Permit Programs for Coal Combustion Residual Disposal Units
- Individual State Permit Programs
- State Permit Program Guidance
- About the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act)
- Permit Programs in Indian Country
Individual State Permit Programs
As discussed below, EPA has the authority to approve state CCR permitting programs. When EPA receives a permit program submission from a state, EPA will review the submission to ensure that the submission includes all the required elements. EPA will send a letter to the state informing them that their submission is complete ("completeness letter"). The issuance of this letter officially marks the beginning of the 180 days that EPA has to make a determination on a state program submission.
During these 180 days, EPA will publish a Federal Register notice providing its initial determination and offering the public an opportunity to comment and the opportunity for a public hearing. EPA plans to post completeness letters when they are released and will ultimately post the information and documents associated with permit program submissions once the Federal Register notices are published proposing determinations.
Find out more about:
- Oklahoma's program approval.
- Georgia's program approval.
- Texas' program approval.
- Alabama's program denial.
- North Dakota's proposed program approval.
State Permit Program Guidance
EPA developed an interim final guidance document that provides information about the provisions of the 2016 WIIN Act related to CCR as well as the process and procedures EPA will generally use to review and make determinations on state CCR permit programs. The guidance document is divided into four chapters. The first two chapters are in the form of questions and answers about the WIIN Act and the state permit program approval process. The third and fourth chapters consist of checklists to aid states as they consider and develop their program submittals.
EPA released this interim final guidance in the Federal Register on August 15, 2017, and received public comment via Regulations.gov through September 14, 2017.
About the WIIN Act
Congress passed and the President signed the WIIN Act in 2016. Section 2301 of the Act amends Section 4005 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to provide for state coal combustion residuals permit programs. The law also provides EPA additional authorities, including the authority to review and approve state CCR permit programs. The major provisions of Section 2301 of the WIIN Act include:
- States may, but are not required to, develop and submit a CCR permit (“or other system of prior approval”) program to EPA for approval.
- The program does not have to be identical to the current CCR rule, found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 257 subpart D, but must be at least “as protective as” the CCR rule.
- EPA has 180 days to act on a complete State submission; EPA must provide public notice and an opportunity for comment prior to EPA approval.
- EPA may approve a program “in whole or in part.”
- Once approved, the State permit program operates “in lieu of” the federal CCR rule.
- The CCR rule applies to a CCR unit until a permit is in effect for that unit.
- In States that do not have an approved permit program (“non-participating States”), EPA must implement a permit program, “subject to the availability of appropriations specifically provided to carry out a program…”
- EPA must implement a permit program in Indian Country.
- EPA may use its information gathering and enforcement authorities under RCRA Sections 3007 and 3008 to enforce the CCR rule or permit provisions.
- EPA must review State permit programs at least once every 12 years and in certain specific situations.
Permit Programs in Indian Country
The WIIN Act requires EPA to establish and carry out a permit program for CCR units in Indian Country to achieve compliance with the current CCR rule. Three facilities in Indian Country have CCR disposal units. EPA is coordinating with the affected Tribes to develop appropriate permits for the three facilities.