(a) The District of Columbia is approved to administer and enforce an underground storage tank program in lieu of the Federal program under Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq. The State's program, as administered by the District of Columbia's Department of Energy and Environment's predecessor agency, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, was approved by EPA pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6991c and 40 CFR part 281 of this chapter. EPA approved the District of Columbia underground storage tank program on July 9, 1997, and approval was effective on May 4, 1998. A subsequent program revision application was approved by EPA and became effective on March 28, 2022.
(b) The District of Columbia has primary responsibility for administering and enforcing its federally-approved underground storage tank program. However, EPA retains the authority to exercise its inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991d and 6991e, regardless of whether the State has taken its own actions, as well as under any other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.
(c) To retain program approval, the District of Columbia must revise its approved program to adopt new changes to the Federal Subtitle I program which makes it more stringent, in accordance with Section 9004 of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991c, and 40 CFR part 281, subpart E. If the District of Columbia obtains approval for the revised requirements pursuant to section 9004 of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991c, the newly approved statutory and regulatory provisions will be added to this subpart and notice of any change will be published in the Federal Register.
(d) The District of Columbia has final approval for the following elements of its program application originally submitted to EPA and approved on July 9, 1997, and effective May 4, 1998, and the program revision application approved by EPA, effective on March 28, 2022.
(1) State statutes and regulations -
(i) Incorporation by reference. The provisions cited in this paragraph, and listed in Appendix A to Part 282, with the exception of the provisions cited in paragraphs (d)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section, are incorporated by reference as part of the approved underground storage tank program in accordance with Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain copies of the District of Columbia's regulations and statutes that are incorporated by reference in this paragraph from District of Columbia's Underground Storage Tank Branch, Toxic Substances Division, Department of Energy and Environment, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Fl., Washington DC 20002 (phone number 202-535-2326). You may inspect all approved material at the EPA Region 3 office, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 (phone number 215-814-3348) or the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of the material at NARA, email [email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
(A) “District of Columbia Statutory Requirements Applicable to the Underground Storage Tank Program,” March 1991.
(B) “District of Columbia Regulatory Requirements Applicable to the Underground Storage Tank Program,” February 2020.
(ii) Legal basis. EPA evaluated the following statutes and regulations, which are part of the approved program, but which are not being incorporated by reference for enforcement purposes, and do not replace Federal authorities:
(A) The statutory provisions include:
(1) Code of the District of Columbia, Division I, Title 8, Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter VII, Underground Storage Tank Management Act, Sections: 8-113-04; 8-113.06(a); 8-113.07; 8-113.08; 8-113.09; 8-113.10; 8-113.12.
(2) Code of the District of Columbia, Division I, Title 8, Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter II, Water Pollution Control, Sections: 8-103.10(c); 8-103.20.
(3) Code of the District of Columbia, Division I, Title 8, Subtitle A, Chapter 1A, Subchapter I, General, Sections: 8-151.07; 8-151.08(6).
(B) The regulatory provisions include:
(1) District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 20, Chapters 55-67 and 70, Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Sections: 5501.1 as to regulated substance delivery person or company; 5601.7; 5800.3; 6300-6302; 6600-6605, including 6602.7 (Delivery Prohibition).
(2) District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 16, Consumers, Commercial Practices, & Civil Infractions - Chapters 32 and 40; Chapter 32, Section 3201; Chapter 40, Section 4008.
(3) District of Columbia State Rules - Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure - IV. Parties, Super. Ct. Civ. R. 24 - Intervention.
(iii) Provisions not incorporated by reference. The following statutory and regulatory provisions are “broader in scope” than the Federal program, are not part of the approved program, and are not incorporated by reference herein. These provisions are not federally enforceable:
(A) Code of the District of Columbia, Division I, Title 8, Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter VII, Underground Storage Tank Management, Sections: 8-113.01(7)(C) and (9)(A)(ii)-(v); 8-113.02(f) and (g) insofar as (g) includes persons who are not owners or operators of underground storage tanks; 8-113.03(a) insofar as includes persons who are not owners or operators of underground storage tanks; 8-113.06(b)-(d) as to fees.
(B) District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 20, Chapters 55-67 and 70, Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Sections: 5500.1(c)-(d); 5500.2; 5501.1 as to persons who are not owners or operators of underground storage tanks; 5503.1-.2 insofar as regulates tanks that store heating oil for use on the premises where stored; 5504; 5600.1(b); 5601.1 insofar as regulates tanks that store heating oil for use on the premises where stored; 5601.2-.3 insofar as requires payment of fees; 5603.5 insofar as requires permits; 5604 insofar as includes persons who are not owners or operators of underground storage tanks, 5604.3-.4; 5605; 5606; 5700.4, .7, and .8(b); 5703; 5706.1 insofar as requires compliance with District fire code; 5900.1-.3, .7, as to “agent in charge,” .10 as to “responsible party; 5904.5; 6003.4; 6100.4; 6202.2; 6210.8 insofar as requires permits; 6212; 6500.1-.4, .6-.10; 6501; 7099.1 as to the definitions of “agent in charge,” “authorized agent,” “voluntary remediating party,” and “voluntary remediation,” and the definitions of “real property owner” and “responsible party” insofar as each definition includes persons who are not owners or operators of underground storage tanks.
(2) Statement of legal authority. “Attorney General's Statement” signed by the Attorney General on September 18, 2020, though not incorporated by reference, is referenced as part of the approved underground storage tank program under Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.
(3) Demonstration of procedures for adequate enforcement. The “Demonstration of Adequate Enforcement Procedures” submitted as part of the program revision application for approval on November 12, 2020, though not incorporated by reference, is referenced as part of the approved underground storage tank program under Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.
(4) Program description. The program description and any other material submitted as part of the program revision application for approval on November 12, 2020, though not incorporated by reference, are referenced as part of the approved underground storage tank program under Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.
(5) Memorandum of Agreement. The Memorandum of Agreement between EPA Region 3 and the District of Columbia Department of Energy and the Environment, signed by the EPA Regional Administrator on November 25, 2018, though not incorporated by reference, is referenced as part of the approved underground storage tank program under Subtitle I of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.
[87 FR 4164, Jan. 27, 2022]