[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 40, Volume 19] [Revised as of July 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 40CFR124.19] [Page 285-287] TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) PART 124--PROCEDURES FOR DECISIONMAKING--Table of Contents Subpart A--General Program Requirements Sec. 124.19 Appeal of RCRA, UIC, NPDES, and PSD Permits. (a) Within 30 days after a RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or PSD final permit decision (or a decision under 270.29 of this chapter to deny a permit for the active life of a RCRA hazardous waste management facility or unit) has been issued under Sec. 124.15 of this part, any person who filed comments on that draft permit or participated in the public hearing may petition the Environmental Appeals Board to review any condition of the permit decision. Persons affected by an NPDES general permit may not file a petition under this section or otherwise challenge the conditions of the general permit in further Agency proceedings. They may, instead, either challenge the general permit in court, or apply for an individual NPDES permit under Sec. 122.21 as authorized in Sec. 122.28 and then petition the Board for review as provided by this section. As provided in Sec. 122.28(b)(3), any interested person may also petition the Director to require an individual NPDES permit for any discharger eligible for authorization to discharge under an NPDES general permit. Any person who failed to file comments or failed to participate in the public hearing on the draft permit may petition for administrative review only to the extent of the changes from the draft to the final permit decision. The 30-day period within which a person may request review [[Page 286]] under this section begins with the service of notice of the Regional Administrator's action unless a later date is specified in that notice. The petition shall include a statement of the reasons supporting that review, including a demonstration that any issues being raised were raised during the public comment period (including any public hearing) to the extent required by these regulations and when appropriate, a showing that the condition in question is based on: (1) A finding of fact or conclusion of law which is clearly erroneous, or (2) An exercise of discretion or an important policy consideration which the Environmental Appeals Board should, in its discretion, review. (b) The Environmental Appeals Board may also decide on its own initiative to review any condition of any RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or PSD permit decision issued under this part for which review is available under paragraph (a) of this section. The Environmental Appeals Board must act under this paragraph within 30 days of the service date of notice of the Regional Administrator's action. (c) Within a reasonable time following the filing of the petition for review, the Environmental Appeals Board shall issue an order granting or denying the petition for review. To the extent review is denied, the conditions of the final permit decision become final agency action. Public notice of any grant of review by the Environmental Appeals Board under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section shall be given as provided in Sec. 124.10. Public notice shall set forth a briefing schedule for the appeal and shall state that any interested person may file an amicus brief. Notice of denial of review shall be sent only to the person(s) requesting review. (d) The Regional Administrator, at any time prior to the rendering of a decision under paragraph (c) of this section to grant or deny review of a permit decision, may, upon notification to the Board and any interested parties, withdraw the permit and prepare a new draft permit under Sec. 124.6 addressing the portions so withdrawn. The new draft permit shall proceed through the same process of public comment and opportunity for a public hearing as would apply to any other draft permit subject to this part. Any portions of the permit which are not withdrawn and which are not stayed under Sec. 124.16(a) continue to apply. (e) A petition to the Environmental Appeals Board under paragraph (a) of this section is, under 5 U.S.C. 704, a prerequisite to the seeking of judicial review of the final agency action. (f)(1) For purposes of judicial review under the appropriate Act, final agency action occurs when a final RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or PSD permit decision is issued by EPA and agency review procedures under this section are exhausted. A final permit decision shall be issued by the Regional Administrator: (i) When the Environmental Appeals Board issues notice to the parties that review has been denied; (ii) When the Environmental Appeals Board issues a decision on the merits of the appeal and the decision does not include a remand of the proceedings; or (iii) Upon the completion of remand proceedings if the proceedings are remanded, unless the Environmental Appeals Board's remand order specifically provides that appeal of the remand decision will be required to exhaust administrative remedies. (2) Notice of any final agency action regarding a PSD permit shall promptly be published in the Federal Register. (g) Motions to reconsider a final order shall be filed within ten (10) days after service of the final order. Every such motion must set forth the matters claimed to have been erroneously decided and the nature of the alleged errors. Motions for reconsideration under this provision shall be directed to, and decided by, the Environmental Appeals Board. Motions for reconsideration directed to the administrator, rather than to the Environmental Appeals Board, will not be considered, except in cases that the Environmental Appeals Board has referred to the Administrator pursuant to Sec. 124.2 and in which the Administrator has issued the final order. A motion for reconsideration shall not stay the effective date of the final order unless specifically so [[Page 287]] ordered by the Environmental Appeals Board. [48 FR 14264, Apr. 1, 1983, as amended at 54 FR 9607, Mar. 7, 1989; 57 FR 5335, Feb. 13, 1992; 65 FR 30911, May 15, 2000]