(a) Delaware 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 Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, was approved by EPA pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 6991c and 40 CFR part 281 of this chapter. EPA approved the Delaware underground storage tank program on September 27, 1996, and approval was effective on October 28, 1996. A subsequent program revision application was approved by EPA and became effective on September 12, 2022.

(b) Delaware 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, Delaware 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 Delaware 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) Delaware has final approval for the following elements of its program application originally submitted to EPA and approved on September 27, 1996, and effective October 28, 1996, and the program revision application approved by EPA, effective on September 12, 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 Delaware’s regulations and statutes that are incorporated by reference in this paragraph from DNREC Tanks Compliance Branch, 391 Lukens Sr. New Castle, DE 19720 or DNREC W&HS Compliance and Permitting Section, Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

(A) Delaware Statutory Requirements Applicable to the Underground Storage Tank Program, July 2019.

(B) Delaware Regulatory Requirements Applicable to the Underground Storage Tank Program, February 2021.

(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) Delaware Code, Title 7, Chapter 60, Sections: 6005; 6008; 6009; 6014; 6017; 6018; 6024.

(2) Delaware Code, Title 7, Chapter 74, Sections: 7406(e)(1)-(3), (f)-(j); 7408; 7411; 7412; 7419.

(3) Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 100, Sections: 10001-10007.

(B) The regulatory provisions include:

(1) Delaware Administrative Code, Title 7, Chapter 1351, Sections A-1.4; A-1.6; A-7.0; A-8.1.1; A-8.1.2; A-8.1.4; A-9.0; E-3.1.

(2) Delaware Rules of Court, Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, Del. Super. Ct. Civ. Rule 24 Intervention; Court of Chancery Rules, Del. Ct. Ch. Rule 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) Delaware Code, Title 7, Chapter 74 Underground Storage Tank Act, Sections: 7401 insofar as regulates persons who are not owners or operators; 7402 definition of “responsible party” insofar as regulates persons who are not owners or operators of USTs; 7404 insofar as regulates agricultural and residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes and tanks containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; 7405(a)(2) and (3) insofar as requires registration of tanks containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; 7406(a) through introductory paragraph of (e) insofar as regulates persons who are not owners or operators of USTs; 7409(c) insofar as requires registration fees; 7418; 7425(a), (b), (d), and (e); 7425(c) insofar as the use of certified individuals is required for activities other than installation and insofar as establishes a certification program.

(B) Delaware Administrative Code, Title 7, Chapter 1351 Underground Storage Tank Systems, Sections: A-1.2.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators, and insofar as regulates agricultural/farm and residential UST systems of 1,100 gallons or less used for storing motor fuels for non-commercial purposes, UST systems containing heating fuel of 1,100 gallons or less for consumptive use on the premises where stored, UST systems holding hazardous wastes listed or identified under Subtitle C of the SWDA or a mixture of such hazardous waste and other regulated substances, wastewater treatment tank systems that are part of a wastewater treatment facility regulated under Section 402 or 307(b) of the Clean Water Act, equipment and machinery containing regulated substances for operational purposes such as hydraulic lift tanks and electrical equipment tanks, UST systems with a capacity of 110 gallons or less, any emergency spill or overflow containment system expeditiously emptied after use, and insofar as provides no exception for USTs containing de minimis amounts of regulated substances; A-2.0 definition of “consumptive use” insofar as the term is limited to activities that do not result in monetary gain, “regulated substance” insofar as includes substances not regulated under the Federal program, and “responsible party” insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; A-3.1.10; A-3.3.8; A-4.1.4 insofar as requires fees; A-4.2; A-4.5.2 and -4.6.2 insofar as regulates USTs containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; A-4.7.1 and .2 insofar as requires Delaware to approve or deny construction work within fourteen days of receipt of notification form and construction plans; A-4.9.1 insofar as requires the posting of permits at the UST/construction site; A-10.1.1 insofar as regulates USTs containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; A-11.0 insofar as requires the presence of a certified individual for activities other than installation and insofar as regulates USTs containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; A-12.0 insofar as regulates USTs containing heating fuel for consumptive use on the premises where stored; B-1.1.8; B-1.3.2.4; B-1.21.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-1.22.1 and .2 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-1.29.7.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-2.1.8; B-2.22.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-2.23.1 and .2 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-2.30.7.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; B-4.2.1.3; B-5.2.1.3; Part C; D-1.3.2.4; D-1.21.1 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; D-1.22.1 and .2 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; D-3.2.1.3; D-4.2.1.3; E-1.2, -1.3, -2.1, -2.2, and -2.4 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; E-2.3.1 and -2.4.1.1 insofar as regulates consumptive use heating fuel UST systems for use on the premises; E-3.2, -3.3, -4.0, -5.0, and -6.0 insofar as regulates persons other than owners or operators; E-6.2.3 insofar as regulates consumptive use heating fuel UST systems for use on the premises; E-7.0; Part G; H-1.1.2.2 insofar as regulates consumptive use heating fuel UST systems for use on the premises; I-1.1.2.2 insofar as regulates consumptive use heating fuel UST systems for use on the premises.

(2) Statement of legal authority. “Attorney General’s Statement” signed by the Attorney General on October 12, 2021, 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 22, 2021, 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 22, 2021, 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 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, signed by the EPA Regional Administrator on March 22, 2019, 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 42094, July 14, 2022]