Privacy & Security Notice

	Hanford Environmental Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 27, Number 4 - April 8, 2005

From Washington, D.C.:

EPA OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TERMINATES CALL CENTER FOR RCRA AND UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK PROGRAMS

On March 4, 2005, EPA'S Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) published a notice (70 FR 10620) in the Federal Register (FR) announcing that it was terminating the operation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Underground Storage Tank (UST) program Call Center at the close of business on March 31, 2005. EPA recommends that individuals seeking information on these programs after that date will need to contact EPA's Headquarter's and Regional Offices' Web sites and other sources as mentioned in the notice. The Call Center will continue to respond to public inquiries on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know including the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program, Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III; Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r); and the Oil Pollution Control Act (OPA).

EPA's OSWER has compiled a complete list of phone numbers and waste program Web sites maintained by EPA Regional Offices and state environmental agencies to help users find RCRA-related information. The compilation can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/comments.htm. The site also provides links to the RCRA Online database which contains a searchable compilation of Office of Solid Waste (OSW) memos and guidance documents and an on-line order form for OSW publications at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/publicat.htm. Additionally, OSW publications can be ordered by calling the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at 800/490-9198. The OSW website includes links to a database of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that will allow the user to search for RCRA information from a comprehensive set of FAQs. EPA is including information about the leaking underground storage (UST) program on the internet at http://www.epa.gov/oust which is also being terminated. Publications on the UST can be ordered over the phone from the NSCEP at the above number. For more information, email or call Anthony_G_Miskho@rl.gov with Fluor Hanford's Waste Operations at (509) 376-7313.

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE REVISING THE UNIFORM HAZARDOUS WASTE MANIFEST REGULATIONS

On March 4, 2005, EPA published a final rule (70 FR 10775) in the FR revising the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (UHWM) regulations and the manifest and continuation sheet forms used to track hazardous waste from the site-of-generation to the site-of-disposition. The final rule revisions include:

• Proposed removal of several fields such as the state manifest tracking number; the state generator ID field; the state transporter's ID fields; the transporter's phone fields; the state facility's ID field; the facility's phone field;
• Proposed consolidation of additional descriptions and special handling fields;
• Continuation sheet;
• Addition of new data elements such as generator site address field; emergency response phone number field; and international shipments field;
• Proposed addition of the third transporter field;
• Reduction or elimination of "optional" field designations;
• Proposed standardization of handling codes; and
• Proposed standardization of RCRA waste code fields.

The revisions will standardize the content and appearance of the manifest form and continuation sheet, make the forms available from a greater number of sources and adopt new procedures for tracking certain types of waste shipments with the manifest. The final rule becomes effective September 6, 2005. For more information, email or call Anthony_G_Miskho@rl.gov with Fluor Hanford's Waste Operations at (509) 376-7313.

EPA PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT-WIDE SYSTEM OF RECORDS FOR PUBLIC USE IN FEDERAL RULEMAKINGS

On March 24, 2005, EPA published a notice (70 FR 15086) in the FR announcing that it is proposing to establish a government-wide system of records, the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS), which will allow the public to search, view, download, and comment on all Federal agency rulemaking documents in one central online system. EPA is establishing the FDMS as part of its eGovernment Initiative and pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974.

The FDMS will serve as a central, electronic repository for all Federal rulemaking dockets, which would include Federal Register notices, supporting materials such as scientific or economic analyses, and public comments, as well as non-rulemaking dockets. The FDMS will be a system used by all Federal agencies that conduct rulemakings. Each agency would be responsible for managing its own docket and rulemaking documents. Comments submitted by the public will be posted on the FDMS for public viewing and all comments will be searchable. The FDMS will have full text search capability, which would include any name and contact information submitted as part of the comment. Each agency would manage, access, and control the information in the FDMS that is submitted to that particular agency and maintain the sole ability to disclose the data submitted to that particular agency. The proposed notice will be effective May 3, 2005. For more information, email or call Marsha Beery at (360) 709-0664 with Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office.

From Olympia:

Briefly:

• On March 4, 2005, EPA published a notice (70 FR 10616) in the FR announcing the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) 2005 agenda and requesting scientific information on health effects that may result from exposure to the chemical substances EPA is starting to assess this year. All assessments currently in progress or completed in 2004 are listed in the notice. The notice also provides an update on EPA's efforts to improve the IRIS database. Scientific information must be submitted to EPA by May 3, 2005.

• On March 4, 2005, EPA published a document (70 FR 10625) in the FR entitled, "Draft Final Title VI Public Involvement Guidance for EPA Assistance Recipients Administering Environmental Permitting Programs" for public review and comment. This guidance significantly revises the previous Draft Title VI Guidance issued for public comment in June 2000. The guidance discusses various approaches and suggests tools recipients can use to help enhance the public involvement aspects of their current permitting programs and reduce potential issues related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and EPA's regulations implementing Title VI. Comments on the document must be received in EPA on or before April 4, 2005.

• On March 16, 2005, the Department of Health (WDOH) published a final rule (WSR 05-06-122) amending Chapter 246-292 WAC to improve a certified water works operator's ability to comply with minimum requirements for certification, and ensure continuing education requirements are relevant to the operation of a water system. The revision: establishes a definition of gross negligence; amends the grandparenting requirement for consistency; and enables the WDOH to take immediate enforcement action for acts of gross negligence. The final rule becomes effective on April 2, 2005.

• On March 17, 2005, DOE published a proposed rule (70 FR 12974) in the FR to codify minimum requirements governing access to information on DOE computers. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by DOE on or before May 14, 2005.

• On March 25, 2005, EPA published a proposed rulemaking (70 FR 15250) in the FR to permanently exempt from the title V operating permit program five categories of nonmajor (area) sources subject to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). EPA is proposing to make a finding for these categories that compliance with the Title V permitting requirements is impracticable, infeasible, or unnecessarily burdensome on the categories which include: dry cleaners, halogenated solvent degreasers, chrome electroplaters, ethylene oxide sterilizers, and secondary aluminum smelters. Comments on the proposed rulemaking must be received by EPA on or before May 24, 2005.

70 FR 10616

On March 4, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) 2005 agenda and requesting scientific information on health effects that may result from exposure to the chemical substances for which EPA is starting assessments this year (see briefly, this edition). Scientific information must be submitted by May 3, 2005.

70 FR 10620

On March 4, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing significant changes to the operation of the RCRA, Superfund and EPCRA Call Center. The Call Center will terminate support of the RCRA and UST programs at the close of business on March 31, 2005 (see article, this edition).

70 FR 10625

On March 4, 2005, EPA published a document entitled "Draft Final Title VI Public Involvement Guidance for EPA Assistance Recipients Administering Environmental Permitting Programs" for public review and comment (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the document must be received in EPA on or before April 4, 2005.

70 FR 10775

On March 4, 2005, EPA published a final rule establishing new requirements revising the UHWM regulations and the manifest and continuation sheet forms used to track hazardous waste from a generator's site to the site of disposition (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective September 6, 2005.

70 FR 11132

On March 8, 2005, EPA published a final rule revising the codification of the Idaho authorized hazardous waste management program. The codification reflects the State program in effect at the time EPA authorized revisions to the Idaho hazardous waste management program in a final rule dated March 10, 2004 (69 FR 11322). The final rule became effective March 8, 2005.

70 FR 11179

On March 8, 2005, EPA published a proposed rule to approve the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted to EPA by Washington on September 20, 2001, September 26, 2001, and November 22, 2004. The revisions consist of changes to the Washington Inspection and Maintenance Program and Plan for attaining carbon monoxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in the Spokane Serious CO Nonattainment Area. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by EPA on or before April 7, 2005.

70 FR 11628

On March 9, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing plans to submit an ICR on the 2005 Hazardous Waste Report to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before May 9, 2005.

70 FR 11913

On March 10, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing that DOE documents entitled "Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project Certification Plan for Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste, Revision 7" and "INEEL Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project Quality Assurance Project Plan, Revision 3" are available for public review and comment. Comments on these documents must be received by EPA on or before April 11, 2005.

70 FR 12974

On March 17, 2005, DOE published a proposed rule to codify minimum requirements governing access to information on DOE computers (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the proposed rule must be received by DOE on or before May 14, 2005

70 FR 14462

On March 22, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal) to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before May 23, 2005.

70 FR15082

On March 24, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing that the OMB responses to ICRs submitted to EPA previously is available.

70 FR 15086

On March 24, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing that it is proposing to establish a government-wide system of records, the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) which will allow the public to search, view, download, and comment on all Federal agency rulemaking documents in one central online system (see article, this edition). The notice will be effective May 3, 2005.

70 FR 15250

On March 25, 2005, EPA published a proposed rulemaking to exempt permanently from the title V operating permit program five categories of nonmajor (area) sources subject to NESHAP (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the proposed rulemaking must be received by EPA on or before May 24, 2005.

70 FR 15623

On March 28, 2005, EPA published a notice of proposed consent decree to address a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense and American Lung Association v Johnson, No. 1:05CV00493 (D.D.C.) to compel EPA to make a determination as to whether each state has submitted SIPs required by section 110(a) of the CAA for the NAAQS for fine particulates (PM2.5) and for ozone (8-hour ozone). Comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by EPA on or before April 27, 2005.

70 FR 16265

On March 30, 2005, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management to OMB for review and approval. The ICR expires July 31, 2005. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before May 31, 2005.

WSR 05-05-093

On March 2, 2005, Ecology published a notice of a proposal for a new statewide general permit for biosolids management to replace the existing permit. The general permit will be the primary regulatory mechanism for approving the final use or disposal of biosolids in areas under the jurisdiction of the state of Washington. The permit will apply to all treatment works treating domestic sewage that prepare biosolids for beneficial use, apply biosolids to the land, transfer biosolids to or from another facility, or dispose of biosolids in a municipal solid waste facility. Ecology anticipates issuing the final general permit by May 4, 2005.

WSR 05-06-122

On March 16, 2005, the WDOH published a final rule amending Chapter 246-292 WAC to improve a certified waster works operator's ability to comply with minimum requirements for certification, and ensure continuing education requirements are relevant to the operation of a water system (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective on April 2, 2005.