[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 18501-18502] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-10388] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 241 [FRL-5462-7] Solid Waste Programs; Removal of Legally Obsolete Guidelines AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In response to the President's Regulatory Reform Initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted a review of the regulations it administers and has identified the guidelines pertaining to solid waste management as obsolete. These guidelines, which are being removed from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) today, are no longer necessary because they have been addressed by more recent regulations. Deleting these guidelines from the CFR will have no impact on solid waste management. EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule takes effect on April 26, 1996. ADDRESSES: Supporting materials are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The Docket Identification Number is F-96-LOGF-FFFFF. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public make an appointment by calling 703 603-9230. The public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. Additional copies cost $0.15/page. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Gallman (703) 308-7276, Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20460, or the RCRA Superfund Hotline, phone (800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810 in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction On March 4, 1995, the President directed all Federal agencies and departments to conduct a comprehensive review of the regulations they administer and to identify those rules that are obsolete or unduly burdensome. EPA has conducted a review of its rules and guidelines, including those issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.). Based on this review, EPA is today eliminating the following obsolete RCRA guidelines from the CFR: 40 CFR, Part 241, ``Guidelines for the Land Disposal of Solid Wastes''. The guidelines, promulgated on August 14, 1974, are no longer necessary because they have been included in and/or addressed by the Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices, 40 CFR Part 257, promulgated on September 13, 1979 (44 FR 53460) and the Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, 40 CFR Part 258, promulgated on October 9, 1991 (56 FR 50978). The removal of these rules from the CFR because they are obsolete is not intended to affect the status of any civil or criminal actions that were initiated prior to the date of publication of this notice or which may be initiated in the future to redress violations of the rules that occurred when the rules were still legally in effect. II. Obsolete Rule 40 CFR Part 241--Guidelines for the Land Disposal of Solid Waste On August 14, 1974, EPA issued guidelines for the land disposal of all solid waste materials, excluding hazardous, agricultural, and mining wastes. These guidelines were intended to ensure that design, construction, and operation of land disposal sites for non-hazardous or municipal solid wastes met specified health and environmental standards. These guidelines were required to be followed by federal agencies and recommended to state and local governmental agencies. All guideline requirements contained in 40 CFR Part 241 are now included in and/or addressed by the Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices (40 CFR Part 257) and the Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (40 CFR Part 258). These criteria must be followed by federal agencies. 42 U.S.C. 6961(a). Accordingly, EPA is removing the Part 241 guidelines from the CFR. III. Good Cause Exemption From Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking Procedures The Administrative Procedure Act generally requires agencies to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing a final rule. 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Rules are exempt from this requirement if the issuing agency finds for good cause that notice and comment is unnecessary. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). EPA has determined that providing prior notice and opportunity for comment on the deletion of the 40 CFR Part 241 guidelines from the CFR is unnecessary. For the reasons discussed in Sections I and II, these guidelines are covered/addressed by 40 CFR Parts 257 and 258. Thus, withdrawing them from the CFR will have no impact on current Federal and state solid waste management practices. For the same reasons, EPA believes there is good cause for making the removal of these guidelines from the CFR immediately effective. See 5 U.S.C. 553(d). [[Page 18502]] IV. Analysis under Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act Because the withdrawal of these rules from the CFR merely reflects their current obsolescence and thus has no regulatory impact, this action is not a ``significant'' regulatory action within the meaning of E.O. 12866, and does not impose any Federal mandate on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector within the meaning of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. For the same reasons, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, I certify that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Finally, because these guidelines have been replaced or addressed by 40 CFR Parts 257 and 258, their deletion from the CFR does not affect requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 241 Waste treatment and disposal. Dated: April 17, 1996. Elliott P. Laws, Assistant Administrator. For the reasons set out in the preamble, and under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 6907 and 6912, Title 40, Chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows: Part 241--[REMOVED] 1. Part 241 is removed. [FR Doc. 96-10388 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P