101(10) , however , generall y limit

s th e federall y permitted releas e exemptio n t

o thos e release s "i

n complianc e with " permitted o r regulator y requirements

. A straightforwar

d interpretatio n o

f th e statut e indicate s tha

ti f a releas e exceed s permitte

d levels , i ti s not"i n complianc e with " th

e permi tand canno t b e "federall

y permitted. " Therefore , i f the amoun

to f di e releas e exceedin g th e permitte d level , i.e. , th e portio n o

f th e releas e tha

ti s no tfederall y permitted , i s equa l t o o r exceed s th e RQ

. th e releas e mus tb e reporte

d immediatel y t

o th e Nationa l Respons e Center

. Thi s approac h als o avoid s the numerous an d unnecessary report

s tha tcoul d b e generate d b y th e reportin g o f smal l permi texcursion s tha

tar e bette r addresse d b y the permittin g authority

. EP A believe s tha

tit s interpretatio n i s require d b y th e plai n languag e o f th e statute an d i s essentia l t

o ensur e adequat e protectio n o

f publi c healt

h an d th e environmen tTh e Agenc y believe s tha tCERCL

A reportin

g an d reporting unde r permi

tprogram s i s no tduplicativ e becaus e ther e ar

e significan tdifference s betwee n the purpose s serve d b y CERCL A notificatio n an d th e purpose s o f permi tprograms . Th e permi

t notificatio n requirement

s an d th e informatio n tha

ti s reported unde

r permi tprogram s ma y diffe r fro m on e progra m t o another

. I

f permit notificatio n requirement

s wer e allowe d t o suffice fo

r CERCL A notification , the informatio n availabl e t

o th e CERCL

A progra m o n release s migh

tb e inconsisten tan d incomplete

. Permi t program s als o diffe

r i n thei r reporting mechanism s and d o no talway s requir e immediat e notification

. I

n som e cases , release s i n exces s o

f permitted level s nee d onl y b e reporte d a

tspecifi c interval s (e.g.

. monthly)

. Moreover , release s i n exces s o

f permi tlevel s ar e reported t o differen tFedera l an d Stat e authorities , dependin g upon the permit

. CERCL A require s immediat

e notificatio n t

o a centra l office , th e National Respons e Center, a s soo n a s th e perso n in charge ha s knowledg e o f a releas e equa

l t o o r exceedin g a n RQ , s o tha ttimel y respons e ma

y b e initiate d i

f the appropriat

e governmen

tauthorit y • determine s tha

tthe releas e ma

y presen t substantial dange r t

o publi c healt

h o r th e environment

. Moreover , EP

A i s no tconvince d tha

t requirin g person s i n charge o

f a vesse l o r facilit y t o mak e additional telephon e call s (t o th e National Respons e Center , the loca l communit

y emergenc

y coordinator , an d th e Stat e emergency respons e commission ) t

o a toll-fre e o r local numbe r constitute s a

n undu e burde n o n th e regulate d community

. Th e Agenc y seek s comment

s o n it s » . interpretatio n o f

th e burden s an d the benefits o f requirin g reportin g unde r CERCL A an d Federa l o r State permi

t programs . Severa l commenter

s recommended tha trelease s b e considere d federall y permitte d release s (an

d therefor e < exemp tfro

m CERCL A notificatio n and liabilit y provisions ) i

f the y ar e exemp t fro m regulatio n b y the statute s liste d i n CERCL A sectio n 101(10)

. EP

A believe s tha texemptin g suc

h release s woul d b e contrar y t o the purpos e o

f the notificatio n requirements , which i s t o protec thuma n healt h and the environmen

tb y requirin

g tha t responsibl e authoritie s b e notifie d o f release s tha

tma y requir e a timely response . Th

e exemptio n o

f a typ e o f releas e fro

m regulatio n unde

r a particula r statut e ma y hav e littl e o

r n o bearin g o n whethe r a Federa l respons e actio n migh

tb e neede d fo

r a specifi c ' release

. Example s illustrat

e th e disparat

e reason s fo

r exemptions

. Fo

r instance , owner s o r operator

s o f certai n soli d wast e disposa l facilitie s tha thandl e hazardou s wast e onl y fro m generators o f les s tha n 10 0 kg

. pe r mont h o f nonacutel y hazardou s wast e (Se e 4 0 CF R 261.5) ar

e exemp tfro

m the requiremen

tt o obtai n a hazardou s wast e managemen

tfacilit y permi tunde r sectio n 300

5 o f RCRA

. Th e exemptio n i s base d o n a balancin g o

f th e administrativ e burde

n o f includin g such waste s i n th e Subtitl e C syste m agains t th e threa tth e Agenc

y determine d would

. b e pose d b y disposin g o

f th e waste s i n unpermitted facilitie s (4

5 F R 33068 ; 33102-3310

5 (Ma y 19,1980))

. Certain type s o f hazardou s wast e recyclin g activities—fo r example , th e acto f O ' reclamatio n o f

a hazardou s wast e or. burnin g a hazardou s wast e i n a boile r o r industria l furnac e t o recove r energy

— ar e exemp tfro

m regulatio n whil e EP

A determine s appropriat

e regulator

y regime s fo

r thes e activities

. (Se e 4 0 CF R 261. 6 and 4 0 CF

R Par t286)

. Under th e CWA , electroplatin g facilitie s tha t produc e 100 0 gallon s o

f effluen tpe r da y ar e exempte d fro

m effluentstandard s , becaus e complianc e i s economicall y infeasibl e fo r thes e smal l firm s (39 F R 11510

. Marc

h 28,1974)

. I

n eac h instance , th e releas e ma

y requir e respons e action , an d the fac ttha

tth e releas e i s exempte d fro m th e statutor

y requirement

s i s no t
. relevan tt o thi s determination

. Th e - Agency ha

B determined , therefore , tha t release s exempte d fro

m regulatio n b y the statute s liste d i n sectio n 101(ir ) wil lP. 4

2727 0 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule s

no tb e considere d federall y permitted releases

. Althoug h certai n release s ma

y not qualif y a s federall y permitted , the y ma y notpos e a sufficienthazar d to.warran

t reportin g t o the Nationa

l Respons e Center

. Th

e Administrato r wil l conside r establishin g a

n administrativ e exemptio n fro

m CERCL A notificatio n requirement

s i f i tappears tha

tcertai n release s pos e no hazar

d o r pos e a hazar d only rarel

y and unde

r circumstance s tha

twoul d notlikel y resul ti n an y actio n bein g taken t

o respond t o th e hazard

. However , n o suc h exemption s ar

e propose d unde

r thi s regulation

. One commenter requeste d tha ta releas e stil l b e considere d a federall y permitte d releas e whe n ther

e i s onl y a "technical " violatio n o

f permi t condition s (i.e. , where the violatio n relate s t o operating , monitoring , o r reportin g procedure s an d doe s no taffec t th e characte r o

r quantit y o f the release)

. EP A agree s tha

tnotificatio n o

f th e Nationa l Respons e Center woul d b e . unnecessar y i n suc

h a cas e an d shoul d b e addresse d b y the permi tprograms , wher e appropriate , a s a permi tviolation

. I f th e characteristic s o

f a releas e (bot

h th e substanc e involve d and th e quantit y o r concentratio n ar

e i n complianc e wit

h a permi tdescribe d in sectio n 101(10) , CERCL A notificatio n wil l notb e required

. However , t

o th e exten ttha

ta releas e exceed s th e permi tlimitwit h regar d t o th e quantit

y o f a hazardou s substance , i twil l no tb e considere d a federall y permitted releas e an d CERCL A notificatio n wil l b e require d whe n th e releas e o

f th e hazardou s substanc e exceed s it s permitted leve l b y a n R Q o r more . Some Federa

l permi t program s d o notinclud e quantitativ e limits o n th e amount

s o f specifi c hazardou s substance s tha tca n b e released

. Accordingly , n o "permitted • level " exist s agains twhic h th e release d quantit y ca n b e compare d t o determin e whethe r CERCL

A notificatio n i s require d (i.e. , whethe r th e permitte d leve l ha s bee n exceede d b y a n R Q o r more)

. I n suc h cases , CERCL

A notificatio n wil l b e require d whe n th e characteristic s o

f the releas e are no ti n complianc e wit

h th e permi

t(e.g. , th e allowabl e concentratio n o f a particular constituen tha s bee n exceeded ) an d a n R Q o r mor e o f a hazardou s substanc e ha s bee n released

. Severa l commenters urge d tha t variou s type s o

f release s (suc

h a s all , "routine " release s o

r release s covere d b y othe r permi

tprograms ) no t mentione d in sectio n 101(10 ) b e considere d federall y permitted release

. EP A canno tsuppor

tthi s position

. Federally permitte d release s ar

e specificall y liste d i n sectio n 101(10)

. Thi s detaile d lis tclearl y indicate d tha t Congres s di d notinten d release s othe r tha n thos e liste d in sectio n 101(10 ) t o b e considere d federally permitte d and thereb y exemp tfro

m CERCL A reportin

g an d liabilit y requirements

. B. Relationship to Reporting Under Title III Titl e II I o f SAR A (section s 301-329

) addresse s emergenc

y plannin g an d communit y right-to-know and provides , amon g othe r things , emergenc

y and annua l notificatio n requirement s i n additio n t o thos e include d i n sectio n 10 3 o f CERCLA

. EP A ha s provide d (se e 52 F R 13377 , Apri

l 22,1987 ; 5

2 F R 21152 , Jun e 4,1987 ) and wil l continu e t o provid e regulation s and guidanc e o n the Titl e II I requirement

s a s necessar y an d appropriate

. Wit h respec tt

o emergenc

y notificatio n requirements, sectio n 30 4 o f SAR A provide s releas e reporting requirement

s tha tparalle l the requirement

s o f sectio n 103(a

) bu tare intende d t

o mak e release information immediatel y availabl e t

o State and loca l emergenc y official s a s wel l a s Federa l respons e official s notifie d unde r CERCL A sectio n 103

. I

n addition , sectio n 304(a

) require s reportin

g o f (1 ) release s fo

r whic h notificatio n i s require d unde r sectio n 103(a

) o f CERCLA , an d (2) release s o

f "extremely hazardou s substances " tha tar e no t hazardou s substance s unde r CERCL A bu ttha t"occu r i n a manner which woul d requir

e notificatio n unde

r sectio n 103(a) " o f CERCLA

. Federall y permitted releases , a s define d b y CERCL A sectio n 101(10) , ar

e no trequired t

o b e reporte d unde r sectio n 30

4 o f SAR A (se e 52 F

R 13383)

. T o clarif

y th e typ e o f

release s tha tar e define d a s federall y permitte d releases, an d thereb y exemp tfro m SAR A sectio n 30

4 reporting, today' s rule propose s t

o revis e th e applicabilit

y sectio n o f th e regulatio n implementin g sectio n 30 4 (40 CF R 355.40(a) ) t

o ad d th e definitio n o

f "federally permitted releases" provide d i n thi s rule

. Thus , th e interpretatio n o

f federall y permitte d releas e propose d in today' s rul e wil l defin e clearl y th e scop e o f th e releases reportabl e unde r SAR

A sectio n 304

. With, respec tt

o annua l notificatio n o

f toxi c chemical releases require d unde r SAR A sectio n 313 , however , federall y permitte d releases ar

e no texemp t
II

. Element

s o f th e Exemptio n Eac h elemen to

f th e federall y permitte d releas e exemptio n i s discusse d below

. Relevan tcomment s received o n the ma

y 25,1983 , NPR

M pertaining t

o eac h elemen tals o ar

e discussed

. Releases from Point

Sources with National Pollutant

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits. Introduction. Sectio n 101(10 ) identifie s thre e type s o f releases fro

m poin t source s wit

h NPDE S permit s a s federall y permitte

d releases : (A ) discharge

s i n complianc

e wrt h a permi t unde r sectio n 40 2 o f th e Federa l Wate r Pollutio n Contro l Act , (B ) discharge

s resultin g fro m circumstance

s identifie d an d reviewe d an d mad e par to f th e publi c recor d wit h respec tt o a permi tissue d o r modifie d unde r sectio n 40 2 o f th e Federa l Wate r Pollutio n Contro l Ac tan d subjec tt o a conditio

n o f suc h permi t(C ) continuou

s o r anticipate

d intermitten tdischarge s fro m a poin tsource , identifie d i n a permi to r permi tapplicatio

n unde r sectio n 40 2 o f th e Federa l Wate r

. Pollutio n Contro l Ac twhic h ar e cause d b y event s occurrin g withi n th e scop e o f relevan t operatin g o r treatmen tsystem s * * *

. Thi s languag e i s identical t o tha tuse d i n sectio n 311(a)(2) o

f the CW A t o exclud e thes e release s fro m the ter m "discharge " wit

h respec tt

o EPA' s oi l and hazardou s substance s spil l respons e an d preventio n program. Furthermore , Congres s intended , i n enactin g CERCL A sectio n 101(10

) (A) , (B) , and (C) , tha

t EPA' s interpretatio n o

f th e provision s unde r th e CW A b e continue d unde

r CERCLA

. (Se e S

. Rep

. No

. 848,96t

h Cong. , 2n d Sess

. 4 7 (1980). ) Reflectiv e o

f Congressiona

l intent , th e Agency propose s toda

y tha tth e interpretatio n provide d in th e regulator

y languag e an d the preamble s t

o th e rule s implementin g the CW A sectio n 311(a)(2) exclusion s b e applie d t o th e sam e exemption s unde r CERCL A sectio n 101(10

) (A) , (B)

. and (Q

. Th e legislativ e histor

y o f th e CW A explain s tha

tth e purpos e o

f th e sectio n 31 1 exemption s wa s t

o exclud e fro

m th e spil l respons e provision s o f sectio n 31 1 thre e type s o

f discharge s subjectt

o regulation under othe r CW A provisions ; specifically , sectio n 40

2 NPDE S permit s and sectio n 30

9 enforcemen

tprovisions

. Senato r Staffor

d explaine d that : * * * w e ar e attemptin

g t o dra w a lin e betwee n th e provision

s o f th e (CWA ) unde r section s 301.304.40

2 regulatin g chroni c discharge s an d 31 1 dealin

g wit h spills

. A tth e extremes , i ti s relativel

y eas y t o focu s o n th e differenc e bu ti tca n becom e complicated

. Th e concep tca n be summarize

d b y statin g tha tthos e discharge

s o f pollutant s tha ta reasonabl e ma n woul d conclud e ar e associate d wit h permits , permi tconditions , operatio n o f treatmen ttechnolog y an d permi t violation s woul d resul tI n 402/30 9 sanctions ; thos e discharge

s o f pollutant s tha ta reasonabl e ma n woul d conclud e ar e episodi c o r classica l spills no tintende d o r capabl e o f bein g processe d throug h th e permitte d treatmen tsyste m an d outfal l woul d resul ti nP. 5

Federa l Register- /

Vol

. 53

. No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , July 19 , 198 8 / Propose d Rule s 2727 1

th e applicatio

n o f sectio n 311

. (12 4 Congressiona

l Recor d 3768 3 (1978). ) I n 1979 , the Agency promulgate d 4 0 CF R Par t117, whic

h contain s CW

A reportin g requirement

s fo r discharge s o

f hazardou s substance s (4

4 F R 50776, August29,1979)

. Sectio n 117.1 2 provide d a regulator

y interpretatio n o f

the thre e exclusion s t

o th e defintio n o

f "discharge " in 4

0 CF R Par t11 6 and CW A sectio n 311(a)(2) , an

d th e preamble t

o the rul e provide d a detaile d explanatio n o

f the three type s o

f exclude d discharges

. I

n 1987, EP

A amende d th e definitio n o

f "discharge " in 4 0 CF R Par t110 , the discharg e o

f oi l regulation , t

o codif y th e sam e three CW A exclusion s (5

2 F R 10712 , Apri

l 2 , 1987)

. The preambl e t

o th e oi l discharg e rul e adopte d the descriptio n o f the thre e exclusion s fro

m the 197 9 preambl e t

o 4 0 CF R Par t117

. I n today' s rule , the Agenc y propose s t o appl y the existin g interpretatio n o f the thre e type s o f discharge s tha

tare exclude d fro

m coverag e tinde

r CW A sectio n 31 1 t

o the firs tthre e type s o f discharge s under CERCL

A sectio n 101(10)

. Thus , thi s interpretatio n wil l appl y t o the followin g regulator

y provisions : 4 0 CF

R 110.1,116.3,117.12 , 300.5 , 302.3 , an d 335.40

. Th e Agency , however , als o i s proposing t o mak e tw o clarifyin g amendment

s t o 4 0 CF R 117.12 , a s explaine d below , tha

tals o wil l b e aplicabl e t

o th e correspondin g exemption s under 4 0 CF

R Part s 110,116 ; 300,302 , an d 355

. I n th e paragraph s tha

tfollow , tile three type s o

f NPDE S discharge s tha

t correspon d t

o th e federall y permitte d release s i n CERCL

A section s 101(10) (A) , (B) , and (C

) ar e described

. Fo

r simplicity , thes e discharge s wil l b e referre d t o a s Typ e A , B , an d C respectively

. Type A Discharges. Typ e A discharge s ar

e thos e tha

tar e i n complianc e with a n NPDE S permi tlimi t tha tspecificall y addrese s th e discharg e i n question

. T o qualif

y a s a Typ e A discharge , th e permi

tmusteithe r addres s th e discharg e directl y throug h specifi c effluentlimitation s o r throug h th e us e o f indicato r pollutants

. I

n th e cas e o f th e latter , th e administrativ e recor d prepared durin

g permi t developmen tmustidentif y specificall y th e discharg e o

f th e pollutan ta s on e o f thos e pollutants th e indicato r i s intende d t o represen t Type B Discharges. Type B discharge s ar e foreseeabl e (i.e. , identifie d i n th e NPDE S permit' s developmen trecord ) and flo w int o a facility' s effluen t treatmen tsyste m designe d t

o trea tthe discharge

. Thi s secon d typ e o f discharg e i s limite d t

o on-sit e spill s t

o th e permitte

d treatmen

tsyste m tha

twer e identifie d and considere d in th e issuanc e o

f the permi

tbu tar e not subjectt o an y specifi c effluen

t limitations

. Discharge s ar e include d onl y where (1 ) the source , nature , and amoun to f a potentia

l discharg e wer e identifie d an d mad e par

to f th e publi c recor d an d (2

) the permi

tcontaine d a conditio n requirin

g tha tth e treatmen

t syste m b e capabl e o

f eliminatin g o

r abatin g the potentia

l discharge

. Therefore , i

f a n on-sit e spil l wa s processe d throug

h a treatmen

tsyste m capabl e o f eliminatin g o

r abatin g the spill , an d the spil l i s subjectt o a permi t condition , a discharg e resultin g fro m th e on-sit e spil l woul d b e subjec tt o CW A section s 40

2 an d 30 9 an d woul d b e a federall y permitted release. I f a n on-sit e spil l i s no tpasse d throug

h a treatmen

t syste m o r i s no totherwis e treate d in an y way , th e discharg e resulting fro m th e on-sit e spil l i s subjectt

o CW A sectio n 31 1 an d i s no ta federall y permitted release

. Also , discharge s tha tresul tfro

m on-sit e spill s tha

tare passe d throug

h treatmen tsystem s (1 ) tha

thav e no tbee n demonstrate d a s capabl e o f eliminatin g o r abatin g th e discharg e o

r (2 ) fo r whic h n o permi tconditio n exist s ar

e subjectt

o CW A sectio n 31 1 an d ar

e no tfederall y permitted releases under CERCLA

. A "permi tcondition " woul d includ e the existenc e o

f a treatmen

tsyste m o r releas e preventio n plan s an d othe r bes t managemen

tpractice s designe d t o addres s th e discharge

. Bes tmanagement
.

- practice s are operatin g method s o r procedure s t o prevento r minimiz e th e potentia l fo

r th e discharg e o f

toxi c o r hazardou s substance s fro m processe s ancillar y t o th e industria

l manufacturin

g o r treatmen

tprocess . Fo

r example , a discharge r ha s a drainage syste m tha t wil l rout e spille d materia

l fro m a broken hos e connectio n t

o a holdin g tan

k o r basi n fo r subsequen ttreatmen

to r discharg e ata specifie d rate
. T o b e eligibl e a s a Typ e B discharge , th e discharge r mustidentif

y specificall y such a syste m i n the permi tapplication

. The permi

tconditio n discusse d i n th e applicatio n mus tb e sufficientt o trea t th e maximu

m potentia l spil l fro

m th e identifie d source . Discharge s tha tresul t fro m a n on-sit e spil l large r an d mor e concentrate d tha n th e spil l contemplate d i n th e publi c record , an d fo r whic h a conditio n wa s provide d i n th e permi twil l b e subjec tt o CW A sectio n 31 1 an d CERCL

A notificatio n an d liabilit

y provision s (i.e. , th e discharg e wil l no tb e a federally , permitte d release)

. Today' s rule propose s t

o amen d 4 0 CF R 117.12(c

) b y deletin g th e phras e "whethe r o

r no tthe discharg e i s i n complianc e wit

h th e permit. " fo

r Typ e B discharges , t

o avoi d confusio n cause d b y the phrase

. Th

e phras e wa s originally include d i n the rul e becaus e Typ e B discharge s ar

e discharge s tha

tresul t fro m circumstance s identifie d and considere d in the issuanc e o f a permi t bu ttha tar e no tsubjectt

o an y specifi c effluen tlimitations

. The Agency i s concerne d tha

tthe phras e ma

y b e interprete d incorrectly t

o mea n tha t Typ e B coul d refe

r t o discharge s i n which the permitte e di d no tsatisf y th e conditio n place d in th e permit

. Becaus e th e Agency believe s tha

tthe phras e cause s confusion , th e Agenc y propose s t o delet e the phras e fro

m the regulation

. The Agency solicit s comment s o n thi s propose d revision t

o 4 0 CF R 117.12(c)

. Type C Discharges. Typ e C discharge *
ar e fro m a poin tsourc e an d ar

e (1 ) continuou s o

r anticipate d intermitten

t discharges , (2

) identifie d i

n a permi to r permi tapplication , and (3

) cause d b y event s occurrin

g withi n th e scop e o

f the relevan toperating and treatmen t systems
. Included withi n the scop e o f thi s provisio n ar

e chroni c process relate d discharge s resultin g fro m periodi c upset s in th e manufacturin g an d treatmen

tsystems , fo

r example , th e discharg e create d b y a syste m backwash

. Discharge s cause d b y spill s o r episodi c event s tha

trelease hazardou s substance s t

o the manufacturin

g o r treatmen

tsystem s ar

e no tTyp e C discharges

. The language o f 4 0 CF R 117.12(d) provide s furthe r example s o

f discharge s tha

tfitwithi n th e category : (1 ) Provide d tha ta n on-sit e spil l i s no tth e cause , contaminatio n o f noncontac tcoolin g wate r o r stor m water , (2) a n upse to

r failur e o f a treatmen tsyste m o r o

f a proces s producing a continuou s o r anticipate d intermittentdischarge : o r (3) wher e the discharg e originate s i n the manufacturin

g o r treatmentsystems , a continuou s o r anticipate d discharg e o f proces s wast e water
. Amendment

to 40 CFR 117.12. Wit

h respec tt o Typ e C discharges , the Agenc y als o i s proposin g i n today' s rul e t o amen d 4 0 CF

R 117.12(d)(2)(iii ) b y deletin g th e ter

m "operator error " fro

m th e descriptio n o

f "a n upse to r failur e o f
a treatmen

tsystem. " * Th e reasons fo r

'Section 117.12(d)(2)(M

) presently states : (tli ) A n upse to r faHur a o f a treatmen

tsyste m o r o f a proces s producin

g a continuou s o r anticipated intermitten

tdischarge wher

e th e upse to r failur e result a fro m a contro

l problem , a n operator error , a syste m failur

e o r malfunction , a

n equipmen

to r system startu

p o r shutdown , a

n equipmen

twash , o r
' a productio

n schedul e change , provide d tha tsuc h upse to r failur e I s no tcause d b

y a n on-sit e spill o f a hazardous substance

.2727 2 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule 9 P. 6

th e proposa l t o eliminat e the ter m "operator error " are : (1 ) Th e us e o f th e ter m "operator error " i

n describin g a n upse ti s inconsisten twit

h the NPDE

S regulation s (40 CF

R 122.41 ) tha

tprovid e tha ta discharg e cause d b y a n operato r erro r i s no ta n upset ; an

d (2 ) th e Agency believe s tha

tdischarge s cause d b y operato r erro

r ar e notlikel y t

o b e "continuous o

r anticipate d intermitten

t discharges, " a s provided b y the statutor y language

. The Agenc

y expect s discharge s cause d b y operato r erro r t o b e episodi c an d unpredictable , a s compared t

o discharge s cause d b y syste m startup s and shutdowns

. The propose d deletio n o

f the ter m "operator error " i s intende d t

o enhanc e th e clarit

y and consistenc y o

f th e regulator

y language an

d i s notmean

tt o signal a chang e in policy

. I

ti s possibl e tha

t unde r som e circumstance s a

n operato r erro r ma y caus e a failur

e o f a treatmen

t- syste m o r process , and produc

e a continuou s o

r anticipate d intermitten

t discharge

. Suc

h a discharg e ma

y mee t th e requirement

s fo r a federall y permitted release. Th e ter m "upset " a s use d i n 4 0 CF

R Par t117 , however , generall y wil l b e interprete d t o b e consisten twit

h th e ter m "upset " i n 4 0 CF R Par t122 , i.e. , i

tdoe s no tinclud e incidents causedb y operationa l error . Th e Agency requests comment s o n it s proposa l t o delet e operato r erro

r fro m 4 0 CF R 117.12(d)(2)(iii)

. Conclusion. Unde r bot

h CW A sectio n 31 1 and CERCLA

, an y discharg e o r releas e o f a hazardou s substanc e tha ti s no tfederall y permitted , a s describe d above , mustb e reported immediatel y t o the Nationa

l Respons e Cente r i

f i t exceed s permi

tlimit s b y a n R Q o r more ; i f the hazardou s substanc e discharg e o r releas e i s notsubjectt

o a numerica

l permi tlimi tan y discharg e o r releas e tha ttrigger s a permi tviolatio n an d equal s o r exceed s a

n R Q mus tb e reported immediately

. Similarly , unde r 4 0 CF R Par t110

. an y oi l discharg e tha

t exceed s permitted level s an d cause s a n oi l shee n mus

tb e reported immediately

. Discharge s exclude d fro

m CW A sectio n 31 1 coverag e an d define d a s federall y permitte d releases under CERCL A section s 101(10

) (A) , (B) , an d (C ) ar e subjec tt

o th e CW A sectio n 309 enforcementprovisio n tha tprovide s EP A wit h th e authorit

y t o issu e complianc e orders , brin

g civi l actions , an d impos e crimina

l an d civi l penalties

. I n addition , unde

r CW A sectio n 311(b)(6)(D) , i

f th e Federa

l government incurs an y cost s o

f remova l o f discharge s exclude d b y sectio n 311(a)(2)(C) , th e Federa

l governmen tca n brin g a civi l actio n under di e authorit y provide d b y CW

A sectio n 309(b ) t o recove r suc h remova l costs
. Furthermore

, unde r CERCL A sectio n 107(j) , th e respons e cost s incurre

d b y th e Federa l governmen

tin connectio n wit

h th e federall y permitted release s define d b y sectio n 101(10

) (B ) and (C ) ca n b e recovere d throug

h a civi l actio n brough

t unde r th e authorit

y o f CW A sectio n 309(b)

. Finally , al l thre

e exemption s rais e th e issu e o f timelines s o

f notification

. Th e reportin g requirements fo

r release s exempte d fro

m CERCL A reportin

g and liabilit y unde r sectio n 101(10

) (A) , (B) , and (C ) and exclude d fro

m CW A sectio n 311(a)(2) ar

e subjec tt

o th e 24-hou

r notificatio n requirements unde r CW A sectio n 402

. The Agency acknowledge s tha tCongres s recognize d tha tth e 24

- hou r reportin g requirementma

y "creat e gap s i n actio n necessar y t o protec tth e publi c o r the environment. " (Se e S

. Rep

. No

. 848.96t

h Cong. , 2n

d Sess

. 4 7 (1980). ) Th e legislativ e histor

y o f sectio n 101(10

) suggests tha

tthe Agenc y coul d resolv e thi s issu e b y amendin g th e CW A sectio n 40 2 reporting regulation t

o require tha

t thos e releases exclude d fro m CW A sectio n 31 1 coverag e an d exemp tfro m CERCL A reportin

g requirement

s b e subjec tt o a

n immediat

e notificatio n requiremen

tunde r th e CW

A sectio n 4C

2 NPDE S regulations

. (Ibid. ) Th e Agenc y ha s no tye tamende d th e NPDE S regulations t

o requir e immediat

e
' notificatio n o

f thos e release s exemp t fro m sectio n 31 1 and CERCLA

. Befor e th e Agenc y propose s t

o amend th e CW

A secti n 40 2 NPDE S regulation s (40 CF

R Par t122 ) t o revis e th e 24-hou

r notificatio n requiremen

tt o a n immediat e notificatio n requiremen tfo r th e exempte d releases , th e Agenc y solicit s comment

s o n th e "reportin

g gap, " particularly example s o f situation s wher e th e 24-hou

r notic e wa s no t sufficientt

o protecthuma

n healt h an d th e environmen t Releases Subject

to CWA Section 404 Permits. Discharge s tha

tcomply with a legall y enforceabl e permi tfo r dredge o r fill material s unde r sectio n 40 4 o f th e CW A als o ar e federall y permitte d release s exempte d fro

m th e notificatio n requirements o f

CERCL A section s 103(a

) an d 103(b)

. Befor

e issuin g thes e permits , th e governmentreview s the substance s t o b e discharged

. Permit

s allowin g th e discharg e o

f hazardou s substance s are issue d onl y i

f no significan tdegradatio n o f th e aquati c environmen

twil l resul t Thi s exemptio n applie s t

o discharge s i n complianc e wit

h th e term

s an d condition s o

f eithe r a n individua

l o r a general CW

A sectio n 40

4 permi t I n regulation s implementin g sectio n 31 1 o f th e CW A fo r hazardou s substances , 4 0 CF

R 117.1 2 (bu

tno tth e regulation s fo r oi l i n 4 0 CF R Par t110) , EP A exempte d fro

m the notificatio n requiremen

tnotonl y thos e release s tha t were in complianc e wit

h sectio n 40

4 permits , bu

tals o thos e release s tha

t wer e exemp tfro

m permi trequirement

s unde r sectio n 40

4 o f the CW A (section s 404(f ) and 404(r))

. Thes e latte r release s ar e not"federall

y permitted releases" fo r purpose s o

f CERCL A becaus e sectio n 101(10)(D) i s limite d t o releases in complianc e wit

h a legall y enforceabl e permi tunde r sectio n 40

4 o f th e CWA

. The Agenc

y interpret

s the CERCL

A notificatio n requirement

s t o exemp tonl y thos e release s whos e environmenta l an d healt h effect s hav e bee n evaluate d and determine d t

o b e allowabl e unde r th e appropriat

e permi tprogram . Releases from Facilities with Final RCRA Permits. Release s in complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e RCR A treatment, storage , o

r disposa l final permi tare , pursuan

tt o CERCL A sectio n 101(10)(E) , federall y permitted release s whe n the hazardou s substance s released ar

e specifie d i n th e permi

tand

. subjectunde

r the permi

tt o a specifi c limitation , standard , o r contro l procedur e (se e 4 0 CF

R Part s 26 4 an d 270)

. Identifying releases o n th e recor d durin g th e permi

tproces s i s insufficient t o qualif y the m fo r th e sectio n 101(10)(E

) exemptio n because , in orde r t o b e exemp tth e substance s mus tb e specifie d i n th e permi

tand subjec tt

o som e permi

tconditio n o r control

. Fou r commenter

s requeste d tiiat facilitie s wit

h interi m statu s pursuan

tt o sectio n 3005(e) o f

RCR A an d 4 0 CF

R Par t26 5 b e include d i n th e "federally permitted release " definition

. Som e o f th e commenter

s indicate d tha

ti tma y b e som e tim e before thes e facilitie s ar e issue d final permits

. The legislativ e histor y specificall y rejects applicatio n o f thi s exclusio n t o release s from facilitie s wit h interi m statu s (S

. Rep

. No

. 848,96th Cong.

. 2n d Sess

. 4 8 (1980))

. Releases Pursuant

to Marina Protection. Research, and Sanctuaries Act Permits. Sectio n 101(10)(F) o f CERCL A includes , i n th e definitio n o f a federall y permitte d release , release s i n complianc e wit

h legall y enforceabl e permit s issue d unde

r sectio n 1202 (EP

A ocea n dumpin

g permits ) o r sectio n 10

3 (Corp s o f Engineers permit

s fo r ocea n dumpin g o f dredge d materials ) o

f th e Marin e Protection

. Research , an d Sanctuarie s Ac tPursuan tt o EP A regulations , applicant s fo r ocea n dumpin g permit s mustidentif

y th e physica l an d chemical propertie s o f th e material s t o b e discharged , an d di e permi tmustidentif

y th e material s tha

t ma y b e discharge d (se e 4 0 CF R Part s 22 1 and 227)

. Simila r procedure s and criteri aP. 7

Federa l Registe r /

Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday

. Jul y 19 , 198 8 / Propose d Rule s 2727 3
appl y t o permit s fo r ocea n dumpin

g o f dredge d materia l (se e 3 3 CF R Par t324)

. Thes e EP A and Corp s o

f Engineer s permit s cove r substance s tha

tca n b e discharge d lawfully

. Dumpin g o f hazardou s substance s notspecifically , allowe d i n thes e permit

s i s subjectt

o the notificatio n requirement s o f CERCL A sectio n 103(a

) becaus e emergenc y respons e official s shoul d b e made awar e o f

release s no tevaluate d previousl y b y a permi

tprogra m fo r healt h an d environmenta

l effects

. Underground

Injections Authorized Pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act. CERCL

A sectio n 101(10)(G

) exempts fro

m the notificatio n requirement

s "an y injectio n o

f fluids " authorize d unde

r Federa l injectio n contro l program s o r Stat e program

s submitte d fo

r Federa l approva l pursuan t t o Par tC o f th e Saf e Drinkin g Wate r Ac t (an d no tdisapprove d b y EPA)

. EP A ha s publishe d regulation s establishin g technical standard s an d criteri a (40 CF

R Par t146 ) an d regulation s governin g approva l o f State program s and permi

tprocedure s (4 0 CF R Part s 122-124)

. Unde r th e Saf

e Drinkin g Wate r Ac tth e State s ar e t o tak e the primar

y role in implementin g the undergroun

d injectio n control program ; EP

A i s t o administe r th e progra m onl y i f the State fail s t

o submi t a n approvabl e progra

m withi n a specifie d time perio d An y undergroun d injectio n o f

hazardou s substance s permitted unde

r a Stat e progra m tha t ha s bee n approved , o

r submitte d an d no tdisapprove d b y EPA

. o r permitte d unde r a n EPA-administered program, i s considere d federall y permitted fo r purpose s o

f CERCL A notification

. Emissions Subject

to Clean AirAct Controls. Sectio n 101(10)(H ) o f CERCL A provide s a

n exemptio n fo

r hazardou s substanc e emission s tha

tar e subjectt o a Clea n Ai r Ac t(CAA ) permi

to r contro l regulatio n (se e 4

0 CF R Part s 52,6 a 61 , an d 62)

. However , a s state d i n th e preambl e t

o th e Ma y 25,198 3 NPRM

. fo r thi s exemptio n t o apply , an y suc h CAA control s mustb e "specificall y designe d t o limi to r eliminate emission s o f

a designate d hazardou s pollutan to r a criteri a pollutant " (Se e S

. Rep

. No

. 848 , 96t h Cong. , 2n

d Sess

. 4 9 (1980))

. Th e CA A exemption , therefore , canno tb e read broadl y t o cove r an y an d al l type s o f air emissions

. Moreover , a s today' s propose d rul

e make s clear , fo

r th e exemptio n t

o apply , th e emissio n mus t b e in complianc e with th e applicabl e permi to r contro l regulation

. Several commenter

s suggeste d tha

t th e clea r an d unequivoca l natur e o f th e statutor y languag e mad e elaboratio n o n the CA A exemptio n unnecessary . Generally , thes e commenters too k th e vie w tha tth e CA A exemptio n cover s
' nearly al l air emission s becaus e suc h emission s ar

e i n on e wa y o

r anothe r controlle d b y di e CAA—eitiie r directl y becaus e the

y contai n substance s specificall y regulate d b y the CAA , o r indirectly , fo

r example , throug

h emissio n limitation s establishe d a s par t o f Stat e Implementation Plan s (SIPs ) approved unde

r sectio n 11 0 o

f di e CAA

. Som e commenter

s eve n claime d tha

t becaus e control s coul d b e develope d fo r an y hazardou s substance , an y releas e t

o the air i s "subject " t

o CA A controls

. EP A doe s no tagre e tha

tth e broades t interpretations , under whic h virtuall y al l air emission s includin g dangerou s episodi c release s woul d b e exemp tfro m CERCL A reporting requirements , coul d hav e bee n intende d b y Congres s unde r sectio n 101(10)

. Moreover , the exemptio n fo r "federally permitted releases " under CERCL

A sectio n 101(10

) als o applie s t

o reporting o

f ai r release s t o Stat e and loca l government s unde r Titl e II I o f SARA

. Titl e ID, which i s th e Emergenc y Plannin g and Communit y Right-to-Kno

w Ac to f 1986 , wa s enacte d i n larg e par

ta s a respons e t o danger s pose d b y chemical ai r release s t o surroundin

g communities , such a s th e catastrophi c releas e o

f methy l isocyanat e i n Bhopal , India

. Becaus e Titl e I H wa s intende d t

o addres s particularl

y th e dangers o

f ai r releases , interpretin g th e exclusio n fo r federall y permitte d release s s o thataccidenta l ai r releases woul d no tb e reporte d locall y woul d b e directl y contrar y t o th e legislativ e purpose . Similarly , th e purpos e o f

notificatio n requirement s unde r sectio n .10

3 o f CERCL A i s t o ensure tha

tth e governmen

ti s informe

d o f an y potentiall y dangerou s release s o f hazardou s substance s t o th e environmentfo

r whic h timel y respons e ma y b e necessary . Establishin g a very broa d interpretatio n o f

CAA controls , a s requeste d b y the commenters , coul d eliminate virtuall y an y CERCL A reporting o f

ai r emission s and , thus , th e potential fo

r earl y Federa

l responses ; such a n approac

h woul d eviscerat e no t onl y th e Congressiona

l inten tbu

tals o th e majo r purpos e o f

th e sectio n 10

3 notificatio n requiremen t
I n addition , som e commenters urge d EP A t o interpre

tth e federall y permitted release exemptio n t o includ e an y ai r emissio n fro

m a permitted source . Som e o f di e commenters use d th e word "reviewed " almos tinterchangeabl y with th e wor d "permitted " A "reviewed " releas e i s no tnecessaril y a "permitted " releas e o r a controlle d release

. A permitte d releas e i s a n allowabl e releas e o f a specifi c substanc e o r emission

. A reviewe d releas e generall y ma y b e on e o

f man y release s fro

m a permitted sourc e tha ti s bein g checke d fo r complianc e wit

h a variet y o f law s an d regulations

. Th e inclusio n o f a pollutanti s a SI

P revie w provisio n i s no t equivalen tt

o subjectin g the pollutantt o CA A requirements o

r control s "designe d specificall y t

o limi to r eliminate " th e pollutan t(Se e S

. Rep

. No

. 848,96t h Cong. , 2n d Sess

. 49 (1980))

. A reviewe d release , therefore , i s notnecessaril y a federall y permitted release

. Several commenters state d tha tth e ai r releas e exemptio n shoul d appl y broadl y t o substance s such a s volatil e organi c compound s (VOC) o r tota l suspende d particulate s (TSP ) regulate d unde r the CA A (includin g thos e regulated unde

r approved State programs)

. Th e commenter s claime d tha ta permi to r regulator

y limito n such categorica

l emission s i n effect constitute s a limito n eac h constituen ti n th e group . EP

A generall y agree s wit

h thi s position , bu

tagai n i s concerne d tha

t a n overbroa

d interpretation o

f th e ai r releas e exemptio n coul d resulti n nonreporting o f

dangerou s chemica

l releases

. A larg

e releas e o

f a substanc e fro m a pressur

e releas e valv e ove r a shor tperio d o f

time coul d b e withi n a VO C limi testablishe d fo r a source , ye t coul d pos e a threa

tt o nearb y residents

. Althoug h th e categorica

l limits indirectl y restricteac h constituent , thos e limits wer e establishe d base d o n routine emission s ove r a specifi c averagin g time , an d wer e notpredicate d o n a n upse to r excursio n fro m norma l operations

. The Agenc y doe s no t believe , therefore , tha

tsuc h a n upse to r excursio n shoul d b e considere d "permitted " withi n th e meanin g o f sectio n 101(10)(H

) o f CERCLA

. EP A i s solicitin g publi c commen t today o n thre e approache s t o distinguishin g emission s permitted unde r th e CA A fro m release s tha

tcoul d creat e potential hazard s t

o surroundin

g area s an d fo r whic h timely notificatio n unde r CERCL

A an d Titl e II

I I s necessary . Unde r th e firs

tapproach , EP A woul d interpre

tth e ai r releas e exemptio n i n a manner simila r t o di e exemptio n fo r release s regulate d under , th e CWA

. Thus , ai r release s woul d b e permitte d t

o th e exten tthatth e constituen thazardou s substance s hav e bee n identified , reviewed , an d mad e par to f th e publi c recor

d durin g th e permi tissuance , Stat e implementatio n plan , o r regulation developmen tproces s fo r th e pollutanttha

tinclude s th e hazardou s substance

. Th e exemptio n woul d notexten d t o releases o f constituen thazardou s substance s o f a permitted o

r regulate d pollutant categor y tha tar e no tidentifie d expressl y o n th e recor

d wit h respec tt

oP. 8

2727 4 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53

. No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday

. July 19

. 198 8 / Propose d Rule s

the applicabl e permi

to r contro l program . Onc e th e constituen t hazardou s substanc e ha

d bee n identifie d and reviewe d appropriately , the limitatio n o

n th e categor

y o f emission s o

f hazardou s substance s woul d provid e the "permi to r contro l regulation " neede d fo

r applicatio n o

f th e sectio n 101(10)(H

) exemption

. A specifi c issu e o n whic h th e Agency solicit s comment s i s th e inclusio n o

f negativ e determination s unde

r di e CA A sectio n 11 2 progra

m i n di e exemption

. The secon d approac

h woul d interpre

t broadl y the regulator

y program

s governin g pollutant

s fo r whic h a Nationa l Ambien tAi r Qualit

y Standar d (NAAQS ) ha s bee n establishe d under CA A sectio n 109

. Thes e program s ar e develope d unde

r CA A sectio n 11 1 Ne w Source Performanc

e Standard s (NSPS ) o r CA A sectio n 11 0 Stat e Implementation Plan s (SD?s)

. Unde r tins approach , EP

A woul d distinguis h betwee n emission s o

f hazardou s substance s tha

tare VOC s an d regulate d a s precursor

s o f ozone , an d constituent s o f the othe r NAAQ S pollutants

. Fo r example , emission s o f

constituent s o f particulat e matter woul d b e considere d "subjec tt o a permi to r contro l regulation " an d therefore , exemp tfro m notificatio n requirements

. Emission s o f individua l VOCs , however , woul d no tb e considere d subjectt

o permi to r contro l regulation s solel y becaus e the y ar e indirectl y controlle d b y regulation s limitin g tota

l VO C emissions

. Thes e emission s o

f individual VOC s i n amount s equa l t o o r in exces s o

f a n RQ , consequently , woul d b e subjec tt o notificatio n requirements

. Thi s approac

h i s base d o n th e recognitio n tha

tfo r five o f the presen t NAAQ S (sulfur dioxide , particulat e matter , nitroge

n oxides , lea d an d carbo n monoxide ) th e standard s i n eac h cas e ar e base d o n di e evidenc e o f healt h effect s o f thos e emissions

. I

n contrast
. emission s o

f VOC s are regulate d base d o n thei r reactivit

y an d consequen t contributio n t

o th e creatio n o

f ambien t ozon e level s fo r whic h NAAQ S hav e bee n se tI

n settin g th e ozon e NAAQ S o r establishin g emissio n limitation s fo r VOCs , n o consideratio n wa s give n to an y direc thealt h effect s o f

ambien t concentration s o f

tota l o r an y constituen tVOC

. A s a resul t interpretin g VO C emissio n limitation s t o subsum e consideratio n o f th e possibl e healt h effect s o f

constituent s appear s t o b e inappropriate

. Usin g thi s interpretation , a substanc e woul d b e considere d federall y permitte d i f i ti s a constituen tof

, and , therefore , limite d b y regulation s o

r standard s for

, an y o f th e five pollutants enumerate d above , bu t no ti f i ti s limite d b y standard s fo r VOCs

. Reportabl e quantitie s fo

r the purpos e o f releas e notificatio n requirement s are establishe d t

o ensur e appropriat

e respons e t o episodi c releases o f hazardou s substance s tha thav e potentia l advers e healt

h and environmenta

l effects

. A large releas e o f
a n individua

l VO C in a quantit

y equa l t o o r i n exces s o

f a n R Q ma y b e withi n tota l VO C emissio n limit

s and ma y mak e a negligibl e contributio n t o ozon e formation , which i s affecte d b y photochemica

l conditions , meteorology , and the contribution s o

f othe r VO C
sources . Suc

h a releas e may , nonetheless , potentiall y endange r huma n healt h becaus e o

f th e toxicit

y o f th e individual substance

. Fo r example , unde

r CA A sectio n 111 , EP A establishe d control s o n th e rubbe r tir e manufacturin

g industr y limitin g VO C emission s fo

r a medium-size d plantt o approximatel y 400 ton s per year , o r about1. 1 ton s pe r day

. Predominan

tVOC s emitte d i n th e manufacturin

g proces s ar e whit e gasolin e an d petroleu

m naptha

. Toluene , xylene , ketones , an d ester s ar e als o use d throughou

tth e industry

. (48 F

R 2676 , Septembe r 15,1983. ) A release o n on e day o f a n R Q o r mor e o f on e o f thes e VO C constituents , suc h a s 100 0 pound s o f toluene , althoug

h withi n th e tota l VO C releas e limi to f approximatel y 1 to n pe r da y ma

y pos e a threa

tt o huma n healt h o r th e environment becaus e th e total VO C limitatio n i s base d o n controllin g th e formation o f ozone , an d no to n th e toxicity o f toluen e o r anothe r o f

th e VO C emissio n constituents

. Th e Agenc y woul d tak e th e positio n tha

tinterpretin g NSPS o r SB ? VO C emissio n limitation s t o subsum e consideratio n o

f th e possibl e healt

h effect s o f suc h VO C constituents , an d thereb y exemp tthe

m fro m notificatio n requirements , i s inappropriate

. Thus , EP A woul d require notificatio n o f release s o f

VO C constituent s in amount s equivalen tt

o o r greate r tha

n a n R Q unde r di e secon d approach

. A s a thir d option , EP

A coul d interpre

t th e CAA federall y permitte d releas e exclusio n t

o appl y onl y t

o release s tha

t ar e subjec tt

o a CA A permi to r contro l regulatio n an d tha

tar e eithe r th e "routine " emission s fo r whic h th e permit o r control regulatio n wa s designe d o r i n complianc e wit

h a specifi c standard fo r releas e o f tha tsubstanc e specifie d i n th e permi to r regulation

. Unpermitted , nonroutin e release s woul d includ e upset s fro m such device s a s pressur e releas e valves , storag e tan k reactor vessels , o r sudde n releases fro m valv e an

d pip e ruptures , equipmen tfailure , and emergenc

y startup s an d shutdowns

. EP A requests comment

s o n thes e alternative s fo

r definin g the scop e o

f th e air releas e exemption

. Specifically , EP A request s comment

s distinguishin g release s o f ozon e precursor

s (VOC ) constituents fro

m release s o f constituents o

f othe r categorica

l pollutant s controlle d b y NAAQS

. EP A als o i s solicitin g commen

to n th e "routine " vs . "nonroutine " distinctio n and th e nee d t o defin e "routine " i n term s f o specifi c emissio n point

s o r circumstances , an d solicit s comment s o n wha temissio n point

s shoul d b e include d I

n addition , EP

A i s concerne d tha tth e firstapproac

h ma y lea d t o overreporting o

f routin e release s subject t o adequat e control unde

r existin g regulator y o r permi tlimit s tha tcoul d diver tresource s fro

m releases requirin

g immediat e response . EP

A solicit s informatio n o n th e numbe r o f facilitie s and type s o

f releases tha

twoul d require reporting unde r thes e approaches , an d th e type s o

f release s tha

twoul d b e exclude d unde

r eithe r approach , particularl

y wit h respec tt o an y potentiall y dangerou s releases tha tma y b e excluded

. I n addition , th e Nationa l Emissio n Standard s fo r Hazardou s Ai r Pollutant s (NESHAPs) limit s fo r radionuclide s ar e health-base d annua

l limits , wherea s radionuclid e RQ s ar

e reporting trigger

s base d o n 24-hou

r releases

. The Agenc y wil l requir

e a reporti

f a n R Q abov e an y annua l NESHA P limi ti s release d in a 24-hou r period

. Th e Agenc y request s comment s o n th e numbe

r o f facilitie s an d type s o f

releases tha

tma y requir e reporting. 9 Injection of

Materials Related

to Development

of Crude Oil

orNatural Gas Supplies. Th e injectio n o f material s relate d t o th e productio n o f crud e oi L natura l gas , o r wate r i s considere d a federall y permitte d releas e i f th e injectio n materia

l i s authorize d specificall y under applicabl e Stat e law

. Becaus e i ti s probabl e tha tal l conceivabl e injectio n mode s are no t considere d i n Stat e laws , EPA, in th e preambl e t

o th e Ma y 25,198 3 NPRM

, interprete d di e sectio n 101(10)(I ) provisio n t o exemp tonl y thos e activitie s o r material s tha

tar e authorize d

' I n suppor to f th e final nil * adfaatin

g the R Q fo r radionuclide s (l o b e pabUahe d l a 1988)

. th e Agency ha s prepare

d e o Economic impac

tAnalysi s tha

t estimate s th e coa

tt o the governmen

tand regulated communit y cause d b y the revise d radionuclid e R Q reportin g requirements. This documen ti s availabl e fo r publi c inspecno a i n Roo m LG-100

. US. Environmenta

l Protectio n Agency , 40 1 M Street

. SW.

. Washington

. O

C 2040 0 (Docke tNumbe r 102RQ-RN)

.P. 9

Federa l Registe r /

Vo l 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , July 19 , 198 8 / Propose d Rule s 2727 5
specificall y b y Stat

e law , rathe

r tha n thos e tha tar e no tprohibited b y Stat e law

. Thi s interpretatio n ensure s tha tth e appropriat

e authoritie s hav e consciousl y considere d an

d intentionall y authorize d the injectio n activitie s and material s tha tare t o b e exemp tfro

m notificatio n requirement

s and tha tth e National Respons e Cente

r wil l b e made awar e immediatel y o

f the potentia

l nee d t o respond t o release s tha

thav e no tbee n evaluate d previousl y b y a permittin g authority

. EP A interpret

s th e sectio n 101(10)(I

) exemptio n t

o appl y onl y t o (hos e material s specificall y authorize d b y Stat e la w t

o b e use d i n activitie s whos e sol e purpos e i s the production o f crude oil , natura

l gas , o r water , the recover

y o f crude oi l o r natura

l gas ; o r tile reinjectio n o f

fluid s brough

tt o di e surfac e fro m suc h production

. Som e commenter

s objecte d t

o thi s interpretatio n and instea d supporte d a broade r interpretatio n tha twoul d exemp tfro

m CERCL A notificatio n al l material s use d i

n ga s and oi l fiel d operations

. Th e National Respons e Center mustb e notifie d i n an y situatio n involvin g the us e o f

injectio n fluid s o

r material s tha

tar e no tauthorize d specificall y b y Stat e la w fo r purpose s o f the developmen to f

crude oi l o r natura

l ga s supplie s an d resultin g in a releas e o f a hazardou s substanc e in a n amoun t tha tequal s o r exceed s th e applicabl e RQ

. Thi s wil l allo w a n immediat e evaluatio n o f

th e nee d fo

r a response . Introduction of

Pollutants into Publicly Owned

Treatment

Works. A releas e t o a Publicl y Owne d Treatmen t Work s (POTW ) i s subjec tt

o th e federall y permitte d releas e exemptio n i f the releas e i s (1 ) in complianc e wit h applicabl e categorica l pretreatment standard s an d loca l limit s develope d i n accordanc e wit

h 4 0 CF R 40&5fc)

. an d (2 ) int o a POT W wit h a n approve d loca l pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a S 403J0fe ) State-administere d loca l program . On e o f the commenters o n the Ma y 25,198 3 NPR M suggeste d tha

tth e Agenc y broade n it s approac

h t o th e POT

W exemptio n t

o provid e tha

tth e discharg e b e in complianc e onl y wit h genera l pretreatmen

trequirement

s an d no twi n site-specifi c requirements

. Th e Agenc y believe s tha

tfo r POT W t o b e considere d "federally permitted, " no t onl y mus tthe hazardou s substanc e b e a pollutantspecifie d i n applicabl e pretreatmen

tstandard s an d th e releas e o f th e pollutantb e i n complianc e wit h the categorical pretreatmen tstandards , bu tthe release als o mustb e i n complianc e wit

h th e loca l limit s develope d o n th e basi s o

f th e site

specifi c conditions , becaus e th e categorica l standard s alon e ma

y no tb e adequat e t o addres s the impac

to f pollutant s o n th e POTW

. Therefore , eve n thoug

h a releas e int

o a POT W i s i n complianc e wit

h the categorica

l pretreatmen

tstandards , th e National Respons e Center mustb e notifie d i f th e releas e exceed s th e loca l limit s b y a n R Q o r more , becaus e di e release ma y caus e interference wit

h th e POTW' s processe s o r ma

y pas s throug

h di e POT W t o th e navigabl e waters , eithe r o f whic h ma y resul ti n a situatio n requirin g a n emergenc

y response . Thi s exemptio n applie s onl y t

o industria

l user s * dischargin g t

o POTWs ; a POT

W i s subjectt o CERCL A reporting and liabilit y provision s i

f it s discharg e o

f a hazardou s substanc e violate s it s NPDE S permi tb y a n R Q o r more . POTW

s ar e no trequire

d t o repor thazardou s substance s tha

tar e travelin g throug

h thei r collectio n system s i n quantitie s tha tequal o r excee d RQs ; however , th e industria l use r i s responsibl e fo r reportin g suc h release s int o di e collectio n system
. Section s 307(b)(1 ) an d (c ) o f th e CW A direc tEP A t o establis h pretreatmen

t standard s "t

o preven tdi e discharg e o f an y pollutan tthroug

h treatmen

twork s * * * whic h are publicl y owned , whic h pollutan tinterfere s with , passe s through , o r i s otherwis e incompatibl e wit h suc h works. " Thes e section s addres s th e problem s create d b y discharge s o

f pollutants fro

m nondomesti c source s t o municipa l sewag e treatmen

twork s thatinterfere wit h di e POT

W o r pas s throug

h di e POT W t o navigabl e water s untreate d o r inadequatel y treated

. Pretreatmen t standard s are intende d t o preven tthos e problem s fro

m occurrin g b y requiring nondomesti c user s o

f POTW s t o pretrea

t thei r waste s before dischargin g the m t o th e POTW

. I n 1977 , Congres s amende d sectio n 402(b)(8 ) o f

th e CW A t o require POTW s t o hel p regulat

e thei r industria

l user s b y establishin g loca l programs t o ensur e tha

tindustria

l user s compl y wit h pretreatmen

tstandards

. I n establishin g the national pretreatmen

tprogra m t o achiev e thes e pretreatmen

tgoals , th e Agenc y adopte d a broad-base d regulatory approac h that implement

s th e statutor

y prohibition s agains tpas s throug

h an d interferenc e at tw o basi c levels

. Th e firsti s throug h di e promulgatio n o f

nationa l categorica l standard s tha

tappl y t o certai n industria l use s withi n selecte d categorie s o f

industrie s tha

tcommonl y discharg e toxi c pollutants

. Categorica l standard s establis h numerical

.

* "Industria

l users. " a

a tb s ter m i s use d in thi s discussion

. Ujclwde

e aobtl e source s diechargm s hazardou s substance s t

o a POTW

. technology-base d discharg e limit s derive d fro

m a n assessmen to f

th e type s an d amount

s o f pollutan tdischarge s tha ttypicall y interfer

e wit h o r pas s throug h POTW s wit h secondary treatmen tfacilities

. Th e potential fo r man

y pas s throug

h o r interferenc e problem s depend s no t onl y o n th e natur

e o f th e discharg e bu

t als o o n loca l condition s (e.g. , di e typ e o f treatmen tproces s use d b y th e POTW , loca l wate r quality , POTW s chose n method fo r handlin g shidge) , an d n W need s t o b e addresse d o n a case-by-cas e basis

. Example s o f

such problem s includ e discharge s t o a POT W tha tma y consis to f pollutants no tcovere d b y a categorica

l standar d o r fro m nondomesti c source s tha

tare no ti n on e o f th e industria

l categorie s regulate d b y the categorica

l standards

. Becaus e categorica

l standard s are establishe d industry-wide , Uie

y canno tconside r site-specifi c condition s an d therefor e ma y no tb e adequat

e t o preventall pas s throug h and interference eve n fo r the regulate d pollutants

. EPA' s Genera ] Pretreatmen

tRegulation s (4 0 CF

R Par t 403 ) addres s thes e area s o f concern . Firs t4 0 CF

R 403.5(b ) establishe s specifi c prohibition s tha

tapply t o al l nondomesti c user s an d ar e designe d t

o guar d agains tcommon type s o f pollutan t discharge s tha

tma y resultin interference an d pas s throug h (e.g. , n o discharg e o f

flammable, explosive , o r corrosiv e pollutants)

. Second , 4 0 CF R 403.5(a ) establishe s a genera

l prohibitio n agains tpas s throug h an d interferenc e tha

tserve s a s a backu p standard t o addres s localize d problem s tha toccur . I n addition , POTW

s must develo p and enforce specifi c loca l limit s a s par to f thei r loca l pretreatmen

t program s t o preven tpas s throug

h an d interference

. POTW

s no trequire

d t o develo p pretreatmen

tprogram s als o mustdevelo p loca l limit s i f the y hav e recurrin g pas s throug

h an d interferenc e (se e 4 0 CF R 403.5(c))

. The pretreatmen

tstandard s a POT

W use r mustmee tt o clai m th e federall y permitted releas e exemptio n includ e bot h applicabl e nationa l categorica l standard s an d standard s establishe d b y loca l la w a s describe d below

. Compliance onl y wit h di e genera l an d specifi c prohibition s (4 0 CF R 403.5(a) and (b) ) o f di e genera l pretreatmen

t regulations i s insufficien tt o qualif y a release a s federall y permitted

. Onl y loca l Bait s applicabl e t o di e pollutan tdevelope d m accordanc e with 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) , an d designe d t o implemen tth e genera

l prohibitio n egains tmterfieranc

e an d pas s throug

h ( § 403.5(a)) , ca n qualif

y th e release o

f suc h pollutanta s a federall y permitte dP.1 0

2727 6 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , July 19 , 198 8 / Propose d Rule s

release

. The developmen to f local limit

s unde r 4 0 CF

R 403.5(c ) involve s thre e basi c steps
. First

, a POT W mus t determin e which , i

f any , o f the pollutants discharge d b y it s industria l user s hav e a reasonabl e potentia l t o pas s throug

h o r interfer e wit h th e POTW

. Fo r eac h o f di e pollutant

s the POT W conclude s ma

y b e o f concern , th e POT W mus tthe n determine th

e maximu m amoun to f di e pollutanti tca n accep t(maximu

m headwork s loading ) an d stil l preventthe occurrence o f pas s throug h o r interference

. Finally , after maximu m allowabl e headwork s loading s ar

e determine d fo

r eac h o f th e pollutant s o f concern , the POT

W mus t implemen ta syste m o

f loca l limits applicabl e t

o industria

l user s t o assur e tha tthes e loading s wil l no tb e exceeded

. EP A believe s tha

tonl y loca l limit

s tha thav e bee n develope d base d upon procedure s tha

tevaluat e th e site

specifi c characteristic s and treatmen t capabilitie s o

f a POT W shoul d qualif

y the releas e o

f the pollutantfo

r th e exemption

. Suc

h a n extensiv e analysi s i s neede d t

o assur e tha

tpas s throug

h an d interference problem s d o notarise

. A discharg e o

f a pollutantb y a

n industria l use r in complianc e wit

h a loca l limi tno tdesigne d usin g thes e procedure s ma

y no taddres s the statutor y prohibition s agains tpas s throug h and interference o

r provid e the requisit e degre e o

f environmenta

l protectio n t

o qualif y fo r the federall y permitted releas e exemption

. Thus , a releas e tha

texceed s b y a

n R Q o r mor e a n applicabl e categorical pretreatmen

tstandard o

r a loca l limi t develope d in accordanc e wit h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) mus tb e reported

. Moreover , th e absenc e o f a categorical pretreatmen t standard o

r a local limi tfo

r a specifi c pollutan tpreclude s coverag e fo r release s o f tha tpollutantunde

r th e federall y permitte d releas e exemption

. I f a n industria

l use r release s a n R

Q o r mor e o f a hazardou s substanc e into a POT W tha tha s no tse ta loca l limi tfo r such a substance , o

r fo r whic h ther

e i s n o limi tbase d o n a categorica l standard , then the releas e i s no tfederall y permitte d an d i s subjec tt o CERCI A reporting an d liabilit

y provisions

. Furthermore, th e releas e o f a pollutan t t o a POT W onl y woul d qualif

y fo r th e federall y permitted releas e exemptio n i f (1 ) the POT

W ha s a loca l pretreatmen t progra m approve d b y th e "approve d authority " (a s define d i n § 403.3(c)) , o r (2 ) a State , i n lie u o

f th e municipality , i s implementin g a pretreatmen tprogra m fo r tha tPOT W pursuan

tt o 4 0 CF R 403.10(e)

. Sectio n 101{10)(J

) provide s tha

tth e pretreatmen

tprogra m mustb e "submitte d b y a Stat e o r municipalit y fo r Federa l approval. " Th

e Agenc y interpret s thi s provisio n t

o mea n tha t th e progra

m no tonl y mus

tb e submitte d fo r approva l bu tmus tb e approved

. A stric treading o

f the statutor

y language woul d b e contrar

y t o the expresse d congressional intenttha

tdischarge s o

f hazardou s substance s int o sewe r system s qualif

y a s federall y permitted release s onl y i

f the y ar e authorized unde r a pretreatmen

tprogra m (S

. Rep

. No

. 848,96t

h Cong.

. 2n

d Sess

. 4 8 (1980))

. Th e fac ttha ta POT W ha s submitte d a progra m fo r approva l doe s not necessaril y mea

n th e progra

m i s adequate t

o contro l th e introductio n o f pollutant s fro m nondomesti c user s o

f the POTW

. Suc h a progra

m ma y no tb e approve d b y the approva l authorit y du e t o majo r deficiencies

. Fo

r th e discharg e t o b e a federall y permitted release , therefore , i tmus

tb e specificall y regulate d i n a n approve d program, a progra m tha tthe approva

l authorit y ha s determine d i s consisten twit h th e federall y mandate d minimu m standar d A n approve d progra

m ma y b e (1 ) designe d and implemente d locall y b y a POT W an d approve d b y eitiie r EP A o r a n EPA-approve

d State pretreatmen

t program , o r (2) designe d an d implemente d b y a n EPA-approve d Stat e pretreatmen

tprogram . EP

A approva

l o f a Stat e pretreatmen

tprogra m pursuan

t t o sectio n 402(b ) o

f di e CW A woul d no t automaticall y qualif

y a release t

o a POT W in tha tStat e a s federall y permitted

. The loca l pretreatmen t progra m mus tb e approve d eithe r b y EP A o r b y a n EPA-approve

d State program . Generally , EP

A approva

l o f a Stat e pretreatmen

tprogra m merel y change s th e approva

l authorit y fo r di e POT W program

s fro m EP A t o th e EPA

approve d Stat e pretreatmen tprogram. Th e approve d Stat e ha s primar y responsibilit

y fo r requiring loca l POTW

s t o develo p an d implementa pretreatmen

tprogra m t o regulat e user s directly

. Th e fac ttha

ta State pretreatmen

tprogra m ha s bee n approve d b y EP

A doe s notin an d o

f itsel f chang e th e qualit

y o r approvabilit

y o f loca l POT

W programs . POTW

s i n approve d State s woul d stil l nee d t o develo p loca l pretreatmen tprogram s an d receiv e pretreatmen

tprogra m approva l i f they hav e no tdon e s o already

. Thus , t

o satisf y the federall y permitte d releas e exemption , individua l approva l o f eac h POT

W pretreatmen

t progra m i s necessar y (excep tfo r a Stat e administere d $ 403.10(e

) progra m a s describe d below)

. Sectio n 403.10(e) allow s th e Stat e i n lie u o f the POT W t o assum e responsibilit

y fo r developin g an d implementin g POT

W pretreatmen

t progra m requirements

. Becaus e th e § 403.10(e ) progra m mus tmee tth e sam e standar d a s woul d b e require

d fo r pretreatmen

tprogram s develope d b y a municipalit

y ( § 403.8(f))

. EP

A believe s tha tthe § 403.10(e

) program s ar e the Stat e pretreatmen

tprogram s Congres s intende d t

o includ e unde

r sectio n 101(10)(J)

. I n th e even ttha

ta State' s § 403.10(e) progra m doe s notexten d t

o al l its POTWs , onl y thos e release s t o POTW s fo r which the Stat

e ha s implemente d th

e pretreatmen

tprogra m pursuan

tt o S 403.10(e ) woul d qualif

y a s federall y permitted

. I

f a POT W i s notregulate d directl y b y it s State NPDE S program

, th e POT W nevertheles s mus

timplemen

ta n approve d loca l pretreatmen tprogra m in orde r fo r the discharge s o

f industria l user s t o qualif y fo r th e federally permitte d releas e exemption

. I n summary , fo

r a releas e t

o a POT W t o b e subjectt

o the federall y permitte

d releas e exemption , the releas e mus tbe : (1 ) I n complianc e wit

h applicabl e categorical pretreatmen

tstandard s and loca l limit

s develope d i n accordanc e wit h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) , and (2) int

o a POT W wit h a n approve d loca l pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF

R 403.10(e) State administere d loca l program. One o f the commenter

s o n th e Ma y 25 , 198 3 NPR M state d tha

tdischarge s int

o a POT W are transfers betwee n facilities

. no t"int o th e environment. " and therefor e al l discharge s int

o POTW s shoul d b e exemp tfro

m CERCL

A reporting

. Th e commenter' s approac h t o definin g "int

o th e environment " i s not consisten twit

h th e approac

h i n today' s proposal

. T o determin e whethe r it s releas e i s federall y permitted , therefore , a n industria

l use r shoul d measure it s discharg e a

tth e pointthe substanc e leave s the industria

l user' s facility

. I

n di e cas e o f indirec tdischargers , the releas e shoul d b e measure d whe n i t leave s di e discharger' s building

. Mobil e source s shoul d measure th e discharg e a t th e poin ti ti s release d into th e POTW , whic h wil l b e atthe headwork s i n mos t cases . Industria

l user s ar e no trequire

d unde r CERCL

A t o conductmonitoring activitie s differen

tfro m thos e required b y th e applicabl e pretreatmen tprogram . Releases of

Source, Byproduct, or Special NuclearMaterial. Radionuclide s (which includ e source . byproduct

, an d specia l nuclea r material ) ar e liste d geneticall y unde

r sectio n 11 2 o f th e CA A an d ar e therefor e considere d hazardou s substance s unde r CERCLA

. CERCL A sectio n 101(22)(C)

. however , exclude s fro

m th e definitio n o

f "release " the discharg e of

:
source , byproduc

to r specia l nuclea r materia l fro m a nuclea

r incident , a s thos e term s ar eP.1 1

Federa l Registe r /

Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , July 19

. 198 8 / Propose d Rule s 2727 7

define d i n th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f 1954 , i f suc h release i s subjec

tt o requirement

s wit h

. respec tt o financia l protectio n establishe

d b y th e Nuclea r Regulator

y Commission-unde

r sectio n 17 0 o f suc h Ac tor , fo r th e purpose s o f sectio n 10 4 o f thi s tid e o r an y othe r respons e action , an y release

- o f source , byproduct , o r specia l nuclea r materia l fro m an y processin

g sit e designate d unde r sectio n 102(a)(1 ) o r 302(a ) o f th e Uraniu m Mil l Tailing s Radiatio n Contro l Ac to f 197 8 [UMTRCA J I tshoul d b e note d tha

trelease s o

f source , byproduc to

r specia l nuclea r materia l fro m processin g site s designate d unde

r sectio n 102(a)(1 ) o

r sectio n 302(a

) UMTRC A ar e exempte d fro m CERCL A respons e actio n provision s bu

tno tfro m reportin

g requirement

s unde r CERCL A sectio n 103

. CERCL A sectio n 101(10)(K

) include s withi n th e definitio n o

f federall y permitted release , release s o f source , byproduc to

r specia l nuclea r materia

l tha tcompl y wit h the condition s o

f a legall y enforceabl e license , permi t regulation , o r orde

r issue d pursuan

tt o th e Atomi c Energ

y Ac t(AEA)

. Therefore , release s o f

source , byproduc t o r specia l nuclea r materia l tha texcee d the license d o

r permitted level s b y a

n R Q o r more , and tha

tar e notexclude d b y sectio n 101(22) , mus

tb e reported immediatel y t

o the Nationa

l Respons e Center

. Under th e AEA , th

e Nuclea r Regulator y Commissio n i s responsibl e fo r issuin g license s fo

r th e possessio n and us e o f

source , byproduct, an d specia l nuclea r material

. State s tha t hav e entere d int

o a n agreemen

twit h the Nuclea r Regulator

y Commissio n (le., Agreemen

tStates ) ar

e als o authorize d unde r the AE A t o issu e license s fo

r th e possessio n and us e o f

source , byproduc to r specia l nuclea r material

. Release s o

f source , byproduc to r specia l nuclea r materia

l i n complianc e wit

h license s issue d b y th e Nuclea r Regulator y Commissio n o r Agreement State s ar e federall y permitted releases unde r CERCL A sectio n 101(10)(K)

. Th e regulation s o

f th e Nuclea r Regulator y Commissio n contai n severa l • importan texemption s fro

m thei r provisions , som e o

f whic h ar e base d o n th e small quantitie s o f

materia l involve d o r the lo w level s o

f radioactivit

y th e material s emit

. Th e Nuclea r Regulator y Commissio n ha s develope d "exempted quantities " fo r purpose s o f identifyin g facilitie s tha

tar e notsubjec tt

o Commissio n licensin g requirements

. Thes e quantitie s ar

e smalle r tha

n th e radionuclid e RQs an d therefore , release s fro

m thes e facilitie s wil l notb e reported unde

r CERCLA

. Nevertheless , thes e release s ar

e no tfederall y permitted unde r CERCL A and , therefore , thes e facilitie s ar e subjec tt o th e CERCL A sectio n 10

7 liabilit y provisions

. •

- Som e releases o f

source , byproduc t an d specia l nuclea r materia l ma y comply wit

h licenses , permits , orders , o r regulation s issue d unde

r di e AE A throug h provision s administere d no tb y the Commissio n o r it s Agreemen tStates , bu tb y DOE , th e Departmen to f Defense , o r EPA

. Fo

r example , DO

E govern s it s radiatio n protectio n activitie s unde r th e AE A b y a serie s o

f interna l orders

. Whe n such order

s ar e issue d unde

r DOE' s AE

A authorit

y an d releases o f source , byproduc to r specia l nuclea r materia l are i n complianc e wit

h th e applicabl e orderfs) , thes e release s ar e federall y permitted unde

r sectio n 101(10)(K).» Th e Departmen to f Defens e issue s regulation s unde r th e AE A governin g weapon s an d reactors withi n it s jurisdiction , and EP

A issue s regulation s unde

r th e AE A fo r certai n operation s involvin g radioactiv e materia l (e.g

. 4 0 CF

R Part s 19 a 191 , an d 192)

. Release s o

f source , byproduc to r specia l nuclea r materia

l i n complianc e wit h thes e regulation s ar

e als o federall y permitted unde r sectio n 101(10)(K)

. An y releas e tha

ti s a n R Q o r mor e abov e federall y permitted levels , however , woul d b e subjectt o di e CERCL A notificatio n requirements

. Furthe r clarificatio n i s neede d regardin g di e applicabilit

y o f th e definitio n o

f federall y permitte d release s t o a fourt h categor y o f radioactiv e materia l calle d naturall y occurrin g and accelerator-produce d radioactiv e materia l (NARM)

. Th e AE

A give s DO

E broa d authorit y t o contro l it s radiation

relate d activitie s an d t

o protectpubli c healt h and safet

y an d th e environmen t Thi s authorit

y applie s t

o activitie s involvin g NARM

, a s wel l a s activitie s involvin g source , byproduct, and specia l nuclea r material

. CERCL

A sectio n 101(10)(K ) refers, however , onl y t

o release s o f

source , byproduct

, an d specia l nuclea r material

. Thus , i t provide s n o basi s fo

r exemptin g DOE' s NAR M releases fro

m CERCLA' s reportin g and liabilit

y provisions

. Furthermore

, th e AE A currend

y doe s no tgiv e authorit

y t o th e Nuclea r Regulator y Commissio n t o licens e NARM , onl y source , byproduct

, and

* Unde r th e DO E procuremen tregulations , provision s o f

th e relevan tDO E environmenta l an d safet y order s mus tb e incorporate d b y referenc e int o contract s entere d int o wit h manager s an d operator s o f

DO E facilitie s (se e 4 8 CF R 970.2303-2

. 970.5204-2.97Q.S104-2B(b))

. B y virta e o f thei r incorporatio n int o bindin g contracts , th e provision s o f th e DO E order s becom e bindin g o n th e manager s an d operator s o f

DO B facilitie s an d ar e enforceabl e b y DO E o n th e basi s o f th e facilit y managemen tan d operatio n contracts
. special nuclea r material

. Althoug h Agreemen

tState s ma

y regulat e NARM, thi s regulator

y authorit y i s no tfederall y derived

. Therefore , release s o f NAR M ar e no tconsidere d federall y permitted unde r sectio n 101(10)(K)

. Certain NAR M release s are , however , considere d federall y permitted unde

r othe r CERCL A sections

. Fo

r example , ai r release s o f NAR M tha tar e i n complianc e wit

h NESHAP

s ar e federall y permitte d unde r sectio n 101(10)(H)

. I n makin g thi s findin g wit

h respec tt o NAR M an d di e definitio n o

f federall y permitted release s i n sectio n 101(10)(K) , the Agenc y wishe s t

o differentiat

e betwee n NARM

, sourc e material , an d byproduc tmaterial

. Bot

h sourc e an d byproduc tmateria l ar e define d unde r the AE A t o includ e certai n naturally occurrin g radionuclides

. Specifically , source materia

l i s natura

l uranium, natura l thorium, o

r ore s tha tcontai n 0.0

5 percento r mor

e (b y weight) o

f natura l uraniu m o r thorium

. Byproduc

tmateria l i s define d t

o includ e naturally occurring deca y product

s o f uraniu m o r thoriu m whe n thos e deca y product s are associate d wit

h mil l tailings

. Th e exclusio n o

f NAR M fro m di e definitio n o f federall y permitted release s unde r sectio n 101(10)(K

) applie s onl y t

o thos e naturally occurrin

g radionuclide s that d o no tqualif

y a s eithe r sourc e o r byproduc tmateria L Fo r example , naturall y occurring radiu

m use d in medica l an d wel l loggin g device s doe s no tmeetth e definitio n o

f source o r byproduc tmateria l an d therefore , release s o f radiu m fro m thes e device s doe s notquald y fo

r di e reportin

g exemptio n unde

r sectio n 101(10)(K)

. Al l o f th e commenter

s o n th e radionuclide s exemptio n fel ttha ta broader exemptio n i s warranted

. Some commenter

s suggeste d tha treports o f release s currend

y required b y th e Nuclea r Regulator

y Commissio n ar e sufficien tan d comprehensiv e becaus e the y enabl e th e Commissio n t o determine di e nee d fo

r an d di e adequacy o

f response . Thes e commenter

s fel ttha tan y additional report s t o the National Respons e Cente r woul d b e a

n unnecessary burden

. EP A expect s tha

tmos treleases involvin g radionuclide s wil l b e exclude d fro m th e definitio n o

f release , wil l b e federall y permitted , o r wil l involv e a quantit y smalle r tha

n th e RQ

. (Th e Agenc y publishe d a rule tha

tpropose d RQ

s fo r radionuclide s o n Marc

h 16,198 7 i

n 5 2 F R 8172 ; thes e RQs ar

e bein g revised and th e Agenc y expect s t

o publis h fina

l RQ s fo r radionuclide s i n 1988. ) EP A believes , however , tha

tdi e reporting requirement

s impose d o n th e remainin g release s o f

radionuclides , includin gP.1 2

2727 8 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53

. No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday

. Jul y 19 , 198 8 / Propose d Rule s

release s no t

subjec t to o r in complianc e wit h applicabl e permits , regulations , o r orders , ar e essentia l to mitigat e th e ris k to publi c healt h o r

welfar e o r

th e environmen t

pose d b y suc h releases

. III

. Notificatio n fo

r Certai n Type s o

f Release s A. In General Thi s sectio n addresse s severa l recurrin g question s no t

relate d specificall y t o th e definitio n o f "federall y permitte d release " bu t tha t aris e unde r

th e CERCL

A sectio n 103(a

) reportin g requirements

. On e suc h questio n involve s release s t o engineere d structure s designe d specificall y t o preven t material s fro

mreachin g di e lan d surface

. Th e issue s involv e both interpretatio n o

f th e phras e "releas e int o th e environment " an d th e appropriatenes s o

f CERCL A notificatio n requirement s fo

r release s to suc h secondar y containmen t

devices

. Th e Agenc y solicit s comment s o n di e followin g issues

. I n th e preambl e t o th e Apri l 4,198 5 fina l rul e adjustin g RQ s fo

r 34 0 CERCL A hazardou s substance , EP

A stated : Hazardou s substance s ma

y b e release d "int o th e environment " eve

n i f the y remai n o n plan t o r installatio n grounds

. Example s o f suc h release s ar

e spill s fro mtank s o r valve s ont o concret e pad s o r int o ditche s ope

n t o the outsid e aid

. release s fro

mpipe s int

o ope n lagoon s o r ponds , o r an y othe r discharge s tha t are no t wholl y contained withi

n building s o r structures

. Suc

h arelease , i

f i t occur s i n areportabl e quantit

y (e.g. , evaporatio n o

f a n R Q int o th e ai r fro madik e o r concret e pad) , mus

t b e reported unde

r CERCLA

. O n th e othe r hand , hazardou s substance s ma

y b e spilled a

t aplan t o r installatio n bu

t no t ente r th e environmen

t e.g.

. whe n th e substanc e spill s ont

o the concret e floor o f a n enclose d manufacturin

g plant

. Suc h aspil l woul d nee d t o b e reporte d onl y i f th e substance s wer

e i n som e wa y t o leav e th e buildin g o r structur e i n areportabl e quantity

. (Note , however

, tha t th e federa l governmen t ma y stil l respon d an d recove r cost s wher e ther e i s athreatene d releas e into th e environment. ) S

O F R 13462

. I n applyin g th e phras e "int o th e environment " t o release s t o secondar y containmen t

devices

. EP

A believe s tha t areleas e insid e abuildin g o r structur e i s no t areleas e "int o th e environment " unles s th e spille d substanc e leave s di e building

. O n on e hand , areleas e t o asecondar y containmen t

devic e tha t

i s no t wholl y containe d an d tha t

i s locate d outsid e of
abuildin g o r

structur e i s "int o th e environment. " Example s o f release s t o suc h device s tha t

illustrat e bot h di e potentia l fo

r aseriou s proble man d a n existin g seriou s situatio n hav e bee n brough t t o th e Agency' s attention

. Thes e includ e areleas e o

f hydrochlori c aci d t o adik e tha t woul d hav e overflowe d in a heav y rain , an d radioactiv e contaminatio n o

f wate r supplie s apparentl y resultin g fro

man improperl y functionin g secondar y containmen t devic e a t anuclea r facility

. O n th e othe r

hand , i t ha s bee n suggeste d tha t

wher e engineere d structure s ar e ope n t o th e air , release s int o suc h structure s shoul d b e exemp t fro mCERCL A notificatio n unles s a n RQ
o r mor e o f th e substanc e reache s an y groun d o r surfac e water s o r

lan d surfac e o r evaporate s int o th e ambien t air

. Release s t o suc h structure s ma y includ e suc h occurrence s a s release s ont o concret e pads , secondar y containmen t device s with seale d floor s aroun d storag e tanks , o r

dri p pan s use d to catc h mino r hos e o r lin e drainage

. Th e Agenc y i s intereste d i n receivin g comment s an d dat adiscussin g th e circumstance s unde r

whic h immediat e notificatio n o

f release s int o secondar y containmen t

device s woul d no t

provid e usefu l informatio n fo

r Federa l respons e purpose s unde r

CERCLA

. EP

A i s particularl y intereste d i n informatio n o n th e significanc e o

f th e issue , specifi c example s o

f procedure s followe d wher e ther e i s arelease t o asecondar y containmen t

devic e an d technique s use d t o preven t release s fro

msuc h devices , dat adiscussin g th e integrit y o f secondar y containmen t

devices , an d suggestion s o n th e appropriat e mean s o f eliminatin g an y suc h unnecessar y reporting

. I

f th e Agenc y decide s t o exemp t fro mCERCL

A notificatio n certai n release s int o secondar y containmen t

devices , ademonstratio n ma y b e required t o sho w tha t di e devic e i s sufficientl y protectiv e an d reliable

. B. PCB Waste Disposal A secon d issu e concernin g th e necessit y fo

r sectio n 10 3 notificatio n i s whethe r approve d polychlorinate d biphenyl (PCB ) disposa l b y incineration , landfilling

. o r

alternat e method s need s t o b e reporte d a s areleas e unde r sectio n 103

. Becaus e PC

B disposa l approval s unde r di e Toxi c Substance s Contro l Ac t (TSCA ) ar e no t

include d i n th e CERCL

A sectio n 101(10

) definitio n o

f federall y permitte d release , EP

A doe s no t

believ e tha t i t ha s th e authorit y to appl y tha t exemptio n t o suc h approvals

. A t di e sam e time , however , EP A doe s no t believ e tha t

notificatio n unde r sectio n 10 3 o

f CERCL A provide s an y significan t additiona l benefi t

s o lon g a s th e disposa l facilit

y i s in substantia l complianc e with al l applicabl e regulation s an d approva l conditions

. Th e PC B regulation s unde r

TSCA , 4 0 CF R Par t 761

. requir e owner s o r operator s o

f PC B disposa l facilities , incinerators , chemica l wast e landfills , an d hig h efficienc y boiler s t o obtai n writte n EP

A approval , base d o n complianc e wit

h detaile d technica l requirement s designe d t o ensur e proper disposal , befor e acceptin g PC B wastes

. Th e TSC A approva l proces s i s designe d t o ensur e tha t

th e operatio n o

f PC B disposa l facilitie s doe s no t presen t a n unreasonabl e risk

o f injur y to healt h o r th e environmen t

fro mPCBs

. In addition

. 4 0 CF R Par t 761 , Subpar t

J , require s PC

B disposa l facilit

y owner s o r

operator s t o monito r carefull y th e facility' s inventor y an d operation , maintai n detaile d record s fo r period s o f 5 t o 2 0 years , an d repor t unde r certai n circumstances

. Th e TSC A regulation s provid e th e Federa l governmen t

with th e informatio n necessar y t o determin e whethe r a n emergenc y respons e t o aPC B disposa l i s required

. Today' s proposa l no t to requir e CERCL

A reportin g fo

r EPA

approve d PC

B disposal s i s consisten t wit h th e overal l objectiv e o f th e CERCL A notificatio n requirements

. Therefore , EP

A wil l no t requir e reportin g unde r

sectio n 103(a

) o f th e approved , proper

disposa l o

f PC B waste s int o adisposa l facility

. Th e Agenc y requests comment s o n thi s proposa l t o exemp t

administrativel y thes e release s fro

mCERCL A notification

. A part y responsibl e fo

r areleas e o

f PC B waste s tha t

nee d no t b e reporte d unde r CERCLA , however , remain s liabl e fo r di e cost s of

cleanin g u p th e releas e an d fo r an y natura l resourc e damage s cause d b y th e release

. I n addition , wher e th e dispose r

know s tha t

th e facilit y i s no t i n complianc e wit h applicabl e regulations an d approve d condition s unde r

TSCA , disposa l o

f a n R Q o r mor e o f PC B wast e mus t

b e reporte d t o th e Nationa l Respons e Center

. Likewise , spill s an d accident s occurrin g durin g disposa l an d outsid e o f th e approve d operatio n an d tha t resul t i n release s o

f a n R Q o r mor e o f PC B wast e mus t

b e reported t o th e Nationa l Respons e Center

. Finally

. PC B releases
o f a n RQ o r more fro maTSCA

approve d facilit

y (a s opposed t o disposa l int o suc h afacility ) mus t b e reporte d unde r

CERCLA

. TV

. Discharge s t o POTW s Th e Agenc y recognizes tha t th e regulatio n implementin g CW A sectio n 31 1 fo r hazardou s substanc e discharge s mu3 t b e revise d t o b e consisten t with th e Agency' s regulatory approac h take n unde r CERCL A sectio n 101(10)(J)

. Unde r CERCL A secito n 101(10)0)

. a n indirec t discharg e t o aPOT

W mus t b e subjec t

t o an d in complianc e with categorica l pretreatmen t

standard s an d loca l limit s applicabl e i n a n approve d loca lP.1 3

Federa l Registe r /

Vol

. 53

. No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule s 2727 9

pretreatmen

tprogra m (se e discussio n unde r Sectio n H

I o f today' s preamble)

. Al l indirec

tdischargers , ie. , bot

h mobil e an d stationar

y sources , ar

e subjectt

o th e sam e requirement

s fo r thei r discharge s t

o b e considere d federally permitte d releases

. Unde r 4 0 CF R 117.13 , mobil e source s discharging industria

l wast e ar

e not subjec tt o CW A sectio n 31 1 coverag e i

f th e mobil e source ha s contracte d with , o r otherwis e receive d written permissio n fro

m th e POT W t o discharg e a designate d quantit

y o f industria l wast e treate d t

o compl y wit h effluen t limitation s (unde

r CW A section s 301 , 302 , o r 306 ) o r pretreatmen

tstandard s (unde r CW A sectio n 307)

. Indirec

t discharger

s ar e notaddresse d unde

r § 117.13

. Paragrap

h (a ) o f § 117.1 3 wa s reserve d t

o provid e the condition s unde r whic h indirec tdischarge s ar

e subjectt

o CW A sectio n 311

. The Agency i s proposing t o amen d 4 0 CF R 117.1 3 t o stat e tha

tindirec t discharge s ar

e no tsubjectt

o sectio n 31 1 coverag e i

f the indirectdischarg e i s i n complianc e wit

h applicabl e categorica

l pretreatmen

tstandard s and loca l limit s develope d i n accordanc e wit h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c ) and i s int

o a POT W wit h a n approved local pretreatmen tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF R 403.10(e

) State administere d loca l program. EP

A als o i s proposin g t

o revis e paragrap

h (b) t o appl y the sam e condition s t

o mobil e source s a s woul d b e applie d t

o indirec tdischarge s unde

r paragrap h (a)

. Th e Agency requests comment s o n thi s proposal

. V

. Regulator

y Analyse s A. Executive OrderNo. 12291 Rulemakin

g protoco l unde

r Executiv e Orde r (E.O. ) 1229 1 require s tha t propose d regulation s b e classifie d a s majo r o r nonmajo r fo

r purpose s o f revie w b y the Office o

f Managemen

t an d Budge

t(OMB)

. Accordin g t

o E.O

. 12291 , majo

r rule s ar e regulation s tha

t ar e likel y t o resul tin : (1 ) A n annua l effec to n th e econom y o f $10 0 millio n o r more; o r (2 ) A majo r increas e i n cost s o r price s fo r consumers , individua l industries

. Federal

, States , o r loca l governmen

tagencies , o

r geographi c regions ; o

r (3 ) Significan tadvers e effect s o n competition

, employment

, investment

, productivity

, innovation

, o r o n th e abilit y o f Unite d States-base

d enterprise

s t o compet e wit h foreign-base

d enterprise

s i n domesti c o r expor tmarkets

. Today' s regulatio n i s nonmajor, becaus e adoptio n o

f di e rul e wil l result in zero cost s an d wil l no tcaus e an y o f th e significan tadvers e effect s mentione d in (3) above

. The Backgroun d Documen tfo r the Propose d Regulatio n o n Federall y Permitte

d Releases , availabl e fo r inspectio n i

n th e publi c docket , show s tha

tth e proposed rul

e i s simply a clarificatio n o

f existin g statutor y requirements

. Thi s rul e ha s bee n submitted t

o OM B fo r review , a s require

d b y E.O

. 12291

. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act Th e Regulator

y Flexibilit

y Acto f 198 0 • require s tha ta Regulator

y Flexibilit

y Analysi s b e performe

d fo r all rule s tha

t ar e likel y t o hav e a "significan

timpac t o n a substantia

l numbe r o f smal l entities. " Today' s propose d rule i s not expecte d t

o significantl y impac

tsmall entitie s becaus e the rule propose s simply t o clarif y the existin g statutor

y requirement

. EP A certifies , therefore , tha tthi s propose d regulatio n wil l not hav e a significantimpac

to n a substantial numbe

r o f small entitie s an d tha ta Regulator

y Flexibilit

y Analysi s i s no trequired

. C. Paperwork Reduction Act Ther e ar e n o reportin

g o r recordkeepin g provision s include d i n thi s propose d rule tha

trequir e approva l fro m th e Offic

e o f Managemen

tan d Budge tunde r sectio n 3504(h

) o f th e Paperwor k Reductio n Acto

f 1980,4 4 U.S.C

. 350 1 e tseq . Lis to f Subjects 40 CFR Part

117 Hazardou s Substances , Penalties , Reportin g an d recordkeepin g requirements, Wate r pollutio n control

. 40 CFR Part

302 Ai r pollutio n control

. Chemicals , Hazardou s material s transportation , Hazardou s substances , Intergovernmenta

l relations. Natura

l resources , Nuclea r materials , Pesticides , and pests
. Radioactiv e materials , ' Reportin g and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund , Wast e treatmen tan d disposal , Wate r pollutio n control

. 40 CFR Part 355 Chemica l acciden tprevention

. Chemica l emergenc

y preparedness , Chemicals , Communit

y emergenc

y respons e plan , Communit y right-toknow , Contingenc

y planning , Extremel

y hazardou s substances , Hazardou s substances , Reportabl e quantity , Reportin g and recordkeepin g requirements

. Threshol d plannin g quantity

. Dated : Jul y 11.1988

. Le e M

. Thomas , Administrator. Fo r th e reason s se tou

ti n the premble , i ti s propose d t

o amend Titl e 4 0 o

f th e Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s a s follows : PAR T 117—DETERMINATIO N O F REPORTABL E QUANTITIE S FO R HAZARDOU S SUBSTANCE S 1

. Th e authorit y citatio n fo

r Par t11 7 i s revise d t o rea d a s follows : Authority : 3

3 U.S.C

. 132 1 an d 1361

. 2

. Sectio n 117.1 2 i s revise d t o rea d a s follows : § 117.1 2 Applicabilit

y t o discharge

s fro m facilities wit h NPDE

S permits

. (a ) Thi s regulatio n doe s no tappl y to : (1 ) Discharge s in complianc e wit h a permi tunde r sectio n 40

2 o f th e Clea n Wate r Act ; (2 ) Discharge s resulting fro

m circumstance s identifie d and reviewe d an d made a par

to f di e publi c recor

d wit h respec tt

o a permi tissue d o r modifie d unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f the Clea n Wate r Act , and subjec

tt o a conditio n in suc h permit ; o

r (3 ) Continuous o

r anticipate d intermitten

tdischarge s fro

m a poin t source , identifie d in a permi to r permi t applicatio n unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f the Clea n Wate r Act , whic h ar

e cause d b y event s occurrin

g withi n th e scop e o

f relevan toperatin g o

r treatmen

tsystems
. (b ) A discharg e i s "i

n complianc e wit

h a permi tissue d unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f th e Clea n Wate r Act " i

f di e permi

tcontain s a n effluen tlimitatio n specificall y applicabal e t

o di e substanc e discharge d o r a n effluen tlimitatio n applicabl e t

o anothe r wast e parameter tha tha s bee n specificall y identifie d in th e permi ta s intende d t

o limitsuch substance , an d th e discharg e i s i n complianc e wit h th e effluen tlimitation

. (c ) A discharg e results "fro

m circumstance s identifie d an d reviewed an d made a par

to f th e publi c record wit h respec tt

o a permi tissue d o r modifie d unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f di e Clea n Wate r Act , and subjec tt

o a conditio n i n suc h permit " where : (1 ) The permi

tapplication , the permit

, o r anothe r portion o

f th e publi c recor

d contain s document

s tha tspecificall y identify : (i ) The substance s and th e amount s o f substances ; an d (ii ) Th e origin and sourc e o f

th e substances ; an d (iii ) The treatmen

ttha ti s t o b e provide d fo

r the discharg e eithe r by : (A ) A n on-sit e treatmen

tsyste m separate fro

m an y treatmen

tsyste m treating th e permittee' s norma l discharge ; o

r (B ) A treatmen

tsyste m tha

ti s designe d t

o trea tth e permittee' s norma

l discharg e and tha

ti s additionall y capabl e o f treatin g the identifie d amoun t o f th e identifie d substance ; o rP.1 4

2728 0 Federa l Registe r / Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule s
(C ) Any combinatio n o

f th e above ; an d (2 ) The permi

tcontain s a requirement tha tthe substance s and the amount s o f the substances , a s identifie d i n §117.12(c)(l)(i ) an

d §117.12(c)(l)(ii) , b e treate d pursuan

tt o § 117.12(c)(l)(iii ) in the even to

f a n on-site release : and (3) Th e treatmen

tt o b e provided i s i n place

. (d ) A discharg e i s a "continuous o r anticipate d intermittent " discharg e "fro m a poin tsource , identifie d in a permi to r permi tapplicatio n unde

r sectio n 40 2 o f th e Clea n Wate r Act, " and "cause d b y event s occurrin g withi n the scop e o

f relevan toperatin g o

r treatmen tsystems" , whethe r o

r no tth e discharg e i s in complianc e wit h th e permit , if : (1 ) The hazardou s substanc e i s discharge d fro

m a pointsourc e fo

r whic h a vali d permi

texist s o r fo r whic h a permi tapplicatio n ha s bee n submitted ; and (2 ) The discharg e o

f th e hazardou s substanc e results from : (i ) The contaminatio n o

f noncontac t coolin g wate r o

r stor m water , provide d tha tsuch coolin g wate r o

r stor m wate r i s no tcontaminate d b y a

n onsit e spil l o f a hazardou s substance ; o r (ii ) A continuou s o r anticipate d intermittentdischarg e o

f proces s wast e water , an d wher e th e discharg e originate s withi n th e manufacturin g o r treatmen tsystems ; o r (iii ) A n upse to

r failur e o f a treatment syste m o r o f a proces s producing a continuou s o r anticipate d intermitten t discharg e wher e th e upse to r failure results fro m a contro

l problem , a syste m failur e o r malfunction , a

n equipmen

to r syste m startup o r shutdown , a n equipmen twash, o r a productio n schedul e change , provide d tha tsuc h upse to r failur

e i s notcause d b y a n on sit e spil l o

f a hazardou s substance

. 3

. Sectio n 117.1 3 i s revised t o rea d a s follows : §117.1 3 ApplIcaMlt y t o discharge s from othe rfacilities. (a ) Thes e regulation s appl y t o al l discharge s o f

reportabl e quantitie s t o a POTW , wher e th e discharg e originate s fro m stationary industria

l users , s o lon g a s the discharg e is : (1 ) I n complianc e wit

h applicabl e categorica l pretreatmen

tstandard s an d loca l limit

s develope d i n accordanc e wit h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) ; an d (2 ) Int o a POT W wit h a n approve d loca l pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF

R 403.10(e ) Stat e administere d loca l program . (b ) Thes e regulations appl y t o al l discharge s o f

reportabl e quantitie s t o a POTW , wher e th e discharg e originate s fro m a mobil e source , s o lon g a s th e mobil e sourc e ca n sho w that : (1 ) Prio r t o acceptin g the substanc e fro m a n industria

l discharger , th e substanc e bein g discharge d wa s in complianc e wit

h applicabl e categorica

l pretreatmen

tstandard s and loca l limit s develope d in accordanc e wit h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) ; and (2 ) The substanc e i s bein g discharge d int o a POT W wit h a n approved loca l pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF R 403.10(e ) State administere d loca l program. PAR T 302—DESIGNATION
, REPORTABL E QUANTITIES
, AN D NOTIFICATIO N 4

. The authorit

y citatio n fo

r Par t30 2 i s revise d t o rea d a s follows : Authority : 4

2 U.S. C 9602:3

3 U.S.C

. 132 1 an d 1361

. 5

. Sectio n 302.3 i s amende d b y addin g in alphabetical orde

r the definitio n "federall y permitted release" an d b y revisin g th e introductor

y tex to f th e definitio n "release " t

o read a s follows : §302. 3 Definitions

. **** * "Federall y permitte d release " mean s (1 ) a discharg e i n complianc e wit h a permi tunde r sectio n 40

2 o f the Clea n Wate r Act ; (2 ) A discharg e resulting fro m circumstance s identifie d an d reviewe d an d mad e a par

to f th e publi c record wit h respectt

o a permi tissue d o r modifie d unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f th e Clea n Wate r Ac tan d subjec tt

o a conditio n i n such permit ; (3 ) A continuou s o r anticipate d intermittentdischarg e fro m a poin t source , identifie d i n a permito r permi t applicatio n unde r sectio n 40 2 o f di e Clean Wate r Act

. whic h i s cause d b y event s occurring withi n th e scop e o f relevan toperatin g o r treatmentsystems ; (4 ) A discharg e i n complianc e with a legall y enforceabl e Federa l o r State , individua l o r genera l permi tunde r sectio n 40 4 o

f di e Clea n Wate r Act ; (5 ) A releas e i n complianc e witi i a legall y enforceabl e Federa l s r Stat e final permi tissue d pursuan

tt o sectio n 300

5 (a ) diroug h (d ) o f th e Soli d Wast e Disposa l Ac tfro

m a hazardou s wast e treatment , storage , o

r disposa l facility whe n such permi

tspecificall y identifie s th e hazardou s substance s an d make s such substance s subjectt o a standar d o

f practice , control procedure , o r bioassa y limitatio n o

r condition , o r othe r contro l o n the hazardou s substance s i n such a release ; (8 ) An y releas e i n complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e permi tissue d unde r sectio n 10 2 o r sectio n 109 o f

th e Marin e Protection , Research , and Sanctuarie s

Ac to f 1972 ; (7 ) An y injectio n o

f fluids authorize d unde r Federa l undergroun

d injectio n contro l program s o r State program

s submitte d fo

r Federa l approva l (an d no t disapprove d b y the Administrator ) pursuan tt o Par tC o f di e Saf e Drinkin g Wate r Act ; (8 ) Any emissio n o

f a substanc e int

o the air whic

h i s named specificall y o

r i s include d i n a specificall y name d grou p o f substance s subjectt

o and in complianc e wit

h a permi to r contro l regulatio n unde

r sectio n 111 , sectio n 112 , Tid e I Par

tC , Titl e I Par

tD

. o r State implementatio n plan s submitte d in accordanc e wit

h sectio n 11 0 o

f the Clea n Air Ac t(an d no tdisapprove d b y th e Administrator

) whe n suc

h permi to r control regulatio n i s specificall y designe d t

o limi to r eliminate such emissio n o f

a designate d hazardou s pollutan to

r a criteri a pollutant , includin g an

y schedul e o

r waive r grante d promulgate d o

r approve d unde r thes e sections ; (9 ) An y injectio n o

f fluids o r othe r material s specificall y autiiorize d unde r applicabl e Stat e law : solel y fo r th e purpos e o f stimulatin g o r treatin g well s fo r th e productio n o

f crud e oil , natura

l gas , o r wate r solel y fo

r th e purpos e o f secondary , tertiary , o r othe r enhance d recovery o f

crude oi l o r natura

l gas ; o r which ar e brough tt o di e surfac e i n conjunctio n wit

h the productio n o f

crude oi l o r natura

l ga s an d whic h are reinjected ; (10 ) Th e introductio n o

f an y pollutan t into a publicl y owne d treatmentwork B (POTW ) whensuc h pofhttan

th i specifie d i n an d i n complianc e wit h applicabl e categorical pretreatmen t standard s an d focal limit s develope d i n accordanc e wit

h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c) an d into a POT

W wit h a n approve d loca l pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF

R 403.10(e ) Stat e administere d loca l program ; an d (11 ) Any releas e o

f source , specia l nuclear , o r byproduc

tmaterial , a s tiiose term s ar e define d in th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f 1954

. i n complianc e with a legall y enforceabl e license , permi tregulation,
o r othe r issue d pursuan

tt o th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f 1954 , Federall y permitted releases d o no t includ e release s exemp tfro m regulatio n unde r th e authorit

y o f on e o f di e cite d statutes ; release e no ti n complianc e wit h th e applicabl e permi

tlimi to r condition , license , regulation, order , standar d o r program ; o r releases int o a mediu m othe r tha n thatcovere d in th e applicabl eP.1 5

Federa l Registe r /

Vol

. 53 , No

. 13 8 /

Tuesday , Jul

y 19 , 198 8 /

Propose d Rule s 2728 1
permit , license , regulation , order , standard , o

r program. **** * "Release " mean s an

y spilling , leaking , pumping , pouring, emitting , emptying , discharging , injecting , escaping , leaching , dumping

, o r disposin g int

o the environmen

t(including th e abandonmen

to r discardin g o

f barrels , containers , an

d other close d receptacle s containin g an

y hazardou s substanc e o

r pollutan to r contaminant) , bu

texclude s

6

. Sectio n 302. 6 i s amende d b y adding ne w paragraph

s (e ) and (f

) a s follows : § 302. 6 Notificatio n requirements

. **** * (e ) Wheneve r a releas e o

f a hazardou s substanc e exceed s its federall y permitted leve l a s define d unde r § 302.3 ("federall y permitted release" ) b y a reportabl e quantit

y o r more , notificatio n shal l b e mad

e fo r suc h releas e in accordanc e wit

h di e requirements o

f thi s sectio n or

, i f applicable , § 302.8

. Wher e numerica

l level s fo r hazardou s substance s ar

e notspecified , an y releas e noti n complianc e wit h the terms , relate d t

o th e characte r o

r quantit y o f th e release , o

f di e applicabl e permit , license , regulation , order, standar d o r progra m tha tequal s o r exeed s a reportabl e quantit y mus tb e reported t o the Nationa

l Respons e Center in accordanc e wit

h thi s sectio n or , i f applicable

. § 302.8

. (f ) Notificatio n i s no trequire d fo r th e disposa l o

f polychlorinate d biphenyl (PCB ) approve d b y EP

A and i n substantial complianc e wit h th e applicabl e Toxi c Substanc e Contro l Ac t (TSCA ) regulations

. 4

0 CF R Par t781

. and approva

l conditions

. 7

. Sectio n 302. 7 i s amende d b y revisin g paragrap

h (a)(3 ) t o read a s follows : §302. 7 Penalties

. (a ) * * * (3) I n charge o

f a facilit y fro m which a hazardou s substanc e i s released , othe r tha n a federall y permitted release , in a quantit y equa l t o o r greate r tha

n tha t reportabl e quantit

y determine d unde

r thi s par twh o fail s t

o notif y immediatel y the Nationa

l Respons e Center a s soo n a s he o r sh e ha s knowledg e o

f such releas e o r wh o submit

s in such a notificatio n an

y information whic

h h e o r sh e know s t

o b e fals e and misleadin g shal l b e subjec tt

o al l o f the sanctions , includin g crimina

l penalties , se tfort

h in sectio n 103(b ) o

f the Act

. PAR T 355—EMERGENC Y PLANNIN G AN D NOTIFICATIO N 8

. Th e authorit y citatio n fo

r Par t35 5 i s revise d t o rea d a s follows : Authority : 4 2 U.S.C

. 1100

2 an d 11048

. 9

. Sectio n 355.4

0 i s amende d b y revisin g paragrap

h (a ) t o rea d a s follows : § 355.4 0 Emergenc y releas e notification

. (a ) Applicability. (1 ) Th

e requirement

s o f thi s sectio n apply t

o an y facility : (i ) A twhic

h a hazardou s chemica

l i s produced , used , o

r stored ; and (ii ) A twhich ther

e i s a releas e o

f a reportabl e quantit

y o f an y extremel y hazardou s substanc e o

f CERCL A hazardou s substance

. (2 ) Thi s sectio n doe s no tapply to : (i ) Any releas e tha

tresult s in exposur e t

o person s solel y withi n the boundarie s o

f the facility ; (ii ) Any release tha

ti s a "federall

y permitted release, " a s define d a s follows : (A ) A discharg e i n complianc e wit h a permi tunde r sectio n 40

2 o f di e Clea n Wate r Act ; (B ) A discharg e resultin g fro m circumstance s identifie d and reviewe d an d mad e a par

to f di e publi c recor

d wit h respec tt

o a permi tissue d o r modifie d unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f th e Clea n Wate r Act , an d subjec tt

o a conditio n i n suc h permit ; (C ) A continuou s o

r anticipate d intermitten

tdischarg e fro

m a point source , identifie d i n a permi to r permi t applicatio n unde

r sectio n 40

2 o f the Clea n Wate r Ac twhic h i s cause d b y event s occurrin

g withi n di e scop e o

f relevantoperatin g o r treatmen tsystems ; (D ) A discharg e i n complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e Federa l o r State , individua l o r genera

l permi tunde r sectio n 40 4 o f di e Clea n Wate r Ac t (E ) A release in complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e Federa l o r State final permi tissue d pursuan

tt o sectio n 3005(a ) throug h (d ) o f the Soli d Wast e Disposa l Ac tfro

m a hazardou s wast e treatment, storage , o r disposa l facilit y whe n such permi

tspecificall y identifie s th e hazardou s substance s and make s suc h substance s subjectt

o a standar

d o f practice , control procedure , o r bioassa y limitatio n o

r condition , o r othe r control o n di e hazardou s substance s in suc h a release; (F ) An y releas e in complianc e wit h a legall y enforceabl e permi tissue d unde

r sectio n 10 2 o r sectio n 10

3 o f the Marin

e Protection , Research , and Sanctuarie s Ac to f 1972 ; (G ) An y injectio n o

f fluids authorize d unde r Federa l undergroun

d injectio n contro

l program s o r Stat e program

s submitte d fo

r Federa l approva l (an d not disapprove d b

y the Administrator

) pursuan tt o Par tC o f the Saf e Drinkin g Wate r Act ; (H ) An y emissio n o

f a substanc e int

o th e air whic h i s named specificall y o

r i s include d i n a specificall y named grou p o f substance s subjectt

o an d in complianc e wit

h a permi to r contro l regulatio n unde

r sectio n 111 , sectio n 112 , Tid e I Par

tC , Titl e I Par

tD , o r Stat e implementatio n plan s submitted in accordanc e wit

h sectio n 11 0 o

f th e Clea n Ai r Act(an

d notdisapprove d b y the Administrator

) whe n suc

h permi to r contro l regulatio n i s specificall y designe d t

o limito r eliminat e suc h emissio n o

f a designate d hazardou s pollutanto

r a criteri a pollutant , includin g an

y schedul e o

r waive r granted , promulgated , o

r approve d unde r thes e sections ; (I ) An y injectio n o

f fluids o r othe r material s specificall y authorized under applicabl e Stat

e law : solel y fo

r th e purpos e o f stimulating o

r treating well s fo r th e productio n o

f crud e oil , natura

l gas , o r wate r solel y fo

r the purpos e o

f secondary , tertiary , o

r other enhance d recover y o f crud e o U o r natura l gas ; o r which ar e brough tt o th e surfac

e i n conjunctio n wit

h th e production o

f crud e oi l o r natura

l ga s an d whic

h ar e reinjected; (J ) The introductio n o

f an y pollutant int o a publicl y owne d treatmen twork s (POTW ) whe n suc

h pollutanti s specifie d i n and in complianc e wit h applicabl e categorica

l pretreatmen

t standard s and loca l limit

s develope d i n accordanc e wit

h 4 0 CF R 403.5(c ) and int o a POT W witi i a n approved pretreatmen

tprogra m o r a 4 0 CF R 403.10(e ) State administere d local program ; and (K ) Any release o

f source , specia l nuclear , o r byproduc

tmaterial , a s thos e term s ar e define d in th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f 1954 , in complianc e wit

h a legall y enforceabl e license , permit , regulation , o r orde r issue d pursuan

tt o th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f 1954

. (iii ) Federall y permitted release s d o no tinclud e release s exemp tfro m regulatio n unde

r di e authorit

y o f on e o f di e cite d statutes ; releases no tin complianc e wit

h th e applicabl e permi

t limito r condition , license , regulation , order, standard , o

r program ; o

r release s int o a mediu m othe r tha

n tha tcovere d in th e applicabl e permit

, license , regulation , order, standard , o r program. **** * (F R Doc

. 88-16192 Filed 7-18-88 : 8:4 5 am ]
BtLUM O COO t SS40-S0- M