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ADEM hearing outlines proposed rule changes to align state hazardous-waste code with recent federal updates
Summary
At an Oct. 7 public hearing, ADEM staff described proposed revisions intended to align Alabama administrative rules with several federal rule changes, including a solar-waste rule and new management requirements for certain hydrofluorocarbons. Staff said the revisions aim to allow EPA primacy over hazardous-waste implementation in the state.
Tom Burks, designated hearing officer for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, opened the Oct. 7 hearing and said the session’s subject was proposed revisions to the administrative code cited in the hearing notice. "The subject of this hearing is to propose revisions to Alabama, to A and M Administrative Code Division 3 35 dash 14," Burks said as he opened the record.
Austin Pierce, chief of the Engineering Services Section in ADEM’s Land Division, summarized the substantive changes motivating the proposed rule revisions. Pierce said the department is considering seven codified and revised federal rules so the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may obtain primacy over implementation of the Hazardous Waste Program in Alabama. He listed examples by date and topic, including a solar-waste rule published in the Federal Register on Dec. 11, 2024, and new management requirements for certain hydrofluorocarbons under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (Federal Register, Oct. 11, 2024). Pierce also cited plans to integrate e-Manifest adjustments related to hazardous-waste exports and manifest-related reporting.
Pierce said the department welcomes technical comments and will consider them before making a final decision about revising the regulations. "The purpose of today's hearing is to provide an opportunity to receive public comment regarding the revisions as noted," he said. He added that the department will provide a response to each comment and to those requesting specific notice of the decision.
The hearing record will include the transcript, written submissions, exhibits and the department’s responses. ADEM staff said any technical or substantive corrections raised during public comment will be considered before a final rule is drafted for the Environmental Management Commission’s consideration.
