42 USC 6945 - Upgrading of open dumps

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 02, 2024

§ 6945.

Upgrading of open dumps

(a)

Closing or upgrading of existing open dumps

(b)

Inventory

(c)

Control of hazardous disposal

(1)

(A)

Not later than 36 months after November 8, 1984, each State shall adopt and implement a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions to assure that each solid waste management facility within such State which may receive hazardous household waste or hazardous waste due to the provision of section 6921(d) of this title for small quantity generators (otherwise not subject to the requirement for a permit under section 6925 of this title) will comply with the applicable criteria promulgated under section 6944(a) and 6907(a)(3) of this title.

(B)

Not later than eighteen months after the promulgation of revised criteria under subsection 1

 So in original. Probably should be “section”.

6944(a) of this title (as required by section 6949a(c) of this title), each State shall adopt and implement a permit program or other system or 2

 So in original. Probably should be “of”.

prior approval and conditions, to assure that each solid waste management facility within such State which may receive hazardous household waste or hazardous waste due to the provision of section 6921(d) of this title for small quantity generators (otherwise not subject to the requirement for a permit under section 6925 of this title) will comply with the criteria revised under section 6944(a) of this title.

(C)

The Administrator shall determine whether each State has developed an adequate program under this paragraph. The Administrator may make such a determination in conjunction with approval, disapproval or partial approval of a State plan under section 6947 of this title.

(2)

(A)

In any State that the Administrator determines has not adopted an adequate program for such facilities under paragraph (1)(B) by the date provided in such paragraph, the Administrator may use the authorities available under sections 6927 and 6928 of this title to enforce the prohibition contained in subsection (a) of this section with respect to such facilities.

(B)

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “requirement of this subchapter” in section 6928 of this title shall be deemed to include criteria promulgated by the Administrator under sections 6907(a)(3) and 6944(a) of this title, and the term “hazardous wastes” in section 6927 of this title shall be deemed to include solid waste at facilities that may handle hazardous household wastes or hazardous wastes from small quantity generators.

(d)

State programs for control of coal combustion residuals

(1)

Approval by Administrator

(A)

In general

Each State may submit to the Administrator, in such form as the Administrator may establish, evidence of a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under State law for regulation by the State of coal combustion residuals units that are located in the State that, after approval by the Administrator, will operate in lieu of regulation of coal combustion residuals units in the State by—

(i)

application of part 257 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations promulgated pursuant to sections 6907(a)(3) and 6944(a) of this title); or

(ii)

implementation by the Administrator of a permit program under paragraph (2)(B).

(B)

Requirement

Not later than 180 days after the date on which a State submits the evidence described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator, after public notice and an opportunity for public comment, shall approve, in whole or in part, a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions submitted under subparagraph (A) if the Administrator determines that the program or other system requires each coal combustion residuals unit located in the State to achieve compliance with—

(i)

the applicable criteria for coal combustion residuals units under part 257 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations promulgated pursuant to sections 6907(a)(3) and 6944(a) of this title); or

(ii)

such other State criteria that the Administrator, after consultation with the State, determines to be at least as protective as the criteria described in clause (i).

(C)

Permit requirements

(D)

Program review and notification

(i)

Program review

The Administrator shall review a State permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions that is approved under subparagraph (B)—

(I)

from time to time, as the Administrator determines necessary, but not less frequently than once every 12 years;

(II)

not later than 3 years after the date on which the Administrator revises the applicable criteria for coal combustion residuals units under part 257 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations promulgated pursuant to sections 6907(a)(3) and 6944(a) of this title);

(III)

not later than 1 year after the date of a significant release (as defined by the Administrator), that was not authorized at the time the release occurred, from a coal combustion residuals unit located in the State; and

(IV)

on request of any other State that asserts that the soil, groundwater, or surface water of the State is or is likely to be adversely affected by a release or potential release from a coal combustion residuals unit located in the State for which the program or other system was approved.

(ii)

Notification and opportunity for a public hearing

The Administrator shall provide to a State notice of deficiencies with respect to the permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions of the State that is approved under subparagraph (B), and an opportunity for a public hearing, if the Administrator determines that—

(I)

a revision or correction to the permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions of the State is necessary to ensure that the permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions continues to ensure that each coal combustion residuals unit located in the State achieves compliance with the criteria described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B);

(II)

the State has not implemented an adequate permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions that requires each coal combustion residuals unit located in the State to achieve compliance with the criteria described in subparagraph (B); or

(III)

the State has, at any time, approved or failed to revoke a permit for a coal combustion residuals unit, a release from which adversely affects or is likely to adversely affect the soil, groundwater, or surface water of another State.

(E)

Withdrawal

(i)

In general

(ii)

Reinstatement of State approval

(2)

Nonparticipating states

(A)

Definition of nonparticipating State

In this paragraph, the term “nonparticipating State” means a State—

(i)

for which the Administrator has not approved a State permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under paragraph (1)(B);

(ii)

the Governor of which has not submitted to the Administrator for approval evidence to operate a State permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under paragraph (1)(A);

(iii)

the Governor of which provides notice to the Administrator that, not fewer than 90 days after the date on which the Governor provides the notice to the Administrator, the State will relinquish an approval under paragraph (1)(B) to operate a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions; or

(iv)

for which the Administrator has withdrawn approval for a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under paragraph (1)(E).

(B)

Implementation of permit program

(3)

Applicability of criteria

The applicable criteria for coal combustion residuals units under part 257 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations promulgated pursuant to sections 6907(a)(3) and 6944(a) of this title), shall apply to each coal combustion residuals unit in a State unless—

(A)

a permit under a State permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions approved by the Administrator under paragraph (1)(B) is in effect for the coal combustion residuals unit; or

(B)

a permit issued by the Administrator in a State in which the Administrator is implementing a permit program under paragraph (2)(B) is in effect for the coal combustion residuals unit.

(4)

Prohibition on open dumping

(A)

In general

The Administrator may use the authority provided by sections 6927 and 6928 of this title to enforce the prohibition on open dumping under subsection (a) with respect to a coal combustion residuals unit—

(i)

in a nonparticipating State (as defined in paragraph (2)); and

(ii)

located in a State that is approved to operate a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under paragraph (1)(B), in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.

(B)

Federal enforcement in an approved State

(i)

In general

In the case of a coal combustion residuals unit located in a State that is approved to operate a permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions under paragraph (1)(B), the Administrator may commence an administrative or judicial enforcement action under section 6928 of this title if—

(I)

the State requests that the Administrator provide assistance in the performance of an enforcement action; or

(II)

after consideration of any other administrative or judicial enforcement action involving the coal combustion residuals unit, the Administrator determines that an enforcement action is likely to be necessary to ensure that the coal combustion residuals unit is operating in accordance with the criteria established under the permit program or other system of prior approval and conditions.

(ii)

Notification

(iii)

Annual report to Congress

(I)

In general

(II)

Applicability

(5)

Indian country

(6)

Treatment of coal combustion residuals units

A coal combustion residuals unit shall be considered to be a sanitary landfill for purposes of this chapter, including subsection (a), only if the coal combustion residuals unit is operating in accordance with—

(A)

the requirements of a permit issued by—

(i)

the State in accordance with a program or system approved under paragraph (1)(B); or

(ii)

the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) or paragraph (5); or

(B)

(7)

Effect of subsection

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 4005, as added Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2815; amended Pub. L. 96–482, § 19(a), (b), Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2345; Pub. L. 98–616, title III, § 302(c), title IV, § 403(c), title V, § 502(c), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3268, 3272, 3276; Pub. L. 114–322, title II, § 2301, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1736.)

cite as: 42 USC 6945