Collapse to view only § 2743.2 - New disposal sites.

§ 2743.1 - Applicable regulations.

Unless the requested action falls within the provision of § 2743.2(b), applications filed or actions taken under this subpart shall be subject to all the requirements set forth in subpart 2741 of this chapter except §§ 2741.6 and 2741.9.

§ 2743.2 - New disposal sites.

(a) Public lands may be conveyed for the purpose of solid waste disposal or for any other purpose that the authorized officer determines may include the disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance subject to the following provisions:

(1) The applicant shall furnish a copy of the application, plan of development, and any other information concerning the proposed use to all Federal and State agencies with responsibility for enforcement of laws applicable to lands used for the disposal, placement, or release of solid waste or any hazardous substance. The applicant shall include proof of this notification in the application filed with the authorized officer;

(2) The proposed use covered by an application shall be consistent with the land use planning provisions contained in part 1600 of this title, and in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4371) and any other Federal and State laws and regulations applicable to the disposal of solid wastes and hazardous substances;

(3) Conveyance shall be made only of lands classified for sale pursuant to the procedures and criteria in part 2400 of this title;

(4) The applicant shall warrant that it will indemnify and hold the United States harmless against any liability that may arise out of any violation of Federal or State law in connection with the use of the lands;

(5) The authorized officer shall investigate the lands covered by an application to determine whether or not any hazardous substance is present. The authorized officer will require full reimbursement from the applicant for the costs of the investigation. The authorized officer may, in his or her discretion, make an exception to the requirement of full reimbursement if the applicant demonstrates that such costs would result in undue hardship. The investigation shall include but not be limited to:

(i) A review of available records related to the history and use of the land;

(ii) A visual inspection of the property; and

(iii) An appropriate analysis of the soil, water and air associated with the area;

(6) The investigation conducted under paragraph (a)(5) of this section must disclose no hazardous substances and there is a reasonable basis to believe that no such substances are present; and

(7) The applicant shall present certification from the State agency or agencies responsible for environmental protection and enforcement that they have reviewed all records, inspection reports, studies, and other materials produced or considered in the course of the investigation and that based on these documents, such agency or agencies agree with the authorized officer that no hazardous substances are present on the property.

(b) The authorized officer shall not convey public lands covered by an application if hazardous substances are known to be present.

(c) The authorized officer shall retain as permanent records all environmental analyses and appropriate documentation, investigation reports, State certifications, and other materials produced or considered in determining the suitability of public lands for conveyance under this section.

§ 2743.2–1 - Patent provisions for new disposal sites.

For new disposal sites, each patent will provide that:

(a) The patentee shall comply with all Federal and State laws applicable to the disposal, placement, or release of hazardous substances;

(b) The patentee shall indemnify and hold harmless the United States against any legal liability or future costs that may arise out of any violation of such laws;

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, the land conveyed under § 2743.2 of this part shall revert to the United States unless substantially used in accordance with an approved plan and schedule of development on or before the date five years after the date of conveyance;

(d) If, at any time, the patentee transfers to another party ownership of any portion of the land not used for the purpose(s) specified in the application and the approved plan of development, the patentee shall pay the Bureau of Land Management the fair market value, as determined by the authorized officer, of the transferred portion as of the date of transfer, including the value of any improvements thereon; and

(e) No portion of the land covered by such patent shall under any circumstance revert to the United States if such portion has been used for solid waste disposal or for any other purpose that the authorized officer determines may result in the disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance.

§ 2743.3 - Leased disposal sites.

(a) Upon request by or with the concurrence of the lessee, the authorized officer may issue a patent for those lands covered by a lease, or portion thereof, issued on or before November 9, 1988, that have been or will be used, as specified in the plan of development, for solid waste disposal or for any other purpose that the authorized officer determines may result in or include the disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance, subject to the following provisions:

(1) All conveyances shall be consistent with the land use planning provisions contained in part 1600 of this title, and in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4371) and any other Federal and State laws and regulations applicable to the disposal of solid wastes and hazardous substances;

(2) Conveyances shall be made only of lands classified for sale pursuant to the procedures and criteria in part 2400 of this title.

(3) The authorized officer shall investigate the lands to be included in the patent to determine whether they are contaminated with hazardous substances. The authorized officer will require full reimbursement from the lessee for the costs of the investigation. The authorized officer may, in his or her discretion, make an exception to the requirement of full reimbursement if the applicant demonstrates that such costs would result in undue hardship. The investigation shall include but not be limited to the following:

(i) A review of all records and inspection reports on file with the Bureau of Land Management, State, and local agencies relating to the history and use of the lands covered by a lease and any violations and enforcement problems that occurred during the term of the lease;

(ii) Consultation with the lessee and users of the landfill concerning site management and a review of all reports and logs pertaining to the type and amount of solid waste deposited at the landfill;

(iii) A visual inspection of the leased site; and

(iv) An appropriate analysis of the soil, water and air associated with the area;

(4) The investigation conducted under paragraph (a)(3) of this section must establish that the involved lands contain only those quantities and types of hazardous substances consistent with household wastes, or wastes from conditionally exempt small quantity generators (40 CFR 261.5), and there is a reasonable basis to believe that the contents of the leased disposal site do not threaten human health and the environment; and

(5) The applicant shall present certification from the State agency or agencies responsible for environmental protection and enforcement that they have reviewed all records, inspection reports, studies, and other materials produced or considered in the course of the investigation and that based on these documents, such agency or agencies agree with the authorized officer that the contents of the leased disposal site in question do not threaten human health and the environment.

(b) The authorized officer shall not convey lands identified in paragraph (a) of this section if the investigation concludes that the lands contain hazardous substances at concentrations that threaten human health and the environment.

(c) The authorized officer shall retain as permanent records all environmental analyses and appropriate documentation, investigation reports, State certifications, and other materials produced or considered in determining the suitability of public lands for conveyance under this section.

[57 FR 32733, July 23, 1992, as amended at 73 FR 50201, Aug. 26, 2008]

§ 2743.3–1 - Patent provisions for leased disposal sites.

Each patent for a leased disposal site will provide that:

(a) The patentee shall comply with all Federal and State laws applicable to the disposal, placement, or release of hazardous substances;

(b) The patentee shall indemnify and hold harmless the United States against any legal liability or future costs that may arise out of any violation of such laws; and

(c) No portion of the land covered by such patent shall under any circumstance revert to the United States.

§ 2743.4 - Patented disposal sites.

(a) Upon request by or with the concurrence of the patentee, the authorized officer may renounce the reversionary interests of the United States in land conveyed on or before November 9, 1988, and rescind any portion of any patent or other instrument of conveyance inconsistent with the renunciation upon a determination that such land has been used for solid waste disposal or for any other purpose that the authorized officer determines may result in the disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance.

(b) If the patentee elects not to accept the renunciation of the reversionary interests, the provisions contained in §§ 2741.6 and 2741.9 shall continue to apply.

Group 2800—Use; Rights-of-Way