Environmental
Report
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Hanford
Environmental Report |
| Dedicated to Environmental Compliance | |
Volume 22, Number 12 - December 8, 2000
On November 27, 2000, EPA published a notice (65 FR 70678) in the Federal Register announcing that the Draft Update IVB to the Third Edition of the methods manual, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods" (EPA publication SW-846) was available for review and comment. EPA Publication SW-846 contains EPA-approved sampling and analysis methods that are used to comply with RCRA. The manual was updated in response to language the Senate Appropriations Committee included in a report on a Bill which required EPA to publish an update within 30-days of enactment of the Bill. President Clinton signed the Bill on October 27, 2000. The draft update revises seven of 13 chapters. It also revises 15 test or sampling preparation methods and proposes to add 12 new methods. Additionally, it includes four methods EPA has developed for use in determining air pollution from hazardous wastes.
Draft Update IVB is being released as guidance only. The methods in the draft can be used in all applications for which the use of SW-846 methods are not mandatory under RCRA and for which they are effective. EPA has indicated in the notice that facilities should consult with the appropriate regulating entities before using these methods to comply with the regulation. EPA also indicated in the notice that it is changing its approach on releasing future SW-846 updates. The Agency is currently developing a proposed rule to remove unnecessary required uses of SW-846 methods from the RCRA regulation. If the rule is finalized, EPA will generally only require the use of a particular method when it is referenced specifically in the regulation. The Draft Update IVB can be obtained from the Internet athttp://www.epa.gov/SW-846 or ordered from the National Technical Information Service at (800) 553-6847. Comments on the draft update must be received by EPA on or before February 26, 2001. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2359.
EPA REVISES THE METHODOLOGY FOR DERIVING AMBIENT WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR HUMAN HEALTH
On November 3, 2000, EPA published a notice (65 FR 66444) in the Federal Register announcing that the final revisions to the Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health (2000 HH Methodology) was available. The 2000 HH Methodology supersedes the existing guidelines entitled, "Guidelines and Methodology Used in the Preparation of Health Effects Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree Water Criteria Documents," published by EPA in November 1980. EPA has revised the Human Health Methodology as required by Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, which states that EPA must periodically update the water quality criteria to accurately reflect the latest knowledge on the extent and kind of identifiable effects of pollutants in a water body for health and welfare.
Human health ambient water quality criteria are numeric values for pollutant concentrations in ambient waters considered to be protective of human health. The criteria are based solely on data and scientific judgments on the relationship between pollutant concentrations and environmental and human health effects. The criteria are used by States and Tribes to establish water quality standards and provide the basis for controlling discharges or releases of pollutants. The criteria also provide guidance to EPA when promulgating federal regulations. The HH Methodology is used by EPA to derive or revise the human health criteria. It provides the means for developing water quality criteria, including procedures for evaluating cancer risk, non-cancer health effects, human exposure and bioaccumulation in fish. The HH Methodology is also used as guidance by States and Tribes for establishing human health water quality criteria. EPA has stated in the notice that the revisions to the 2000 HH Methodology are not regulations and do not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, Tribes or the public. A copy of the 2000 HH Methodology can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/OST/humanhealth. For more information, email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 373-4932.
ECOLOGY RELEASES THE FINAL DRAFT STORMWATER MANUAL
Ecology recently released the final draft Stormwater Manual for Western Washington, which will replace the current manual, "Stormwater Management Manual for the Puget Sound Basin" (1992 Manual) published in 1992. The 1992 Manual has been used by businesses and local jurisdictions throughout the state including eastern Washington to design stormwater programs to protect the state's waters. Ecology is revising the 1992 Manual to include more current research in the area of stormwater runoff, to satisfy new requirements of the Endangered Species Act, to anticipate new federal stormwater rules which will require the use of a more technically sound manual, and to broaden the applicability of the manual to areas outside the Puget Sound area. Key changes of the manual include:
Ecology published an initial draft in the fall of 1999 and held public workshops. Public input from these workshops, as well as input from advisory committees, has been incorporated into this final draft. Ecology will be developing a separate Manual for Eastern Washington, which will be completed in October 2002. Until it is completed, the Stormwater Manual for Western Washington will be used statewide. The final draft Stormwater Manual is available on the Internet at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/manual.html. Comments on the final draft must be received by EPA on or before November 17, 2000. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2359.
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