[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 22]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR255.10]

[Page 350-351]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 255--IDENTIFICATION OF REGIONS AND AGENCIES FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT--
Table of Contents
 
        Subpart B--Criteria for Identifying Regions and Agencies
 
Sec. 255.10  Criteria for identifying regions.


    The following criteria are to assist in identifying regions pursuant 
to section 4006(a) of the Act.
    (a) Geographic areas which have a history of cooperating to solve 
problems in environmental or other related matters should be considered.
    (1) Regions encompassing existing regional, including countywide, 
systems or institutions, including those of the

[[Page 351]]

private sector, should be evaluated. Changes in their boundaries may be 
needed for economic viability or other reasons in keeping with the State 
plan.
    (2) Boundary selection which would require the creation of new 
agencies should be considered only where necessary. The relationship 
among established agencies should be considered. Where institutional 
gaps or inadequacies are found, regions should be identified keeping in 
mind which agencies would be able to fill those needs.
    (b) The size and location of regions should permit resource recovery 
and conservation in accordance with the objectives in section 4001 of 
the Act.
    (1) A region's size and configuration should be considered, weighing 
transportation costs against economies of scale.
    (2) Left-over regions having inadequate resources or volumes of 
waste should be avoided.
    (3) Location should be considered relative to available 
transportation and to markets for recovered resources.
    (c) The volume of wastes within a region will influence the 
technology choices for recovery and disposal, determine economies of 
scale, and affect marketability of resources recovered. A region should 
include sufficient volume of waste to support the goals and objectives 
of the State plan, including materials or energy recovery as 
appropriate.
    (d) Waste type should be considered since it also affects management 
options. Industrial or hazardous waste streams may warrant special 
consideration or special boundaries.
    (e) The effect of geologic and hydrologic conditions, such as soil 
suitability, land availability, natural barriers (rivers and mountains), 
the quantity and availability of water resources, and the susceptibility 
of ground water to contamination should be considered. Aquifer 
protection in accordance with State water quality management plans and 
policies could influence boundary selection.
    (f) Coordination with ongoing planning for other purposes may be an 
influence in selecting boundaries.
    (1) The local and regional planning process should be integrated 
into the State planning process.
    (2) Use of a common data base should be encouraged among 
transportation, land use, and other planning areas.
    (3) To the extent practicable, coterminous planning regions should 
be encouraged, and larger regions should be multiples of whole smaller 
regions.
    (4) Coordination should be provided with those agencies designated 
for water quality management planning under section 208 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act, with underground injection control agencies 
designated in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, and with air 
quality planning agencies designated under the Clean Air Act.

(Sec. 4002(a), Pub. L. 94-580, 90 Stat. 2795 (42 U.S.C. 6942))