40 CFR 300 - NATIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN

EPA is taking direct final action to amend the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), to acknowledge advancements in technologies used to manage and convey information to the public. Specifically, this revision will add language to EPA regulations to broaden the technology, to include computer telecommunications or other electronic means, that the lead agency is permitted to use to make the administrative record file available to the public. By updating the language used to describe permitted technology, the lead agency will be able to serve the information needs of a broader population, while maintaining the ability to provide traditional means of public access to the administrative record file, such as paper copies and microform. The lead agency should assess the capacity and resources of the public to utilize and maintain an electronic- or computer telecommunications-based repository to make a decision on which approach suits a specific site.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 is publishing a Direct Final Notice of Deletion of the Isle Royale Tailings and Michigan Smelter Tailing parcels of Operable Unit 3 (OU3), and the Mason Sands Tailings parcel of Operable Unit 1 (OU1) of the Torch Lake Superfund Site (Site), located in Houghton County, Michigan from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final partial deletion is being published by EPA, with the concurrence of the State of Michigan through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA at these identified parcels have been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. This partial deletion pertains to the surface tailings, drums, and slag piles of Isle Royale Tailings and Michigan Smelter Tailings parcels of OU3 and the Mason Sands Tailings parcel of OU1. The following land parcels will remain on the NPL and are not being considered for deletion as part of this action: Dollar Bay, Point Mills, Calumet Lake Tailing, Boston Pond Tailing, North Entry and Quincy Smelter.

On August 20, 2012 EPA published a Notice of Intent to Delete and a direct final Notice of Deletion for the Hooker (Hyde Park) Superfund Site from the National Priorities List. The EPA is withdrawing the Final Notice of Deletion due to adverse comments that were received during the public comment period. After consideration of the comments received, if appropriate, EPA will publish a Notice of Deletion in the Federal Register based on the parallel Notice of Intent to Delete and place a copy of the final deletion package, including a Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, in the Site repositories.

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 announces the deletion of the New Hanover County Airport Burn Pit Superfund Site (Site) located in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). EPA and the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA” or “the Act”), as amended, requires that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (“NCP”) include a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States. The National Priorities List (“NPL”) constitutes this list. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the Environmental Protection Agency (“the EPA” or “the agency”) in determining which sites warrant further investigation. These further investigations will allow the EPA to assess the nature and extent of public health and environmental risks associated with the site and to determine what CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be appropriate. This rule adds 12 sites to the General Superfund Section of the NPL.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is publishing a direct final Notice of Partial Deletion for portions of the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site (Site), located in Corinna, Maine, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final partial deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Maine, through the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions at these identified parcels under CERCLA, other than five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. This partial deletion pertains to all Site media (soil and groundwater) of the properties proposed for deletion.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 is publishing a direct final Notice of Deletion of the Fort Dix Landfill Superfund Site (Site), located in Pemberton Township, New Jersey, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of New Jersey, through the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

On August 20, 2012 EPA published a Notice of Intent to Delete and a direct final Notice of Deletion for the Hooker (Hyde Park) Superfund Site from the National Priorities List. The EPA is withdrawing the Final Notice of Deletion due to adverse comments that were received during the public comment period. After consideration of the comments received, if appropriate, EPA will publish a Notice of Deletion in the Federal Register based on the parallel Notice of Intent to Delete and place a copy of the final deletion package, including a Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, in the Site repositories.

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 announces the deletion of the New Hanover County Airport Burn Pit Superfund Site (Site) located in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). EPA and the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

This Notice provides an opportunity to comment on the EPA's revised Hazard Ranking System (HRS) scoring for the Leeds Metal site in Leeds, Maine. The site was proposed to the National Priorities List (NPL) on September 16, 2011.