### P. 1 

# /o/7fo)F f R~ 4 , 2

.

of source, special

nuclear, or

byproduct

material, as those terms are defined

in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, in compliance with a legally enforceable license, permit, regulation, or order issued

-tr 

## pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. 

# Senat e Rep . No . 96-848 , to accompany S . 1480 , the Environmenta l Emergenc

y Respons e Act , b y the Committe e o n Environmentan d Publi c Works , 96t

h Cong. , 2 d Sess. , July 13,198 0 M M FniK.u.\i.i. rPKtiMmK n UEIJ-VS K [Respons e authorized , cos tno tassessed ] Adoptio n o f

m i expres s Federa l liabilit y mechanis m fo rrelease s pursuan tt o certai n Federa l permi tsystem s seeme d inappropriat e n t tlii s time . Suc h apropositio n wa s particularl y troulilesum e fo rpci mil s unde rsectio n 40 2 o f th e Clea n Witte rAr tliecans e th e Congres s ha d exclude d the m fro m th e Act' s sectio n ."M l linhilit y provision * i n IPTfi . Th e rul e o f

commo n la w i s tha tcomplianc e wit h ttpermi ti s no t 

## n defens e t o linhility

. Mnivovrr , th e ('unimv * IM H npvp r wiiil n r SIIJI

. ge«te d tha ta Federa l [icrnii tnmount s t o alicens e t o creat e threat s l o publi c healt h o rth e environmen twit h lega l immunity . However , i n vie w o f

th e larg e sum s o f

mone y spen tt o compl y wit h specifi c regulator y programs , linhilit y fo rfederall y permitte d release s ough t I n li e determine d liase d o n th e fact s o f eac h individua l case . Therefore , th e reporte d hil l authorize s respons e t o federall y permitte d releases . Iml require s cost s t o li e assesse d ngains tth e permi tholde runde rth e liabilit y provision s o f othe rlaws , no tS . 14S0 , 

### [Response authorit

y unaffected ] Sectio n 4(1 ) o f

th e bil l preserve s th e enforcemen tprovision s o f th e regulator y laws . Permitte d release s hav e som e potentia l fo rcausin g har m an d tha ti n som e emergenc y situation s i twil l b e difficul tt o dis- ' tiiiifiisl i lietwee n n permitte d releas e an d othe rsources . Th e President . |47 | usin g th e Fund , i s expressl y authorize d t o respon d t o problem s cause d h y federall y [lermitte d releases . Further , th e Fun d woul d In - availabl e t o pa y respons e cost s uil U (Inmnjji' s cincrci l b y thin ' hill . Ti m Fimi l i n recoupin g suc h costs' ) o ran y privat e damag e ac tions , mus trel y o n othe riaw—commo n la w o rFeilcra l o rStat e Statutor y law—i n lie n o f th e liabilit y provision s o f sectio n 4 . Th e detcrinihatini i o f exactl y wha tliabilit y standards , defenses , o rothe rrule s appl y wil l li e mad e o n acase-by-cas e basi s pursuan tt o regime s othe rtha n tha to f S . 14^0 , 

### [Type s o l federall y permitte d releases] Th e .letine d ter m "federall y permitte d release " (sectio n 2(b ) (1R1 ) i s ake y elemen ti n th e treatmen to f thes e release s unde rthi s bill . Fo r purpose s o f

thi s bill , i tinclude s action s b y th e appropriat e Federa l agencie s o runde rFederall y approve d Stal e programs . Wher e th e ter m "legall y enforceable " i s use d i n sectio n 2(b ) (ISl . t o qualif y fo r e x piio n fro m liabilit y fo ran y federall y permitte d release , th e relevan tterm s o f

suc h |<ertui tmus tli e legall y enforceable . Followin g i s n discussio n o f th e release s encompasse d li v th e "fed erall y pctiuiitc d release " drlinitinn . Thes e release s HI T exclude d fro m th e liabilit y an d notificatio n provision s o f thi s legislation . Th e Committe e continue s l o recogniz e th e dillicult y o f markin g clearl y wher e th e spil l resiHm« c program s o f sectio n :tl l an d o f

th e reporte d legislatio n appl y an d when - th n genera l discharg e regula lo i v/|«'riui tprogram s o f sectio n 40 2 apply . Thi s issu e wa s centra l t o a n amrnibiien tt o Sectio n :il l o f th e Clea n Wate rAc tenacte d i n 107 S an d th e federall y permille d releas e provision s o f th e repotte d hil l preserv e tha tAmendmen tan d th e rulemakin g take n b y th e F.nviron menia l Protectio n Agenc y t o carr y i tintocfTect . l'ccuus o o f

th e broadene d scop V o f th e reportii l hill , sectio n 2(b ) (|M ) contain s othe rsimila rclarification s regarding |>ollutio n contro l program s unde rth e we thind s proti-clio n progra m o f sectio n 40 1 o f th e Clea n Wate rAct , th e Clea n Ai rAct . subtitl e C o f th e Soli d Wast e Disposa l Act . Ih e Marin e Protectio n Act . th e Saf e Drinkin g Wate r Act.an d th e Atomi rEnerg y Act . [Clea n Wate rAc t§ 40 2 permits ) Wit h rcs|n—l t o regulatin g th e discharg e o f wate rpollutant s unde r sectio n 40 2 o f

th e Clea n Wate rAc tan d th e relationshi p o f tha t progra m l o ha/.ardou s substanc e «pil l respons e nndc rsee l io n H I I (o n whic h Ih e response- provision s o f thi s bil l at e based) , th e Congres s addresse d th e proble m i n HIT S amendment s l o th e delinitin n o f ••dis charge" ' i n sectio n .111 . Th e fit^l thre e part s o f th e -eelin n 2(10(1" ) definitio n i n thi s bil l catt y thos e amendment s forwar d withou t change . Thu s th e explanatio n a ttha ttim e an d ih e impleiiieiiiin g regulation s o f

th e F.nvironnicnla l Protectio n Agenc y ar c continued . Whil e th e exemption s fro m liabilit y fo rfederall y permitte d release s ar e pencille d t o giv e regulate d partie s clarit y i n thei rlega l dutie s an d responsibilities , thes e exemption s ar e no tt o operat e l o creat e gap s i n action s necessar y t o protec tth e publi c o rth e environ ment . Thu s th e reportin g reipiii-enicit tunde ricetin n 4t> 2 shoul d li e amende d b y th e Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y t o caus e owner s ani l o|tcratnr s wh o releas e substance s designate d unde rsectio n -II I o rthi s lul l unde rcircumstance s whic h ar e no w excbulei l fro m sec tio n :ill . t n re|vor tunde rsectio n 4(> 2 i n amilline rsimila rt o tha t rr.|<iin-i l unde rsectio n :il l s o tha tth e appropriat e slop - ma y U > take n t n protect , fo rinstance , drinkin g wate rsupplie s oroihc rdownstrea m WX | resources . Th e curren t2 4 hou rnotic e |ierio< l under' I h e XPDE S regulation s shoul d b e amende d t o provid e immediat e notic e i n th e even to f afailur e o f

atreatmen to roperatin g componen twhic h result s i n u

. release , o f

ahazardou s Mil-stance . Suc h acas e recentl y occurre d i n Orangeburg , Sout h Cnrolina . Whil e exclusio n fro m MI- . t-io n :il l wa s claimed , th e company' s notice , whic h wa s filed i n a manne rconsisten twit h sectio n 402 , wa s lo o lat e t o protec tdown strea m drinkin g wate rsources . Thi s shoul d IN* repaired b v th e Knvi roniiieutal Protectio n Agenc y i n th e regulation s implementin g th e notic e provision s o f

sectio n 4I>2. Als o becaus e o f

it s broadene d sco|ie . i tshoul d li e clea rtha tth e liabilit y provision s o f S . 148 0 woul d appl y t o an y unauthorize d di, . charge s b y an y perso n int o publicly-owne d treatmen tworks . Thu s discharge s o f

hazardou s substance s fro m mobil e facilitie s whic h .-r e unauthorize d b v th e publiclv-ownc d treatmen tsyste m (midnigh t ihiin|tcrs) , o rdischarge s o f suc h substance s fro m fixed facilitie s int o sewe rsystem s whic h ar e no tauthorize d unde raprcliratiucn tpro . gra m ar e release s fo rpurpose s o f thi s Act . neve rexclude d ,- s fed erall y pcrmlltc d releases , an d th e ful l authorit y an d rfspimsiliililio i establishe d b y th e bil l woul d apply . Accidents—whateve rthei rcause—whic h resul tin , o rca n reason abl y h e rx|H-cte d t o result , i n release s o f hazardou s |KilluiaiU s woul d no tli e exemp tfro m th e rc<|iiirrmcnt s an d liabilitie s o f thi s bill . Thu s fitvs, ruptures , wreck s an d th e lik e invok e th e response an d liabilit y provision s o f

th e bill . 

### [Clea n Wate r Ac

t § 404 permits ] Th e fourt h clemen to f th e definitio n cover s |>ciinil s f li rdivide d o rtil l materia l unde rsee l io n 10 1 o f th e Clea n Wate rAct . Permit s issue d unde rthi s proces s ar c subjecte d l o ahazardou s sulis'.auc ? review , a s rri|iiirc d li y I li e Environmenta l Protectio n Agency , durin g th e permittin g process . Wher e hazardou s sulrslancc * ar e likel y l o li e presen ti n dredge d o rfill materiul , testin g ma y b e required. Accord tu g t n EP A regulation s see l u m 4U 4 -icrmit x wil l I * grante d onl v wher e evidenc e indicate s tha thazardou s sidislsinrr n wil l nu tresul t i n substantia l harm . Permittee s wh o compl y wit h th e mpiircmcnt * fo rjiermi tissuanc e an d th e condition s o f thri r|iemii twoul d b e cnvent l b y thi s |*>rtio u o f th e definition* . 

### [Soli d Wast

e Oisposa l Ac

t § 300 S permits ] Subparagrap h (E ) o f th o definitio n addresse s permit s issue d un de rsectio n :f»i."> (Permit s fo rTreatment , Storag e o rI)is|>nsa l o f Hazardou s Waste ) o f th e Soli d Wast e Disposa l Act . Th e reporte d bil l lightl y limit s th e type s o f disposa l site , releases tha twoul d li e covere d b v ill' s definition . First , onl y final |>c-ruiits ar c included . Site s n rfacilitie s whic h hav e interi m statu s unde rsectio n 31*15 (e ) d o no l adequatel y utiliz racceptabl e level s o f technology , an d d o no t i|.i..!if \ fo rtin s exclusion . Second , l o h e covere d b y thi s |orlio u o f ii. . d . li,,i l em , th e |ieiii,', l nj.jili . ;in tmus t>-| « if v th e hi/aidmi s su b stanc e t o IK ' release d ani l agree , t o control s o n suc h releases . Fo rex ample , thi s subparagrap h woul d no tcove rpermit s wher e th e permitc c ha s buil tadis|»isa l si u to adesig n standar d bu tfo rsom e reason i tleak s ahazardou s sulistanrc . Fo rsuc n a: itnnlio n t o utiliz e th e exeinptioi . unde rthi s sectio n th e |>ennitlc o woul d have , ha d t o designat e thes e release s an d mad e the m subjec tt o astandar d o f practice , contro . procedur e o rbioassa y limitatio n o rcondition , o rothe rcontro l |49 | Similarly , aproperl y close d disposa l sit e tha tsubsequentl y leake i woul d no tb e covere d b y thi s definitio n (althoug h suc h asit e mig h wel l b o covere d b y th e post-closur e liabilit y portio n o f thi s bill) . [Marin e Protection , Research , an d Sanctuarie s Ac t§ § 102,10 3 permit : Th e sixt h clcmrn to f th e definitio n encontpusse s permit s unde rtl : ocea n dumpin g sectio n (so-iio n l'rj ) an d th e ocea n dredgin g -ccti o (sectio n 103 ) o f

th e Marin e Protection , Research , an d Sanctuari e Act . Thcs o ocea n dumpin g an d ocea n dredgin g permit s ar e subjeet c t o ahazardou s substanc e review durin g th e permittin g process . Thu . complianc e wit h requirement s fo rpermi tissuanc e an d th e conditio n o f apermi tissue d unde rthes e section s o f th e Marin e Protection , R < search , an d Sanctuarie s Ac twoul d b o covere d b y thi s portio n o f tl . definition .

### P. 2

. » I J



### [Sal e Drinkin g Wate rAc t permits ) Th o sevent h isor

tion o f the. definitio n addresse s th e Undergroun d Injectio n Contro l program unde rPar tC o f th e Saf

e Drinkin g Wate rAct . Thi s provisio n exempt s areleas e t o th e sub>trat a o f th e Earth o f a specifi c containmen twhic h i s designate d a s hazardou s unde rthi s bill , i f

such release i s authorize d an d in complianc e with th e condition s o f

suc h authorizatio n grante d unde rth e Undergroun d Injectio n Contro l Progra m of th e Saf e Drinkin g Wate rAct . [Clea n Ai rAct permits ] Subparagrap h (II ) o f

th o definitio n cover s severa l section s o f th e Clean Ai rAct , a s amended , where the y resul ti n th e contro l o f ai r emission s o f

hazardou s substances . I n th e Clea n Ai rAct , unlik e som e othe rFedera l regulator y statutes , th e contro l o f hazardou s ai rpol lutant, emission s cal l b

e achieve d throug h a variet y o f means : expres s emission s limitation s (suc h a s contro l o n th e pound s o f pollutan t tha tma y li e discharge d from asourc e durin g a give n time.) ; tech nolog y requirements (suc h us floatin g roo f tank s o n hydrocarbon s i n a certai n vapo rpressur e range) ; operationa l requirements (suc h a s star tu p o rshu tdow n procedure s t o contro l emission s durin g suc h o|>crulions) ; wor

k practice s (suc h a s Ih e applicatio n o f wate rlo-sup pres s certai n particulates ) ;o rothe rcontro l practices . Whethe rcontro l of hazardou s substanc e emission s i s achieve d directl y o rindirectly , th e means mustbe specificall y designe d t o limi to reliminat e emissions of a designate d hazardou s pollutan to ra criteri a pollutant . This sec tio n o f th e federall y permitte d release definitio n include s any |iertui t orcontro l regulation unde ron e o f th e cite d section s o f

th e Clea n Ai r Act . which ha s thi s effect . [Atomi c Energ yAc t requirements ] Th e ninth elemen to f

th e definitio n addresse s th e Atomi c Energ y Ac to f I'.'.'i l whic h establishe s acomprehensiv e Federal regulator y progra m fo rspecifie d use s an d classe s o f nuclea rmaterials . Unlik e th e othe renvironmenta l statute s referred t o in thi s amendment , th e Atomi c Energ y Actlimit s an y delegate d regulator y role fo rState! ) an d thei rpolitica l sulxlivisions . Th e mostnotabl e exceptio n i s sectio n 27 4 (b) . whic

h authorize s th e Nuclea rRegulator y Commissio n t o adoptagreement s with individua l Slate s fo rtransfe ro f regulatory authority ove rdesignate d sourrc . byproduct , o rspecia l nuclea r materials . Unde reithe rFedera l o rStat e regulator y regimes, relrascs o f source . s|iccial nuclear , o rbyproduc tmaterial s tha tare withi n th e term s o f a licens e o rpermi tissue d b y th e Commissio n o rb y a n agreementstat e ar e covere d b

y thi s portio n o f

th e definition . Th e definitio n als o applie s t o release s o f

designate d nuclea rmaterials , def.iie d il l section s |50 | lie . 11st . and Una of

th e Atomi c Knergy Acto f I!i. r 

### >4 . when thos e re lease s are mad e pursuan tt o Commissio n order . [Exemp t fro m notification ] Th e Committe e doe s notinten d forth e notificatio n element s o f th e bil l t o appl y l o th e federall y permitte d releases define d in sectio n 2 (h)(IH) . Th e law s authorizin g th e permi tan d regulation s tha tcon tro l these, releases provid e fc rnotificatio n an d such notificatio n pro cedure s shoul d provid e th e sam e publi c lienelits—especiall y regardin g timel y response—a s woul d li e provide d in S . 14WI . Xnticel s crucia l t o Ihe remova

l and remedial operation s whic h ar e centra l t o th e reported bill . Th e federall y |iermilte d releas e exception s are no tdirecte d at avoidin g notice , bu

trathe rt o make i

tclea rwhich provision s o f la w appl y t o dischargin g sources . [Registere d pesticid e applications ] Ther e are some activitie s which are subjectt o Federa l o rStat e regulation which do no tfal l neatl y int o one o f (li e program s estab lishe d t o protectaparticula rmedi asuch a s ai ro rwate ro rland . On e o f thes e i s th e applicatio n o f |>csticidcs—cs|ieciall y i n agricultura l practices . Th e bil l provide s Iha tdamag e o rremoval cost s resultin g from field application s involvin g pesticide s whic h are registered unde rth e Federal Insecticide . Fungicide , an d liodenticid e Ac tare no t recoverabl e unde rth e provision s o f sectio n 4 o f

S . 14X0 . I tshoul d als o be clea rtha tth e notic e and penalty provision s do no tappl y t o suc h routin e field applications . Accident s o rinternationa l disposal s whic h result , i n th e release o f

a |>esticid e in othe rtha n it s intende d field ap plicatio n would , o f

course , lie subjectt o th e notic e provisio n o f th e bill . Onl y in thi s manne rcoul d th e preventiv e res|ionse mechanism s o f th e bil l ojienit e t o protectpubli c health . (Clea n Wate rAc

t §311 ] Wit h res|K-c

tt o spill s an d futur e releases. S . 14* 0 build s upo n an d carrie s forwar d th e preventiv e orientatio n o f sectio n 31 1 o f

th e Clea n Wate rAct . Thu s th e spil l preventio n contro l program—whic h ha s lieen s o successfu l i n th e cas e o f oi l releases—shoul d li e aggressivel y pursue d b y th e Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y an d th e Coas t (itiard . Th e Committe e i s disturbe d tha tth e authorit y o f sectio n 31 1 fo rth e Secretar y o f

Transportatio n t o issu e spil l preventio n pro gram s fo rrolling stoc k an d vessel s ha s no tbeen implemented . I ti s essentia l thi s authority b e implemente d immediately , especiall y wit r rc.ijiir d t o trucks . Imrges . an d railroads . Th e Knvironmenta l Protectio n Agenc y shoul d expedit e th e issu anc e o f th e spil l preventio n progra m applicabl e t o designate d hazard ou s substances . 

# S . 148 0 Staf f Working Pape rNo . 2 , Senat e Committe e o n Environmentand Public Works , Jun e 2,198 0 [Containe dn o provision s comparabl e t o Sectio n 101(10 ) o f th e Act ]



# * S . 148 0 Staf f Working Pape rNo . 1 , Senat e Committe e o n Environmentand Public Works , Feb . 1,198 0 I B [Containe dn o provision s comparabl e t o Sectio n 101(10 ) o f th e Act ] 

# I I I I S . 148 0 a s introduced , July 11,197 9 [Containe dn o provision s comparabl e t o Sectio n 101(10 ) o f th e Act ] 

# S . 134 1 as introduced , Jun e 14,197 9 SEC

. 4

. The Federal Wate r Pollutio n Contro l Act , a s amended, i s furthe

r amendedby adding a t

th e en dthereof th e following :

• • • . e 

### Sec . 601 : 

# "(ee ) 'release ' includes , bu t i s no t limite dt o an y spilling , leaking , pumping , pouring , emitting , emptying , discharging , escaping , leaching , or dumpin g into th e with apermi t unde r sectio n 40 2 o

f thi s Act , (2 ) dis

charge s resultin g fro

mcircumstance s identifie dan dre viewe dan dmade apar t o f th e publi c recor dwit

h re spec t t o apermi t

issue do r modifiedunde r

sectio n 40 2

o f thi s Ac t an dsubjec t

t o aconditio n i n suc

h permit , (3 ) continuou s o r

anticipate dintermitten t discharge s fro mapoint

source , identifie di n apermi t o r permi t

m environment , but

exclude s (1 ) discharge s in complianc e applicatio n unde r sectio n 40 2 o

f thi s Act , whic h ar

e