Hanford
Environmental
Report
Dedicated to the Goal of 100% Environmental Compliance

Volume 21, Number 8 - August 13, 1999

From Washington, D.C.:

DOE ISSUES DOE ORDER 435.1 AND MANUAL

On July 14, DOE published a notice (64 FR 37948) announcing that the DOE Order 435.1 and Manual on Radioactive Waste Management was available. The Order and Manual contain the requirements that DOE programs and contractors must follow in managing DOE radioactive waste to protect human health and safety and the environment from DOE facilities, operations and activities in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The notice also announced that an Implementation Guide which discusses the acceptable methods for meeting the requirements of the Order and Manual is available. In addition, DOE has prepared a summary of the significant and most frequent public comments received when the DOE Order and Manual were released for public review and comment on August 6, 1998. These documents will replace DOE Order 5820.2A on Radioactive Waste Management.

The DOE Order includes new provisions that allow for:

For more information, email or call Donald_W_Jr_Fritz@rl.gov with Waste Management Federal Services of Hanford at (509) 372-2066.

EPA SOLICITS PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITS DRAFT STUDY OF CLASS V INJECTION WELLS

On July 13, EPA published a notice (64 FR 37803) announcing that it was releasing a study on Class V injection wells for review and comment. This study pertains to Class V injection wells that were not included in the July 28, 1999 proposed rulemaking on high-risk Class V injection wells. It describes the results of EPA's evaluation of 23 categories of Class V injection wells and was conducted to develop background information EPA can use in evaluating the risk that these wells pose to underground drinking water supplies. The information will also be used to determine if additional federal regulations are warranted.

An initial review of the study indicated that 4 of the 23 categories of wells exist at Hanford. Currently, Ecology regulates these wells through permits issued under the State Waste Discharge Program in accordance with WAC 173-216 or in the Underground Injection Well program in accordance with WAC 173-218. Chris Strand with Fluor Daniel Hanford's Environmental Protection is currently working with DOE to prepare comments which will be submitted to EPA. Comments on the study must be received in EPA by August 12, 1999. For more information, email or call Chistopher_P_Strand@rl.gov at (509) 376-8556.

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE REVISING THE ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

On July 23, EPA published its final rule (64 FR 40138) amending the Consolidated Rules of Practice (CROP) which are procedural rules for the administrative assessment of civil penalties, issuance of compliance or corrective action orders, and the revocation, termination or suspension of permits, under most environmental statutes. A notice of proposed rulemaking to amend CROP was published in the federal register on February 25, 1998. EPA's intent in revising the rule was to eliminate inconsistencies and uncertainties in administrative enforcement proceedings, make the rule easier to understand, and provide for a more efficient resolution process. Some of the changes include:

The final rule becomes effective on August 23, 1999. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc.'s Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
64 FR 36466
On July 6, EPA published its final rule adding hazardous waste lamps to the federal list of universal wastes under 40 CFR Part 273. The final rule becomes effective January 6, 2000.
64 FR 37196
On July 9, EPA published corrections to its final rule published May 14, 1999 on test methods for velocity and volumetric flow rate determination in stacks and ducts.
64 FR 37396
On July 12, DOE published an interim final rule amending the DOE contractor employee protection program rules. These amendments include three provisions that were omitted in an interim final rule published on March 15, 1999. The interim final rule becomes effective August 11, 1999.
64 FR 37683
On July 13, EPA published a direct final rule amending the national emission standards for hazardous pollutants for halogenated solvent cleaning. The amendments will permanently exempt nonmajor batch cold solvent cleaning machines that use halogenated solvents from the federal operating permit program and defer several operating permit requirements until December 9, 1999 for all other halogenated solvent cleaning machines. Also, in this same federal register, EPA has published (64 FR 37734) a proposed rule in the event that adverse comments are received on the direct final rule. The direct final rule becomes effective September 13, 1999 unless adverse comments are received.
64 FR 37803
On July 13, EPA published a notice announcing that a draft summary of a study on all Class V injections wells was available for public review and comment (see article, this edition). This study is the result of a modified consent decree EPA and the Sierra Club entered into on January 29, 1997. Comments on the study must be received in EPA by August 12, 1999.
64 FR 37948
On July 14, DOE published a notice announcing that the revised DOE Order, Manual on Radioactive Waste Management and Implementation Guide was available for review and comment (see article, this edition). The documents contain requirements that DOE programs and contractors must follow in managing DOE radioactive waste in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act and other authorities. Copies of these documents can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.explorer.doe.gov:1776/htmls/directives/html.
64 FR 38950
On July 20, EPA published a direct final rule on amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for off-site waste and recovery operations that EPA promulgated on July 1, 1996. The direct final rule becomes effective September 20, 1999 unless adverse comments are received.
64 FR 39135
On July 21, EPA published a notice announcing that it is extending the deadline on receiving public comments on the proposed changes to how it calculates the economic benefit of regulated entities that violate environmental requirements from July 30, 1999 to September 30, 1999.
64 FR 39986
On July 23, EPA published a notice announcing that it is submitting the Part B Permit Application, Permit Modifications and Special Permits to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. EPA is also soliciting comments on how this information is used, how the information could be improved and how the burden for this information that is collected can be reduced. Comments must be received in EPA by September 21, 1999.
64 FR 40138
On July 23, EPA published a final rule revising the Consolidated Rules of Practice on the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties, Issuance of Compliance or Corrective Action Orders and the Revocation, Termination or Suspension of Permits (see article, this edition). This revision will remove inconsistencies and fill in gaps. The final rule becomes effective August 23, 1999.
64 FR 40534
On July 27, EPA published a notice announcing that it was extending the comment period on the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the Land Disposal Restrictions treatment standards for mercury-bearing hazardous wastes published May 28, 1999. The comment period has been extended from July 27, 1999 to October 25, 1999.
64 FR 40810
On July 28, the Department of Transportation published a notice announcing that it was extending the comment period on the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on the applicability of the Hazardous Material Regulations to loading, unloading, and storage of hazardous materials. The comment period is being extended to August 25, 1999.
WSR 99-13-101
On July 7, Ecology published a proposed rule that establishes, revokes, or alters qualifications or standards for the issuance, suspension or revocation of a license or permit under Chapter 173-230 WAC, Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants. Comments must be received in Ecology by August 13, 1999.
WSR 99-13-193
On July 7, Ecology published an announcement that it was issuing a General Permit for Sand and Gravel Mining and Related Activities. The permit will take effect on August 6, 1999 and is intended to control the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state.

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For technical questions regarding the subject matter, please send email to: Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov
URL: http://www.hanford.gov/pubs/envnews/aug1999.html
Last Updated: August 12, 1999