[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32854-32855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15135]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[9977-46-OEI]
Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: Authorized Program Revision
Approval, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's approval of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts' request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized
programs to allow electronic reporting.
DATES: EPA approves the authorized program revision for the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations Implementation as of August 15, 2018, if no timely request
for a public hearing is received and accepted by the Agency. EPA
approves the other authorized program revisions/modifications as of
July 16, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Devon Martin, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Mail Stop
2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566-
2603, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media
Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) was published in the Federal
Register (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of title 40 of the CFR.
CROMERR establishes electronic reporting as an acceptable regulatory
alternative to paper reporting and establishes requirements to assure
that electronic documents are as legally dependable as their paper
counterparts. Subpart D of CROMERR requires that state, tribal or local
government agencies that receive, or wish to begin receiving,
electronic reports under their EPA-authorized programs must apply to
EPA for a revision or modification of those programs and obtain EPA
approval. Subpart D provides standards for such approvals based on
consideration of the electronic document receiving systems that the
state, tribe, or local government will use to implement the electronic
reporting. Additionally, Sec. 3.1000(b) through (e) of 40 CFR part 3,
subpart D provides special procedures for program revisions and
modifications to allow electronic reporting, to be used at the option
of the state, tribe or local government in place of procedures
available under existing program-specific authorization regulations. An
application submitted under the subpart D procedures must show that the
state, tribe or local government has sufficient legal authority to
implement the electronic reporting components of the programs covered
by the application and will use electronic document receiving systems
that meet the applicable subpart D requirements.
On September 8, 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection (MassDEP) submitted an application titled ``EEA ePLACE
Platform'' for revisions/modifications to its EPA-approved programs
under title 40 CFR to allow new electronic reporting. EPA reviewed
MassDEP's request to revise/modify its EPA-authorized programs and,
based on this review, EPA determined that the application met the
standards for approval of authorized program revisions/modifications
set out in 40 CFR part 3, subpart D. In accordance with 40 CFR
3.1000(d), this notice of EPA's decision to approve Massachusetts's
request to revise/modify its following EPA-authorized programs to allow
electronic reporting under 40 CFR parts 50-52, 61-63, 65, 70, 141, 144,
146, 240-259, 260-270, 272-279, and 280, is being published in the
Federal Register:
Part 52--Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
Part 61--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants, Subpart M, Asbestos;
Part 62--Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated
Facilities and Pollutants;
Part 63--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Source Categories;
Part 70--State Operating Permit Programs;
Part 142--National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Implementation;
Part 145--State Underground Injection Control Programs;
Part 239--Requirements for State Permit Program Determination of
Adequacy;
Part 271--Requirements for Authorization of State Hazardous:
Waste Program; and
Part 281--Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements
for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks.
Specifically, EPA has approved the state's authorized program
revisions for electronic submissions that include a handwritten
signature on a separate paper submission report instead of an
electronic signature.
MassDEP was notified of EPA's determination to approve its
application with respect to the authorized programs listed above.
Also, in this notice, EPA is informing interested persons that they
may request a public hearing on EPA's action to approve the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' request to revise its National Primary
Drinking Water Regulations implementation program under 40 CFR part
142, in accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(f), to allow for electronic
reporting. Requests for a hearing must be submitted to EPA within 30
days of publication of today's Federal Register notice. Such requests
should include the following information: (1) The name, address and
telephone number of the individual,
[[Page 32855]]
organization or other entity requesting a hearing; (2) A brief
statement of the requesting person's interest in EPA's determination, a
brief explanation as to why EPA should hold a hearing, and any other
information that the requesting person wants EPA to consider when
determining whether to grant the request; (3) The signature of the
individual making the request, or, if the request is made on behalf of
an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible
official of the organization or other entity.
In the event a hearing is requested and granted, EPA will provide
notice of the hearing in the Federal Register not less than 15 days
prior to the scheduled hearing date. Frivolous or insubstantial
requests for hearing may be denied by EPA. Following such a public
hearing, EPA will review the record of the hearing and issue an order
either affirming today's determination or rescinding such
determination. If no timely request for a hearing is received and
granted, EPA's approval of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' request
to revise its part 142--National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Implementation program to allow electronic reporting will become
effective 30 days after today's notice is published, pursuant to
CROMERR section 3.1000(f)(4).
Matthew Leopard,
Director, Office of Information Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-15135 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
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