Sec. 22a-454. (Formerly Sec. 25-54hh). Permit for collection, storage or treatment, containment, removal or disposal of certain substances, materials or wastes: Suspension or revocation. Prohibition of disposal of certain hazardous wastes in a land disposal facility. Status changes.

(a) No person shall engage in the business of collecting, storing or treating waste oil or petroleum or chemical liquids or hazardous wastes or of acting as a contractor to contain or remove or otherwise mitigate the effects of discharge, spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of such substance or material or waste nor shall any person, municipality or regional authority dispose of waste oil or petroleum or chemical liquids or waste solid, liquid or gaseous products or hazardous wastes without a permit from the commissioner. Such permit shall be in writing, shall contain such terms and conditions as the commissioner deems necessary and shall be valid for a fixed term not to exceed five years. No permit shall be granted, renewed or transferred unless the commissioner is satisfied that the activities of the permittee will not result in pollution, contamination, emergency or a violation of any regulation adopted under sections 22a-30, 22a-39, 22a-116, 22a-347, 22a-377, 22a-430, 22a-449, 22a-451 and 22a-462. The commissioner shall require payment of a fee of six hundred twenty-five dollars per year for each year covered by a permit to transport hazardous waste and the payment of a fee of fourteen thousand two hundred fifty dollars for a permit to treat waste oil or petroleum or chemical liquids. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to prescribe the amount of the fees required pursuant to this section. Upon the adoption of such regulations, the fees required by this section shall be as prescribed in such regulations. The commissioner may suspend or revoke a permit for violation of any term or condition of the permit, for conviction of a violation of section 22a-131a or for assessment of a fine under section 22a-131. The commissioner may conduct a program of study and research and demonstration, relating to new and improved methods of waste oil and petroleum or chemical liquids or waste solid, liquid or gaseous products or hazardous wastes disposal. For the purposes of this section, collecting, storing, or treating of waste oil, petroleum or chemical liquids or hazardous waste shall mean such activities when engaged in by a person whose principal business is the management of such wastes.

(b) No person may dispose of any hazardous waste in a hazardous waste land disposal facility except the following: (1) Metal hydroxide sludge generated from the treatment of electroplating or metal finishing operation waste waters or any other metal hydroxide sludge approved by the commissioner; (2) hazardous waste sludge or residue resulting from an operation determined by the commissioner to be a recycling operation and which has received the required approvals from the commissioner and the Connecticut Siting Council, provided the commissioner determines that such residue cannot reasonably be incinerated or otherwise managed; and (3) hazardous waste spills, fly ash, residue from waste-to-energy facilities or municipal wastewater treatment sludge that has been determined to be hazardous waste but approved for such disposal by the commissioner. As used in this subsection, “hazardous waste” has the same meaning as in section 22a-115 and “hazardous waste land disposal facility” means a facility or part of a facility where hazardous waste is applied onto, placed within or beneath the soil surface and remains after closure of the facility. The prohibition established by this subsection shall not continue after July 1, 1991, unless renewed by the General Assembly. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any restrictions on the land disposal of hazardous waste imposed by the commissioner pursuant to this subsection shall be as stringent as those imposed under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 USC 6901 et seq.), as amended.

(c) No person shall engage in the business of the transfer of hazardous waste from one vehicle to another or from one mode of transportation to another without a permit from the commissioner issued under subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The commissioner shall require the payment of the following fees for permits under this section: (1) Forty-five thousand two hundred fifty dollars to operate a hazardous waste landfill or incinerator; (2) twenty-one thousand two hundred fifty dollars to store or treat hazardous waste; (3) ten thousand seven hundred fifty dollars to engage in the transfer of hazardous waste as described in subsection (c) of this section if the hazardous waste is transferred from its original container to another container; and (4) four thousand dollars to engage in the transfer of hazardous waste as described in subsection (c) of this section if the hazardous waste remains in the original container. The commissioner shall also charge a fee of two hundred dollars for each hazardous waste treatment, disposal or storage facility which submits an application for a status change to a generator. The commissioner shall charge a fee of one hundred dollars for each hazardous waste large quantity generator which submits an application for status change to a small generator.

(e) (1) The commissioner may issue a general permit for a category of activities which require a permit under subsection (a) of this section or license under subsection (b) of section 22a-449, except for an activity for which an individual permit has already been obtained provided the issuance of the general permit is not inconsistent with the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Any person or municipality conducting an activity for which a general permit has been issued shall not be required to obtain an individual permit under subsection (a) of this section, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection. The general permit may regulate a category of activities which: (A) Involve the same or substantially similar types of operations; (B) involve the collection, storage, treatment or disposal of the same types of substances; (C) require the same operating conditions or standards; and (D) require the same or similar monitoring, and which in the opinion of the commissioner are more appropriately controlled under a general permit than under an individual permit. The general permit may require any person or municipality proposing to conduct any activity under the general permit to register such activity with the commissioner before it is covered by the general permit. Registration shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner.

(2) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, or any regulations adopted thereunder, or of chapter 54, the following procedures shall apply to the issuance, renewal, modification, revocation or suspension of a general permit: (A) A general permit shall be issued for a term specified by the permit and shall clearly define the activity covered thereby and may include such conditions and requirements as the commissioner deems appropriate, including but not limited to operation and maintenance requirements, management practices, and reporting requirements; (B) the commissioner shall publish notice of intent to issue a general permit in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the affected area; (C) there shall be a comment period of thirty days following publication of such notice during which interested persons may submit written comments to the commissioner; (D) the commissioner shall publish notice of the issuance or decision not to issue a general permit in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the affected area. The commissioner may revoke, suspend or modify a general permit in accordance with the notice and comment procedures for issuance of a general permit specified in this subsection. Any person may request that the commissioner issue, modify, suspend or revoke a general permit in accordance with this subsection; and (E) summary suspension may be ordered in accordance with subsection (c) of section 4-182.

(3) Subsequent to the issuance of a general permit, the commissioner may require any person or municipality whose activity is or may be covered by the general permit to apply for and obtain an individual permit pursuant to subsection (a) of this section if he determines that an individual permit would better protect the land, air and waters of the state from pollution. The commissioner may require an individual permit under this subdivision in cases including, but not limited to the following: (A) When the owner or operator is not in compliance with the conditions of the general permit; (B) when a change has occurred in the availability of demonstrated technology or practices for the control or abatement of pollution applicable to the activity; (C) when circumstances have changed since the time of the issuance of the general permit so that the activity is no longer appropriately controlled under the general permit, or either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the authorized activity is necessary; or (D) when a relevant change has occurred in the applicability of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In making the determination to require an individual permit, the commissioner may consider the location, character, and size of the activity, and any other relevant factors. The commissioner may require an individual permit under this subdivision only if the affected person or municipality covered by the general permit has been notified in writing that a permit application is required. This notice shall include a brief statement of the reasons for this decision, an application form, a statement setting a time for the person or municipality to file the application, and a statement that on the effective date of the individual permit the general permit as it applies to the individual permittee shall automatically terminate. The commissioner may grant an extension of time upon the request of the applicant. If the affected person or municipality does not submit a complete application for an individual permit within the time frame set forth in the commissioner's notice or as extended by the commissioner in writing, then the general permit as it applies to the affected person or municipality shall automatically terminate. The applicant shall use his best efforts to obtain the individual permit. Any interested person or municipality may petition the commissioner to take action under this subdivision.

(4) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this subsection.

(1969, P.A. 765, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 107; 1972, P.A. 237, S. 1; P.A. 73-265, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-605, S. 8, 17; P.A. 82-151, S. 2; P.A. 84-115; 84-535, S. 1; P.A. 85-342, S. 1; 85-568, S. 1; P.A. 86-219, S. 1, 3; P.A. 87-150; 87-226, S. 1, 2; 87-531, S. 5; P.A. 90-231, S. 6, 28; P.A. 91-251, S. 2, 4; 91-313, S. 2, 5; 91-369, S. 18, 36; P.A. 94-205, S. 5; P.A. 96-145, S. 4; 96-163, S. 7; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 136; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 433.)

History: 1971 act replaced references to water resources commission with references to environmental protection commissioner; 1972 act prohibited “acting as a contractor to contain or remove spills of such material” without permit and added other references to containment and removal and contracting for such services; P.A. 73-265 reworded provision re charge for permit to allow charge of less than $5, substituting “not to exceed” $5 for “of” $5, deleted provision re commissioner's duty to consult with and advise persons in the business of disposal of pollutants as to best methods of doing so and made program of study and research optional rather than mandatory, substituting “may” for “shall”; P.A. 79-605 clarified provisions, adding references to hazardous wastes, “solid, liquid or gaseous” products, etc., required municipalities and regional authorities to obtain permits and deleted provision re fee for permit; P.A. 82-151 amended section to require permits for the storage and treatment of waste oil, made permit valid for maximum of five years rather than one year, authorized suspension or revocation of a permit upon violation of a term or condition and specified meaning of collecting, storing or treating of applicable substances for purposes of section; Sec. 25-54hh transferred to Sec. 22a-454 in 1983; P.A. 84-115 added Subsec. (b) prohibiting the disposal of certain hazardous wastes in land disposal facilities; P.A. 84-535 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions authorizing the commissioner of environmental protection to consider an applicant's compliance history when granting or renewing certain hazardous waste permits and expanded the class of persons requiring a permit to include persons who manage waste oil, petroleum or chemical liquids or hazardous waste during the course of their business and amended Subsec. (b) by adding a provision terminating the ban on the disposal of hazardous waste in a land disposal facility as of July 1, 1986; P.A. 85-342 added Subsec. (a)(2) re denial of a permit for a criminal conviction of violating environmental law; P.A. 85-568 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by deleting provision that sludge be from residue derived from an “in-state” operation; P.A. 86-219 amended Subsec. (b) by extending the ban on the disposal of hazardous waste in a landfill from July 1, 1986, to July 1, 1987; P.A. 87-150 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring persons whose principal business is the management of hazardous waste to obtain a permit rather than all persons who manage hazardous waste; P.A. 87-226 amended Subsec. (b) by adding proviso to Subdiv. (2) that the commissioner determines that the residue cannot be incinerated and adding to Subdiv. (3) residue from waste-to-energy facilities, by adding provisions regarding the stringency of restrictions on the land disposal of hazardous waste imposed by the commissioner and by extending prohibition of the disposal of metal hydroxide sludge from July 1, 1987 to July 1, 1991; P.A. 87-531 applied provisions to transfer of permits; P.A. 90-231 amended Subsec. (a) to require the payment of fees for permits issued pursuant to said Subsec. and provided that on and after July 1, 1993, the fees shall be prescribed by regulations and added Subsec. (c) re the payment of fees with certain applications; P.A. 91-251 added Subsec. (d), relettered as (e) because of subsequent amendment, concerning general permits for certain categories of activities; P.A. 91-313 inserted new Subsec. (c) concerning transfer of hazardous waste and changed subsequent Subsec. designator accordingly; P.A. 91-369 amended section to specify in Subsec. (a) the amount required for a fee to transport hazardous waste, to move the fees for operating a hazardous waste landfill and for storing or treating hazardous waste from Subsec. (a) to Subsec. (c) and to restate commissioner's authority to adopt regulations setting the fees required by this section; P.A. 94-205 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions re review of permit applicant's compliance history; P.A. 96-145 amended Subsec. (e) to authorize a general permit for certain activities associated with oil terminals; P.A. 96-163 amended Subsec. (d) to delete a provision re setting of fees by regulation and provided fees for a permit to transfer hazardous waste; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (d) to increase permit fee for operation of a hazardous waste landfill or incinerator from $30,000 to $45,000, increase permit fee for storage or treatment of hazardous waste from $14,000 to $21,000, increase permit fee for transfers of hazardous waste to a different container from $7,000 to $10,500, increase permit fee for transfers of hazardous waste in the original container from $2,500 to $3,750, increase application fee for a status change from a treatment, disposal or storage facility to a generator from $50 to $100, and increase application fee for a status change from a large to a small quantity generator from $25 to $50, and to delete provisions re amount of fees prescribed by regulation, effective August 20, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fees in Subsecs. (a) and (d).

Notation

See Sec. 22a-6m re review of permit applicant's compliance history.

See Sec. 22a-6z re regulations implementing Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976.

See Sec. 22a-27i re exemption of municipality for one year.

Cited. 192 C. 591; 202 C. 300.

Subsec. (a):

Processing of spent etchant, irrespective of whether it is solid waste, is subject to regulation under section. 257 C. 128.

Because department has discretion to deny a transshipment permit, applicant cannot possess a protected property interest in such permit. 89 CA 745.