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

Volume 20, Number 7 - July 10, 1998

From Washington D.C.:

EPA ISSUES FINAL PCB-MEGA RULE

On June 29, EPA published its final rule amending 40 CFR Parts 750 and 761 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which addresses the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, cleanup, storage and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This rule is also known as the PCB-Mega rule. The final rule is intended to streamline procedures and be self-implementing. It contains provisions that:

The rule also codifies a number of policies EPA has developed and implemented over a 19 year period. Tom Quayle with Fluor Daniel Hanford's Environmental Protection is currently evaluating this rule to determine how it will impact Hanford. The final rule becomes effective August 28, 1998. For more information, email or call Thomas_A_Tom_Quayle@rl.gov at (509) 376-5223.

THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) EXEMPTS DOE'S VITRIFIED PLUTONIUM WASTE FROM DOUBLE-CONTAINMENT PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

On June 15, the NRC published final amendments to 40 CFR Part 71 (63 FR 32600) to exempt vitrified plutonium waste that is contained in sealed canisters from the double-containment transportation packaging requirements. This amendment responds to a petition DOE submitted to the NRC on November 30, 1993 asking that the NRC amend this rule. The NRC subsequently published a notice of DOE's request in the Federal Register (59 FR 8143) in February 1994.

In most instances, DOE is not subject to NRC transportation requirements; however, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act requires that DOE transport spent nuclear fuel or high level waste to geologic repositories or a monitored retrievable storage facilities in packages that are certified by the NRC.

In its petition, DOE argued that because of: the material properties of the vitrified plutonium, the fact that the plutonium waste is confined in stainless steel canisters and the fact that DOE implements an NRC-approved quality assurance program makes it highly unlikely that the plutonium waste would be released under normal hypothetical accident conditions. DOE also argued that the particular form of vitrified plutonium waste contained in sealed canisters is similar to the form of plutonium in reactor fuel elements which are currently exempt from NRC's double-containment requirements.

The final rule becomes effective July 15, 1998. For more information, email or call Donald_W_Jr_Fritz@rl.gov at (509) 372-2066.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
63 FR 29992
On June 2, EPA published a notice announcing that the Drinking Water Committee of the Science Advisory Board would meet on June 18-19 at 3 p.m. in EPA's Headquarters Office, Washington, D.C. to discuss EPA's drinking water contaminant occurrence data base; technologies for small systems and drinking water intake.
63 FR 31268
On June 8, EPA published its proposed rule amending the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know regulation. The proposed changes are intended to reduce reporting requirements. EPA is setting new reporting thresholds for some additional hazardous chemicals, clarifying the provisions for the mixture requirements, raising reporting thresholds for gasoline/diesel fuel in underground tanks at retail stations, and publishing draft guidance in the preamble giving State and local governments more discretion in implementing federal requirements. Comments on this proposed rule must be received in EPA by September 8, 1998.
63 FR 31885
On June 8, President Clinton published a memorandum to all federal agencies that starting October 1, 1998, they will use plain language in all new documents such as letters, forms, notices, instructions except regulations. The memorandum also states that by January 1, 2002, the agencies will revise all documents as resources are available that were created prior to October 1, 1998 to use plain langauge. The President also is requesting that by January 1, 1999, federal agencies use plain language in all proposed and final rulemaking documents and is encouraging agencies to rewrite existing rules in plain language as resources permit. The memorandum became effective immediately.
63 FR 32044
On June 11, EPA published its proposed rule amending to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act on refrigerant recycling to clarify how the requirements of this section extend to refrigerants that are used as substitutes for chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The proposed rule supplements a prohibition on venting substitute refrigerants to the atmosphere that became effective November 15, 1995. Comments on this proposed rule must be received in EPA by September 1, 1998.
63 FR 32600
On June 15, the NRC published its final rule amending 40 CFR Part 71 to exempt plutonium waste from the double-containment requirements (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective July 15, 1998.
63 FR 35384
On June 29, EPA published its final rule amending the Toxic Substances Control Act which addresses the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, cleanup, storage, and disposal of PCBs (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective August 28, 1998.
WSR 98-11-099
On June 3, Ecology published an expedited rule amending Chapter 173-30 WAC, Public Records. The purpose of this amendment is to update agency addresses and clarify certain other sections. Objections to this amendment being adopted using the expedited rulemaking process must be received in Ecology by July 18, 1998.
WSR 98-12-101
On June 17, Ecology published a notice announcing that it was seeking public comment on options for designating areas of ozone and particulate matter in the state under the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards. A public hearing is scheduled for July 1, 1998 at 2 p.m. in the Department of Ecology Headquarters office in Lacey. Comments must be received in Ecology by July 10, 1998.

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URL: http://www.hanford.gov/pubs/envnews/july1998.html
Last Updated: July, 15 1998