Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/02/25/00-4229/approval-and-promulgation-of-state-plans-for-designated-facilities-and-pollutants-georgia
Timestamp: 2018-07-16 03:52:08
Document Index: 172186031

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 60', 'art 60', '§\u200962', 'art 60', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', 'art 60']

This direct final rule is effective on April 25, 2000, without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by March 27, 2000. If EPA receives adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
GA51-200011a
FRL-6541-5
Why Are We Requiring Georgia To Submit a HMIWI State Plan?
III. What Does the Georgia State Plan Contain?
VI. Why Is the Georgia HMIWI State Plan Approvable?
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-4229 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-4229
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the section 111(d) Plan submitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the State of Georgia on September 15, 1998, to implement and enforce the Emissions Guidelines (EG) for existing Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator (HMIWI) units.
You should address comments on this action to Scott Martin, EPA Region 4, Air Planning Branch, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3104. Copies of all materials considered in this rulemaking may be examined during normal business hours at the following locations: EPA Region 4, Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3104; and at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Air Protection Branch, 4244 International Parkway, Suite 120, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.
We are approving the Georgia State Plan, as submitted on September 15, 1998, for the control of air emissions from HMIWIs, except for those HMIWIs located in Indian Country. When EPA developed our New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) for HMIWIs, we also developed EG to control air emissions from older HMIWIs. (See 62 FR 48348-48391, September 15, 1997, 40 CFR part 60, subpart Ce (Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for HMIWIs) and subpart Ec (Standards of Performance for HMIWIs for Which Construction is Commenced After June 20, 1996)). The Georgia DNR developed a State Plan, as required by sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (the Act), to adopt the EG into their body of regulations, and we are acting today to approve it.
We are publishing this action without prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse comments. However, in a separate document in this Federal Register publication, we are proposing to approve the revision should significant, material, and adverse comments be filed. This action is effective April 25, 2000, unless by March 27, 2000, adverse or critical comments are received. If we receive such comments, this rule will be withdrawn before the effective date by publishing a subsequent document that will withdraw the final action. All public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. If no such comments are received, this action is effective April 25, 2000.
The State Plan establishes control requirements which reduce the Start Printed Page 10023following emissions from HMIWIs: particulate matter; sulfur dioxide; hydrogen chloride; nitrogen oxides; carbon monoxide; lead; cadmium; mercury; and dioxin/furans. These pollutants can cause adverse effects to the public health and the environment. Dioxin, lead, and mercury bioaccumulate through the food web. Serious developmental and adult effects in humans, primarily damage to the nervous system, have been associated with exposures to mercury. Exposure to dioxin and furans can cause skin disorders, cancer, and reproductive effects such as endometriosis. Dioxin and furans can also affect the immune system. Acid gases affect the respiratory tract, as well as contribute to the acid rain that damages lakes and harms forests and buildings. Exposure to particulate matter has been linked with adverse health effects, including aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease and increased risk of premature death. Nitrogen oxide emissions contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, which is associated with a number of adverse health and environmental effects.
The Georgia DNR adopted the Federal NSPS and EG for HMIWIs by reference into the Georgia Rule for Air Quality Control, Chapter 391-3-1-.02(2)(iii), and sections 2.117.2, 2.117.3, and 2.117.4 of the Georgia DNR Procedures for Testing and Monitoring Sources of Air Pollutants. The State rules were effective on June 15, 1998. The Georgia State Plan contains:
2. State rules, Chapter 391-3-1-.02(2)(iii) and sections 2.117.2, 2.117.3, and 2.117.4, as the enforceable mechanism;
3. An inventory of approximately 138 known designated facilities, along with estimates of their potential air emissions;
5. A compliance date of March 15, 2000;
7. Records from the public hearing on the State Plan; and
You must meet the requirements listed in the Georgia Rule for Air Quality Control, Chapter 391-3-1-.02(2)(iii), and sections 2.117.2, 2.117.3, and 2.117.4 of the Georgia DNR Procedures for Testing and Monitoring Sources of Air Pollutants, summarized as follows:
4. You must meet a 10% opacity limit on your discharge, averaged over a six-minute block of time (40 CFR 60.33e(c), as listed at 62 FR 48380, September 15, 1997).
5. You must have a qualified HMIWI operator available to supervise the operation of your incinerator. This operator must be trained and qualified through a State-approved program, or a training program that meets the requirements listed under 40 CFR 60.53c(c) (40 CFR 60.34e, as listed at 62 FR 48380).
6. Your operator must be certified, as discussed in 5 above, no later than one year after EPA approval of this Georgia State Plan (40 CFR 60.39e(e), as listed at 62 FR 48382).
7. You must develop and submit to Georgia DNR a waste management plan. This plan must be developed under guidance provided by the American Hospital Association publication, An Ounce of Prevention: Waste Reduction Strategies for Health Care Facilities, 1993, and must be submitted to Georgia DNR no later than one year after EPA approval of this State Plan (40 CFR 60.35e, as listed at 62 FR 48380).
8. You must conduct an initial performance test to determine your incinerator's compliance with these emission limits. This performance test must be completed by March 15, 2000.
10. You must document and maintain information concerning pollutant concentrations, opacity measurements, charge rates, and other operational data. This information must be maintained for a period of five years (40 CFR 60.38e, as listed at 62 FR 48381).
11. You must submit an annual report to Georgia DNR containing records of annual equipment inspections, any required maintenance, and unscheduled repairs. This annual report must be signed by the facilities manager (40 CFR 60.38e, as listed at 62 FR 48381).
EPA compared the Georgia rules (Georgia Rule for Air Quality Control, Chapter 391-3-1-.02(2)(iii), and sections 2.117.2, 2.117.3, and 2.117.4 of the Georgia DNR Procedures for Testing and Monitoring Sources of Air Pollutants), against our HMIWI EG. EPA finds the Georgia rules to be at least as protective as the EG. The Georgia State Plan was reviewed for approval against the following criteria: 40 CFR 60.23 through 60.26, Subpart B—Adoption and Submittal of State Plans for Designated Facilities; and, 40 CFR 60, 60.30e through 60.39e, Subpart Ce—Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators. The Georgia State Plan satisfies the requirements for an approvable section 111(d) plan under subparts B and Ce of 40 CFR part 60. For Start Printed Page 10024these reasons, we are approving the Georgia HMIWI State Plan.
EPA is approving the aformentioned changes to the SIP because they meet EPA requirements. The EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision should adverse comments be filed. This rule will be effective April 25, 2000 without further notice unless the Agency receives adverse comments by March 27, 2000.
If the EPA receives such comments, then EPA will publish a document withdrawing the final rule and informing the public that the rule will not take effect. All public comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period. Parties interested in commenting should do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public is advised that this rule will be effective on April 25, 2000 and no further action will be taken on the proposed rule.
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by April 25, 2000. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
2. Section 62.2600 is amended by adding paragraphs (b)(6) and (c)(5) to read as follows:
§ 62.2600
(6) State of Georgia Plan for Implementation of 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ce, for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators Constructed on or Before June 20, 1996, submitted on September 15, 1998, by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
3. Subpart L is amended by adding a new § 62.2608 and a new undesignated center heading to read as follows:
§ 62.2608
The plan applies to existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators for which construction, reconstruction, or modification was commenced before Start Printed Page 10025June 20, 1996, as described in 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ce.
[FR Doc. 00-4229 Filed 2-24-00; 8:45 am]