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Appropriate Act and regulations means the Clean Water Act (CWA); the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA); or Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), whichever is applicable; and applicable regulations promulgated under those statutes. In the case of an "approved State program" appropriate Act and regulations includes program requirements.

Consultation with the Regional Administrator (§ 124.62(a)(2)) means review by the Regional Administrator following evaluation by a panel of the technical merits of all 301(k) applications approved by the Director. The panel (to be appointed by the Director of the Office of Water Enforcement and Permits) will consist of Headquarters, Regional, and State personnel familiar with the industrial category in question.

CWA means the Clean Water Act (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of Federal Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972) Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Law 95-217 and Public Law 95-576; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

Director means the Regional Administrator, the State director or the Tribal director as the context requires, or an authorized representative. When there is no approved State or Tribal program, and there is an EPA administered program, Director means the Regional Administrator. When there is an approved State or Tribal program, "Director" normally means the State or Tribal director. In some circumstances, however, EPA retains the authority to take certain actions even when there is an approved State or Tribal program. (For example, when EPA has issued an NPDES permit prior to the approval of a State program, EPA may retain jurisdiction over that permit after program approval; see §123.1) In such cases, the term "Director" means the Regional Administrator and not the State or Tribal director.

Draft permit means a document prepared under § 124.6 indicating the Director's tentative decision to issue or deny, modify, revoke and reissue, terminate, or reissue a "permit." A notice of intent to terminate a permit and a notice of intent to deny a permit as

discussed in §124.5, are types of "draft permits." A denial of a request for modification, revocation and reissuance or termination, as discussed in § 124.5, is not a "draft permit." A "proposal permit" is not a "draft permit."

Environmental Appeals Board shall mean the Board within the Agency described in §1.25(e) of this title. The Administrator delegates authority to the Environmental Appeals Board to issue final decisions in RCRA, PSD, UIC, or NPDES permit appeals filed under this subpart, including informal appeals of denials of requests for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination of permits under Section 124.5(b). An appeal directed to the Administrator, rather than to the Environmental Appeals Board, will not be considered. This delegation does not preclude the Environmental Appeals Board from referring an appeal or a motion under this subpart to the Administrator when the Environmental Appeals Board, in its discretion, deems it appropriate to do so. When an appeal or motion is referred to the Administrator by the Environmental Appeals Board, all parties shall be so notified and the rules in this subpart referring to the Environmental Appeals Board shall be interpreted as referring to the Administrator.

EPA (“EPA") means the United States "Environmental Protection Agency."

Facility or activity means any "HWM facility," UIC "injection well," NPDES "point source" or "treatment works treating domestic sewage" or State 404 dredge or fill activity, or any other facility or activity (including land or appurtenances thereto) that is subject to regulation under the the RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or 404 programs.

Federal Indian reservation (in the case of NPDES) means all land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running through the reservation.

General permit (NPDES and 404) means an NPDES or 404 "permit" authorizing a category of discharges or activities under the CWA within a geographical area. For NPDES, a general

permit means a permit issued under § 122.28. For 404, a general permit means a permit issued under § 233.37.

Indian Tribe means (in the case of UIC) any Indian Tribe having a federally recognized governing body carrying out substantial governmental duties and powers over a defined area. For the NPDES program, the term "Indian Tribe" means any Indian Tribe, band, group, or community recognized by the Secretary of the Interior and exercising governmental authority over a Federal Indian reservation.

Interstate agency means an agency of two or more States established by or under an agreement or compact approved by the Congress, or any other agency of two or more States having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the control of pollution as determined and approved by the Administrator under the "appropriate Act and regulations.'

Major facility means any RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or 404 "facility or activity" classified as such by the Regional Administrator, or, in the case of "approved State programs," the Regional Administrator in conjunction with the State Director.

NPDES means National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Owner or operator means owner or operator of any "facility or activity" subject to regulation under the RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or 404 programs.

Permit means an authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by EPA or an "approved State" to implement the requirements of this part and parts 122, 123, 144, 145, 233, 270, and 271. "Permit" includes RCRA "permit by rule" (§270.60), UIC area permit (§ 144.33), NPDES or 404 "general permit" (§§ 270.61, 144.34, and 233.38). Permit does not include RCRA interim status (§270.70), UIC authorization by rule (§ 144.21), or any permit which has not yet been the subject of final agency action, such as a "draft permit" or a "proposed permit."

Person means an individual, association, partnership, corporation, municipality, State, Federal, or Tribal agency, or an agency or employee thereof.

RCRA means the Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

(Pub. L. 94-580, as amended by Pub. L. 95-609, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq).

Regional Administrator means the Regional Administrator of the appropriate Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency or the authorized representative of the Regional Administrator.

Schedule of compliance means a schedule of remedial measures included in a "permit," including an enforceable sequence of interim requirements (for example, actions, operations, or milestone events) leading to compliance with the "appropriate Act and regulations."

SDWA means the Safe Drinking Water Act (Pub. L. 95-523, as amended by Pub. L. 95-1900; 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq).

Section 404 program or State 404 program or 404 means an "approved State program" to regulate the "discharge of dredged material" and the "discharge of fill material" under section 404 of the Clean Water Act in "State regulated waters."

Site means the land or water area where any "facility or activity" is physically located or conducted, including adjacent land used in connection with the facility or activity.

State means one of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (except in the case of RCRA), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or an Indian Tribe that meets the statutory criteria which authorize EPA to treat the Tribe in a manner similar to that in which it treats a State (except in the case of RCRA).

State Director means the chief administrative officer of any State, interstate, or Tribal agency operating an approved program, or the delegated representative of the State director. If the responsibility is divided among two or more States, interstate, or Tribal agencies, "State Director" means the chief administrative officer officer of the State, interstate, or Tribal agency authorized to perform the particular procedure or function to which reference is made.

State Director means the chief administrative officer of any State or interstate agency operating an "approved program," or the delegated representative of the state Director. If responsibility is divided among two or more State or interstate agencies, "State Director" means the chief administrative officer of the State or interstate agency authorized to perform the particular procedure or function to which reference is made.

UIC means the Underground Injection Control program under Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act, including an "approved program."

Variance (NPDES) means any mechanism or provision under section 301 or 316 of CWA or under 40 CFR part 125, or in the applicable "effluent limitations guidelines" which allows modification to or waiver of the generally applicable effluent limitation requirements or time deadlines of CWA. This includes provisions which allow the establishment of alternative limitations based on fundamentally different factors or on sections 301(c), 301(g), 301(h), 301(i), or 316(a) of CWA.

(b) For the purposes of part 124, the term Director means the State Director or Regional Administrator and is used when the accompanying provision is required of EPA-administered programs and of State programs under §§123.25 (NPDES), 145.11 (UIC), 233.26 (404), and 271.14 (RCRA). The term Regional Administrator is used when the accompanying provision applies exclusively to EPA-issued permits and is not applicable to State programs under these sections. While States are not required to implement these latter provisions, they are not precluded from doing so, notwithstanding use of the term "Regional Administrator."

(c) The term formal hearing means any evidentiary hearing under subpart E or any panel hearing under subpart F but does not mean a public hearing conducted under § 124.12.

[48 FR 14264, Apr. 1, 1983; 48 FR 30115, June 30, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 25981, June 25, 1984; 53 FR 37410, Sept. 26, 1988; 54 FR 18785, May 2, 1989; 57 FR 5335, Feb. 13, 1992; 57 FR 60129, Dec. 18, 1992; 58 FR 67983, Dec. 22, 1993; 59 FR 64343, Dec. 14, 1994]

§ 124.3 Application for a permit.

(a) Applicable to State programs, see $$123.25 (NPDES), 145.11 (UIC), 233.26 (404), and 271.14 (RCRA). (1) Any person who requires a permit under the RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or PSD programs shall complete, sign, and submit to the Director an application for each permit required under §§ 270.1 (RCRA), 144.1 (UIC), 40 CFR 52.21 (PSD), and 122.1 (NPDES). Applications are not required for RCRA permits by rule (§270.60), underground injections authorized by rules (§§ 144.21 through 144.26), NPDES general permits (§122.28) and 404 general permits (§ 233.37).

(2) The Director shall not begin the processing of a permit until the applicant has fully complied with the application requirements for that permit. See §§ 270.10, 270.13 (RCRA), 144.31 (UIC), 40 CFR 52.21 (PSD), and 122.21 (NPDES). (3) Permit applications (except for PSD permits) must comply with the signature and certification certification requirements of §§ 122.22 (NPDES), 144.32 (UIC), 233.6 (404), and 270.11 (RCRA).

(b) [Reserved]

(c) The Regional Administrator shall review for completeness every application for an EPA-issued permit. Each application for an EPA-issued permit submitted by a new HWM facility, a new UIC injection well, a major PSD stationary source or major PSD modification, or an NPDES new source or NPDES new discharger should be reviewed for completeness by the Regional Administrator within 30 days of its receipt. Each application for an EPA-issued permit submitted by an existing HWM facility (both Parts A and B of the application), existing injection well or existing NPDES source or sludge-only facility should be reviewed for completeness within 60 days of receipt. Upon completing the review, the Regional Administrator shall notify the applicant in writing whether the application is complete. If the application is incomplete, the Regional Administrator shall list the information necessary to make the application complete. When the application is for an existing HWM facility, an existing UIC injection well or an existing NPDES source or "sludge-only facility" the Regional Administrator shall specify in the notice of deficiency a

date for submitting the necessary information. The Regional Administrator shall notify the applicant that the application is complete upon receiving this information. After the application is completed, the Regional Administrator may request additional information from an applicant but only when necessary to clarify, modify, or supplement previously submitted material. Requests for such additional information will not render an application incomplete.

(d) If an applicant fails or refuses to correct deficiencies in the application, the permit may be denied and appropriate enforcement actions may be taken under the applicable statutory provision including RCRA section 3008, SDWA sections 1423 and 1424, CAA section 167, and CWA sections 308, 309, 402(h), and 402(k).

(e) If the Regional Administrator decides that a site visit is necessary for any reason in conjunction with the processing of an application, he or she shall notify the applicant and a date shall be scheduled.

(f) The effective date of an application is the date on which the Regional Administrator notifies the applicant that the application is complete as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(g) For each application from a major new HWM facility, major new UIC injection well, major NPDES new source, major NPDES new discharger, or a permit to be issued under provisions of §122.28(c), the Regional Administrator shall, no later than the effective date of the application, prepare and mail to the applicant a project decision schedule. (This paragraph does not apply to PSD permits.) The schedule shall specify target dates by which the Regional Administrator intends to:

(1) Prepare a draft permit;

(2) Give public notice;

(3) Complete the public comment period, including any public hearing; (4) Issue a final permit; and

(5) In the case of an NPDES permit, complete any formal proceedings under subpart E or F.

(Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.))

[48 FR 14264, Apr. 1, 1983, as amended at 48 FR 39620, Sept. 1, 1983; 54 FR 18785, May 2, 1989]

§ 124.4 Consolidation of permit processing.

(a)(1) Whenever a facility or activity requires a permit under more than one statute covered by these regulations, processing of two or more applications for those permits may be consolidated. The first step in consolidation is to prepare each draft permit at the same time.

(2) Whenever draft permits are prepared at the same time, the statements of basis (required under § 124.7 for EPAissued permits only) or fact sheets (§ 124.8), administrative records (required under $124.9 for EPA-issued permits only), public comment periods (§ 124.10), and any public hearings (§ 124.12) on those permits should also be consolidated. The final permits may be issued together. They need not be issued together if in the judgment of the Regional Administrator or State Director(s), joint processing would result in unreasonable delay in the issuance of one or more permits.

(b) Whenever an existing facility or activity requires additional permits under one or more of the statutes covered by these regulations, the permitting authority may coordinate the expiration date(s) of the new permit(s) with the expiration date(s) of the existing permit(s) so that all permits expire simultaneously. Processing of the subsequent applications for renewal permits may then be consolidated.

(c) Processing of permit applications under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section may be consolidated as follows:

(1) The Director may consolidate permit processing at his or her discretion

whenever a facility or activity requires all permits either from EPA or from an approved State.

(2) The Regional Administrator and the State Director(s) may agree to consolidate draft permits whenever a facility or activity requires permits from both EPA and an approved State.

(3) Permit applicants may recommend whether or not the processing of their applications should be consolidated.

(d) Whenever permit processing is consolidated and the Regional Administrator invokes the "initial licensing" provisions of subpart F for an NPDES, RCRA, or UIC permit, any permit(s) with which that NPDES, RCRA or UIC permit was consolidated shall likewise be processed under subpart F.

(e) Except with the written consent of the permit applicant, the Regional Administrator shall not consolidate processing a PSD permit with any other permit under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section or process a PSD permit under subpart F as provided in paragraph (d) of this section when to do so would delay issuance of the PSD permit more than one year from the effective date of the application under § 124.3(f).

§ 124.5 Modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination of permits.

(a) (Applicable to State programs, see §§ 123.25 (NPDES), 145.11 (UIC), 233.26 (404), and 271.14 (RCRA)). Permits (other than PSD permits) may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated either at the request of any interested person (including the permittee) or upon the Director's initiative. However, permits may only be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for the reasons specified in § 122.62 or §122.64 (NPDES), 144.39 or 144.40 (UIC), 233.14 or 233.15 (404), and 270.41 or 270.43 (RCRA). All requests shall be in writing and shall contain facts or reasons supporting the request.

(b) If the Director decides the request is not justified, he or she shall send the requester a brief written response giving a reason for the decision. Denials of requests for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination are not subject to public notice, comment, or

hearings. Denials by the Regional Administrator may be informally appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board by a letter briefly setting forth the relevant facts. The Environmental Appeals Board may direct the Regional Administrator to begin modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination proceedings under paragraph (c) of this section. The appeal shall be considered denied if the Environmental Appeals Board takes no action on the letter within 60 days after receiving it. This informal appeal is, under 5 U.S.C. 704, a prerequisite to seeking judicial review of EPA action in denying a request for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination.

(c) (Applicable to State programs, see §§ 123.25 (NPDES), 145.11 (UIC), 233.26 (404), and 271.14 (RCRA)). (1) If the Director tentatively decides to modify or revoke and reissue a permit under §§ 122.62 (NPDES), 144.39 (UIC), 233.14 (404), or 270.41 or 270.42(c) (RCRA), he or she shall prepare a draft permit under § 124.6 incorporating the proposed changes. The Director may request additional information and, in the case of a modified permit, may require the submission of an updated application. In the case of revoked and reissued permits, the Director shall require the submission of a new application.

(2) In a permit modification under this section, only those conditions to be modified shall be reopened when a new draft permit is prepared. All other aspects of the existing permit shall remain in effect for the duration of the unmodified permit. When a permit is revoked and reissued under this section, the entire permit is reopened just as if the permit had expired and was being reissued. During any revocation and reissuance proceeding the permittee shall comply with all conditions of the existing permit until a new final permit is reissued.

(3) "Minor modifications" as defined in §§ 122.63 (NPDES), 144.41 (UIC), and 233.16 (404), and "Classes 1 and 2 modifications" as defined in §270.42 (a) and (b) (RCRA) are not subject to the requirements of this section.

(d) (Applicable to State programs, see §§ 123.25 (NPDES), 145.11 (UIC), 233.26 (404), and 271.14 (RCRA)). If the Director tentatively decides to terminate a

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