Hanford
Environmental
Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 22, Number 4 - April 14, 2000

From Washington D.C.:

EPA RELEASES DRAFT RCRA CLEANUP REFORM GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

On March 25, 2000, EPA published a notice (65 FR 15904) in the Federal Register announcing that it will be releasing three draft RCRA cleanup guidance documents for public review and comment this spring. These draft guidance documents are part of EPA's effort to implement RCRA cleanup reforms to the corrective action program and include the following:

EPA is releasing these draft guidance documents since the agency announced late last year that it would not finalize the proposed RCRA Subpart S rule. The documents will be available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/correctiveaction and http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/cleanup.htm. They will be available for review for a period of sixty days. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

From Olympia:

DOH RELEASES FINAL REVIEW REPORT ON THE RADIATION PROTECTION AIR EMISSION RULE

On March 14, 2000, DOH released the final report on a review it recently completed on Chapter 246-247 WAC, the Radiation Protection Air Emission rule. This report provides DOH's determination on what the agency intends to do with the rule along with comments DOH received during the public review process. DOH began a review of the rule in November 1999, in keeping with Governor Locke's Executive Order 97-02 on regulatory reform. This Order requires all agencies to periodically review their rules to determine their need, reasonableness, clarity, effectiveness and fairness.

Hanford contractors submitted comments to DOH during the public review process. Based on these and other comments from interested parties and DOH's Environmental Health Program Management Team, DOH has determined that the rule needs to be revised, however, the agency has indicated that the timing of this revision is dependent upon program resources and priorities. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

DOH RELEASES THE RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY ON REVISIONS TO THE RADIATION PROTECTION RULE

On March 17, 2000, DOH released a responsiveness summary on a new rule, Chapters 246-246 WAC and amendments to Chapters 246-221, 246-232 and 246-235 WACs. The new chapter and amendments specify the radiological criteria that licensees must follow to terminate their license. The changes to these rules are required under Washington State's agreement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to keep radiation protection regulations in conformance with federal regulations.

The proposed regulation was published in the Washington State Register on November 17, 1999 and a State Environmental Policy Act Determination of Non-significance was filed at the same time in the SEPA Register. Rule adoption hearings on the proposed changes and the SEPA DNS were held in December 1999 followed by a public comment period, which ended December 31, 1999. Based on the comments received during the public review period, DOH made no substantive changes to the rule and has decided to finalize the SEPA DNS. A final rule will be published in the Washington State Register April 5, 2000 and becomes effective April 16 unless it is appealed. The rule does not apply to the U.S. Ecology commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal site, uranium mining and milling facilities, or facilities under federal jurisdiction such as U.S. Naval facilities and Hanford. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
65 FR 11028
On March 1, 2000, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published an extension of the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on the hazardous materials regulation. DOT is extending the comment period as a result of a petition filed by the DOE. In the petition, DOE requested that DOT allow additional time for interested persons to respond to the ANPR in light of the recent changes made in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publication entitled, "IAEA Safety Standards Series: Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, 1996 Edition, Requirements, No. ST-1." Comments on the ANPR must be received in DOT by June 29, 2000.
65 FR 11308
On March 2, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it has designated a new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of O3 in ambient air in accordance with 40 CFR Part 53. The new equivalent is an automated method which uses the measurement principle based on UV photometry.
65 FR 11313
On March 2, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that the draft Annual Compliance Assistance Activity Plan (Plan) was available for review and comment. This Plan is intended to help facilities comply with regulatory requirements and improve environmental performance through compliance assistance. A copy of the Plan can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.seattle.battelle.org/epa-icaa. Comments on the Plan must be received in EPA by April 17, 2000.
65 FR 11306
On March 2, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was seeking public comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) on Substantial Risk Information Reporting Under Section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act. The information collected under this ICR helps EPA identify and mitigate any substantial risk of injury to human health or the environmental caused by chemical substances. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 1, 2000.
65 FR 11372
On March 2, 2000, EPA published a direct final rule amending the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule which was revised September 17, 1999. The amendment specifies the approved analytical methods for measuring perchlorate and acetochlor in drinking water and includes notice to all laboratories interested in supporting perchlorate monitoring of the laboratory approval requirements. The final rule becomes effective January 1, 2001 unless EPA receives adverse comment by April 3, 2000. EPA has published a proposed rule (65 FR 11386) elsewhere in this Federal Register in the event adverse comments are received.
65 FR 12229
On March 8, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it had submitted an ICR on National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Off-Site Waste and Recovery Operations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. Comment on the ICR must be received in EPA by April 7, 2000.
65 FR 13383
On March 13, 2000, EPA published an interim statement of policy on the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The notice also describes the process for developing and issuing a final ADR policy. Additionally, EPA is requesting public comment on the issues that should be taken into consideration in preparing the final ADR. Comments on the ADR must be received in EPA by May 12, 2000.
65 FR 13961
On March 15, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on Recordkeeping and Reporting for 40 CFR 258 - Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices has been sent to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by April 14, 2000.
65 FR 14186
On March 15, 2000, EPA published a notice with proposed Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances (AEGL) values and Executive Summaries for 10 chemicals for public review and comment. Comments on the AEGL values must be received in EPA by April 14, 2000.
65 FR 15633
On March 23, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it has submitted an ICR on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Compliance Assessment Information to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 22, 2000.
65 FR 15904
On March 24, 2000, EPA published a notice to announce the schedule for three upcoming RCRA Cleanup Reform draft guidance documents as well as invite public comment on these documents and other RCRA cleanup reforms announced July 8, 1999 (see article, this edition).
65 FR 16523
On March 29, 2000, EPA announced that it was withdrawing a direct final rule on Extending Operating Permits Program Interim Approval Expiration Dates due to receipt of adverse comments. This direct final rule would have extended the interim approval until June 1, 2002. The direct final rule was withdrawn as of March 29, 2000.
65 FR 16589
On March 29, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was submitting an ICR on Performance Evaluation Studies on Waste and Wastewater Laboratories to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 30, 2000.
65 FR 17166
On March 31, 2000, EPA published a final rule revising the Water Quality Planning and Management regulation to remove the requirement in most cases that States, Territories and authorized Tribes submit lists of water quality limited waterbodies to EPA for review by April 1, 2000. The final rule becomes effective March 31, 2000.
65 FR 17263
On March 31, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was submitting an ICR on Application Requirements for the Approval and Delegation of Federal Air Toxics Programs to State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Agencies to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 1, 2000.
WSR 00-05-096
On March 1, 2000, Ecology published a preproposal statement of inquiry to amend and possibly consolidate Chapters 317-10 and 173-181 WACs, the Vessel and Facility Oil Spill Contingency Plan Standards and Primary Response Contractor Standards.
WSR 00-06-057
On March 15, 2000, Ecology published a preproposal statement of inquiry to establish requirements for metering diversions or withdrawals of water including all new surface water diversions; all existing water diversions or withdrawals of one cubic foot per second or greater; and all diversions from waters which the Department of Fish and Wildlife has determined the status of salmon to be threatened or critical.

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