(1)(a) Applicability. This section applies to all facilities eligible for an interim status permit. When a facility is owned by one person but is operated by another person, it is the operator's duty to qualify for interim status, except that the owner must also sign an interim status application. Prior to submittal of an interim status permit application the requirements of WAC 173-303-281 must be met.

(b) Any person who owns or operates an "existing dangerous waste TSD facility" or a facility in existence on the effective date of statutory or regulatory amendments under the Hazardous Waste Management Act or RCRA that renders the facility subject to the requirement to have a dangerous waste permit will have interim status and will be treated as having been issued a permit to the extent he or she has:

(i) Complied with the requirements of WAC 173-303-060 pertaining to notification of dangerous waste activity.

(Comment: Some existing facilities may not be required to file a notification under WAC 173-303-060. These facilities may qualify for interim status by meeting (b)(ii) of this subsection.)

(ii) Complied with the requirements of WAC 173-303-803 governing submission of part A applications.

(c) This subsection (1) will not apply to any facility that has been previously denied a final facility permit or if authority to operate the facility under the Hazardous Waste Management Act has been previously terminated.

(2) Failure to qualify for interim status. If the department has reason to believe upon examination of a Part A application that it fails to provide the required information, it will notify the owner or operator in writing of the apparent deficiency. Such notice will specify the grounds for the department's belief that the application is deficient. The owner or operator will have thirty days from receipt to respond to such a notification and to explain or cure the alleged deficiency in his Part A application. If, after such notification and opportunity for response, the department determines that the application is deficient it may take appropriate enforcement action.

(3) Interim status for facilities under RCRA interim status. Any existing facility operating under interim status gained under section 3005 of RCRA will be deemed to have an interim status permit under this chapter provided that the owner/operator complies with the applicable requirements of WAC 173-303-400 and this section.

(4) Interim status for facilities managing state-designated (non-RCRA) dangerous wastes. Any existing facility which does not satisfy subsection (3) of this section, but which is only managing dangerous wastes that are not hazardous wastes under 40 C.F.R. Part 261, will be deemed to have an interim status permit provided that the owner/operator of the facility has complied with the notification requirements of WAC 173-303-060 by May 11, 1982 and has submitted Part A of his permit application by August 9, 1982. If an existing facility becomes subject to this chapter due to amendments to this chapter and the facility was not previously subject to this chapter, then the owner/operator of an existing facility may qualify for an interim status permit by complying with the notification requirements of WAC 173-303-060 within three months, and submitting Part A of his permit application within six months, after the adoption date of the amendments which cause the facility to be subject to the requirements of this chapter. Facilities qualifying for interim status under this subsection will not be deemed to have interim status under section 3005 of RCRA, and may only manage non-RCRA wastes until they either qualify separately for interim status under section 3005 of RCRA or receive a final status facility permit allowing them to manage RCRA wastes.

(5) Maintaining the interim status permit.

(a) Timely notification and submission of a Part A application qualifies the owner/operator of the existing TSD facility for the interim status permit, until the department terminates interim status pursuant to subsection (8) of this section.

(b) Interim status for the existing TSD facility will be maintained while the department makes final administrative disposition of a final facility permit pursuant to WAC 173-303-806 if:

(i) The owner/operator has submitted his final facility permit application (as described in WAC 173-303-806) within six months of the written request by the department to submit such application; and

(ii) Grounds for terminating interim status (as described in subsection (8) of this section) do not exist.

(c) The owner/operator of an interim status facility must update his Part A whenever he is managing wastes that are newly regulated under this chapter, and as necessary to comply with subsection (7) of this section. Failure to comply with this updating requirement is a violation of interim status.

(6) Prohibitions for interim status permits. Facilities with an interim status permit must not:

(a) Treat, store, or dispose of dangerous waste not specified in Part A of the permit application;

(b) Employ processes not specified in Part A of the permit application; or

(c) Exceed the design capacities specified in Part A of the permit application.

(7) Changes during interim status.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the owner or operator of an interim status facility may make the following changes at the facility:

(i) Treatment, storage, or disposal of new dangerous wastes not previously identified in Part A of the permit application (and, in the case of newly listed or identified wastes, addition of the units being used to treat, store, or dispose of the dangerous wastes on the effective date of the listing or identification) if the owner or operator submits a revised Part A permit application prior to such treatment, storage, or disposal (along with a justification detailing the equipment and process or processes that the owner or operator will use to treat, store, or dispose of the new dangerous wastes) and if the department does not explicitly deny the changes within sixty days of receipt of the revised application;

(ii) Increases in the design capacity of processes used at the facility if the owner or operator submits a revised Part A permit application prior to such a change (along with a justification explaining the need for the change), the requirements of WAC 173-303-281 are met, and the department approves the changes because:

(A) There is a lack of available treatment, storage, or disposal capacity at other dangerous waste management facilities; or

(B) The change is necessary to comply with a federal, state, or local requirement.

(iii) Changes in the processes for the treatment, storage, or disposal of dangerous waste or addition of processes if the owner or operator submits a revised Part A permit application prior to such change (along with a justification explaining the need for the change) and the department approves the change because:

(A) The change is necessary to prevent a threat to human health and the environment because of an emergency situation; or

(B) The change is necessary to comply with a federal, state, or local requirement.

(iv) Changes in the ownership or operational control of a facility if the new owner or operator submits a revised Part A permit application no later than ninety days prior to the scheduled change. When a transfer of operational control of a facility occurs, the old owner or operator must comply with the interim status financial requirements of 40 C.F.R. Part 265, Subpart H (as referenced in WAC 173-303-400), until the new owner or operator has demonstrated to the department that he is complying with the financial requirements. Upon demonstration to the department by the new owner or operator of compliance with the interim status financial requirements, the department will notify the old owner or operator in writing that he no longer needs to comply with the interim status financial requirements as of the date of demonstration. The new owner or operator must demonstrate compliance with the financial requirements within six months of the date of the change in ownership or operational control of the facility. All other interim status duties are transferred effective immediately upon the date of the change in ownership or operational control of the facility.

(v) Changes made in accordance with an interim status corrective action order issued by EPA under section 3008(h) of RCRA or other federal authority, including an order or consent decree issued pursuant to WAC 173-303-64620 or 173-303-64630, by the department under chapter 70.105 RCW or other state authority, or by a court in a judicial action brought by EPA or by the department. Changes under this subsection (7)(a)(v) are limited to the treatment, storage, or disposal of solid waste from releases that originate within the boundary of the facility.

(vi) Addition of newly regulated units for the treatment, storage, or disposal of dangerous waste if the owner or operator submits a revised Part A permit application on or before the date on which the unit becomes subject to the new requirements.

(b) Except as specifically allowed under this subsection (7)(b), changes listed under (a) of this subsection may not be made if they amount to reconstruction of the dangerous waste management facility. Reconstruction occurs when the capital investment in the changes to the facility exceeds fifty percent of the capital cost of a comparable entirely new dangerous waste management facility. If all other requirements are met, the following changes may be made even if they amount to a reconstruction:

(i) Changes made solely for the purposes of complying with the requirements of WAC 173-303-640(4) for tanks and ancillary equipment.

(ii) If necessary to comply with federal, state, or local requirements, changes to an existing unit, changes solely involving tanks or containers, or addition of replacement surface impoundments that satisfy the standards of section 3004(o) of RCRA.

(iii) Changes that are necessary to allow owners or operators to continue handling newly listed or identified dangerous wastes that have been treated, stored, or disposed of at the facility prior to the effective date of the rule establishing the new listing or identification.

(iv) Changes during closure of a facility or of a unit within a facility made in accordance with an approved closure plan.

(v) Changes necessary to comply with an interim status corrective action order issued by EPA under section 3008(h) or other federal authority, by the department under chapter 70.105 RCW or other state authority, or by a court in a judicial proceeding brought by EPA or an authorized state, provided that such changes are limited to the treatment, storage, or disposal of solid waste from releases that originate within the boundary of the facility.

(vi) Changes to treat or store, in tanks, containers, or containment buildings hazardous wastes subject to land disposal restrictions imposed by 40 C.F.R. Part 268 or RCRA section 3004, provided that such changes are made solely for the purpose of complying with 40 C.F.R. Part 268 or RCRA section 3004.

(vii) Addition of newly regulated units under (a)(vi) of this subsection.

(viii) Changes necessary to comply with standards under 40 C.F.R. part 63, subpart EEE—National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Hazardous Waste Combustors, which are incorporated by reference at WAC 173-400-075 (5)(a).

(8) Termination of interim status permit. The following are causes for terminating an interim status permit, or for denying a revised permit application:

(a) Final administrative disposition of a final facility permit application is made pursuant to WAC 173-303-806;

(b) When the department on examination or reexamination of a Part A application determines that it fails to meet the applicable standards of this chapter, it may notify the owner or operator that the application is deficient and that the interim status permit has been revoked. The owner or operator will then be subject to enforcement for operating without a permit;

(c) Failure to submit a requested Part B application on time, or to provide in full the information required in the Part B application;

(d) Violation of applicable interim status standards;

(e) A determination that the permit applicant has failed to satisfy the performance standards of WAC 173-303-283;

(f) For owners or operators of each land disposal facility which has been granted interim status prior to November 8, 1984, interim status terminated on November 8, 1985, unless:

(i) The owner or operator submits a Part B application for a permit for such facility prior to that date; and

(ii) The owner or operator certifies that such facility is in compliance with all applicable groundwater monitoring and financial responsibility requirements.

(g) For owners or operators of each land disposal facility which is in existence on the effective date of statutory or regulatory amendments under the Hazardous Waste Management Act that render the facility subject to the requirement to have a final facility permit and which is granted interim status, interim status terminates twelve months after the date on which the facility first becomes subject to such permit requirement unless the owner or operator of such facility:

(i) Submits a Part B application for a final facility permit for such facility before the date twelve months after the date on which the facility first becomes subject to such permit requirement; and

(ii) Certifies that such facility is in compliance with all applicable groundwater monitoring and financial responsibility requirements.

(h) For owners or operators of any land disposal unit that is granted authority to operate under subsection (7)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of this section, interim status terminates on the date twelve months after the effective date of such requirement, unless the owner or operator certifies that such unit is in compliance with all applicable groundwater monitoring and financial responsibility requirements;

(i) For owners and operators of each incinerator facility which achieved interim status prior to November 8, 1984, interim status terminated on November 8, 1989, unless the owner or operator of the facility submitted a Part B application for a final facility permit for an incinerator facility by November 8, 1986; or

(j) For owners or operators of any facility (other than a land disposal or an incinerator facility) which has achieved interim status prior to November 8, 1984, interim status terminated on November 8, 1992, unless the owner or operator of the facility submitted a Part B application for a final facility permit for the facility by November 8, 1988.

(9) Reserve.