Hanford Environmental Report

	Hanford Environmental Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 22, Number 8 - August 11, 2000

From Washington D.C.:

EPA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL RISK DATA FOR AN EXEMPTION TO THE HAZARDOUS WASTE IDENTIFICATION RULE

On July 18, 2000, EPA published a notice (65 FR 44491) in the Federal Register seeking public comment on human health and ecological risk information regarding the exemption discussed in the November 19, 1999 Federal Register on the Hazardous Waste Identification (HWIR) rule. Under this HWIR exemption, wastes that EPA determines pose little risk could be exempted from the RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste management requirements and disposed of in municipal landfills. EPA is developing exemption levels using the multi-media, multi-pathway, and multi-receptor assessment (3MRA) model. This model evaluates simultaneous chemical exposures across several different environmental media and multiple exposure pathways in order to estimate the health and ecological effects of waste disposal units that receive exempt listed hazardous waste. When the model is approved, EPA plans to use it to generate concentration levels to be proposed as exemption standards.

The 3MRA model was introduced in the November 19, 1999 Federal Register, however, the exemption levels were not included in the notice at that time. The 3MRA model was subsequently updated and republished April 12, 2000, along with the results of five chemicals. This current notice makes available the results of 36 chemicals commonly found in hazardous waste and extends the comment period until October 16, 2000. The notice along with associated material can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/hwirwste/index.htm. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2359.

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT

On July 13, 2000, EPA published a final rule (65 FR 434586) in the Federal Register amending the regulatory requirements for establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This final rule establishes a framework for improving water quality throughout the U.S. and a process for making decisions on how best to restore polluted water bodies in a cost-effective manner. It also requires States, Territories and authorized Tribes to develop comprehensive lists of water bodies that do not attain and maintain water quality standards along with a schedule to establish TMDLs over a period of 10 years with an additional five years where necessary. States, Territories and Tribes will provide opportunities for the public to comment on methodologies, lists, prioritized schedules, and TMDLs prior to submission to EPA.

The final rule also specifies time frames by which EPA will assure that lists of water bodies and TMDLs are completed as scheduled and necessary National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are issued to implement TMDLs. Additionally, the final rule explains EPA's discretionary authority to object to, and reissue, if necessary, State-issued NPDES permits that have administratively continued after expiration where there is a need for a change in the conditions of the permit to be consistent with water quality standards and approved TMDLs. The final rule becomes effective October 1, 2001. email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 373-4932.

Briefly:

EPA recently released a draft guidance document entitled, "Ecological Soil Screening Levels Guidance." This draft guidance is intended to be used by waste managers for determining whether or not an ecological risk assessment should be conducted at a CERCLA site. The draft guidance lists safe concentration levels for 24 contaminants commonly found at cleanup sites. The draft guidance can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/risk/tooleco.htm.
EPA will soon issue a final rule temporarily retracting a land disposal standard for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In the February 16, 2000 notice, EPA proposed to defer the LDR that required PCBs to be cleaned up to 10 parts per million or less if they are underlying hazardous constituents in metal wastes. The reason that EPA is deferring the standard is that wastes containing metals and wastes containing PCBs are treated in very different ways which was discouraging generators from cleaning up contaminated sites. EPA is also deferring the PCB standard to investigate the relationship between TSCA and RCRA. A copy of EPA's February 16 proposal can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/ldr.

*FEDERAL/STATE*
	*REGISTER REVIEW*

65 FR 41391: On July 5, 2000, EPA published a notice soliciting public comment on the validation data for pollutants included in the Centralized Waste Treatment (CWT) Point Source Category proposal published in the Federal Register on January 13, 1999. EPA plans to use the data gathered through this action to support the use of EPA Methods 625 and 1625 as amended in the final CWT Point Source Category final rule. Comments on this action must be received by EPA on or before August 4, 2000.

65 FR 41653: On July 6, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it had submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) on Alternate Threshold for Low Annual Reportable Amounts, Toxic Chemical Release Reporting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before September 5, 2000.

65 FR 41655: On July 6, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that the design of its National Environmental Achievement Track was available. The Achievement Track is the first of a two-tier program EPA has developed to recognize and encourage top environmental performers. Information on the Achievement Track can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack.

65 FR 42653: On July 11, 2000, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish restrictions or prohibitions on substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The SNAP program implements section 612 of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990. Comments on the NPR must be received by EPA on or before September 11, 2000.

65 FR 43586: On July 13, 2000, EPA published a final rule amending the current regulatory requirements for establishing TMDLs under the CWA (see article, this edition). The final rule will become effective 30 days after the date that Congress allows EPA to implement the regulation. EPA will publish the effective date in the Federal Register.

65 FR 44046: On July 17, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was submitting an ICR on Land Disposal Restrictions No-Migration Variances to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before August 16, 2000.

65 FR 44050: On July 17, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing the availability of information on human health and ecological risk data relating to an exemption from hazardous waste management known as the HWIR exemption published in the Federal Register on November 19, 1999 (see article, this edition). EPA is seeking public review and comment on this information which must be received by EPA on or before October 16, 2000.

65 FR 44528: On July 18, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing the availability of a document entitled, "Understanding and Accounting for Method Variability in Whole Effluent Toxicity Applications Under the NPDES Program". The document can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/owm/npdes.htm.

65 FR 44536: On July 18, 2000, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a notice announcing the availability of a draft document entitled, "Environmental Public Health Research Agenda, Agency for Toxic Substances, 2002 - 2010" for public review and comment. Comments on the document must be received by EPA on or before September 1, 2000.

65 FR 45057: On July 20, 2000, EPA published a notice seeking public comment on proposed additions to a document entitled, "Final Guidelines for the Certification and Re-certification of the Operators of Community and Non-transient, Non-community Public Water Systems" published in the Federal Register February 5, 1999. Comments on the proposed additions must be received by EPA on or before September 5, 2000.

65 FR 45182: On July 20, 2000, EPA published a final rule rescinding its prior findings that the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard and the accompanying designations and classifications no longer apply in certain areas. The final rule becomes effective October 18, 2000.

65 FR 46167: On July 27, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that a document entitled, "Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual for Rivers and Streams," is available. The guidance was developed to assist States and Tribes in establishing nutrient criteria for rivers and steams. The document can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/OST/standards/nutrient.html.

65 FR 46457: On July 28, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that a document entitled, "Method Guidance and Recommendations on Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing," was available for public review and comment. This guidance updates recommendations and suggestions on WET testing methods previously published by EPA and incorporated by reference into regulations. The guidance document can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/OST/WET/.

65 FR 46498: On July 28, 2000, OSHA published a Final Policy on the "Occupational Safety and Health Administrations Use of Voluntary Employer Safety and Health Self-Audits." The proposed policy was published in the Federal Register on October 6, 1999, EPA received several comments and have changed the proposed policy to address these.

65 FR 46710: On July 31, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was submitting an ICR on PCBs: Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before August 30, 2000.

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For technical questions regarding the subject matter, please send email to: Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov