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

Volume 20, Number 6 - June 12, 1998

From Washington D.C.:

EPA ANNOUNCES ITS INTENT TO ADOPT A PERFORMANCE BASED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR RCRA MONITORING AND AMEND PUBLICATION SW-846

On May 8, EPA published a notice of intent in the Federal Register (63 FR 25430) to reform RCRA-related monitoring and amend EPA publication SW-846, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods". EPA is taking these actions as part of its effort to implement President Clinton's program for reinventing government and reforming regulatory policy. Changes to these programs include:

EPA is requesting public comment on these changes and has a number of questions for the public to consider in the Federal Register. Also, through this notice, EPA is announcing the availability of a draft update IVA to the Third Edition of SW-846 and is requesting public comment on this update. Wayne Toebe with FDH's Enviornmental Protection is currently reviewing these actions to determine their impact at Hanford. Comments on this notice must be received in EPA by June 22, 1998.

EPA PUBLISHES GUIDELINES ON ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

On May 14, EPA published a document entitled, "Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment" in the Federal Register (63 FR 26846). These final guidelines were published as proposed guidelines in the Federal Register on September 9, 1996 and incorporate revisions based on comments received during the public comment period. They also expand upon and replace the previous guidance entitled "Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment" published in February 1992. In the guidance, EPA discusses the three primary phases of ecological risk assessment which are:

The guidelines were developed by EPA to improve the quality and consistency of ecological risk assessments. They are to be primarily used by risk assessors and risk managers at EPA but will also be useful to persons outside the agency. They became effective April 30, 1998. For more information, email or call Marsha_A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE FOR HAZARDOUS SOILS TREATMENT STANDARDS

On May 26, EPA published its final Land Disposal Restrictions Phase IV rule (63 FR 28556) establishing treatment standards for metal wastes, mineral processing wastes, and hazardous soils as well as establishing requirements for mineral processing secondary materials, Bevill Amendment exclusions and exclusions for recycled wood preserving wastewaters. The provisions of this final rule that potentially impact Hanford are:

EPA has determined that the LDR treatment standards for TC metals and newly identifited mineral processing wastes do not apply to soils contaminated with these hazardous wastes. These contaminated soils will be subject to the treatment standards for soil proposed in the Hazardous Waste Identification Rule for Contaminated Media. The final rule becomes effective August 24, 1998. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 372-2359.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
63 FR 24596
On May 4, EPA published its final rule adding two new hazardous waste codes to the list of hazardous waste in 40 CFR Part 261. The codes to be added include K140 for floor seepings, off-specification product and spent filter media from the production of 2.4.6-tribromophenol and U408 for 2,4,6-tribromophenol being added to the list of commercial chemical products and the list of hazardous constituents in Appendix VIII. EPA is also adding these wastes to the land disposal treatment standards for hazardous waste in 40 CFR Part 268. The final rule becomes effective November 4, 1998.
63 FR 24782
On May 5, EPA published a notice providing the schedule for responding to the remand of the final decision on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide published on May 22, 1996; the interim action EPA is taking on the 5-minute peak SO2 levels; and requesting comments on information and analysis of the 5-minute peak SO2 concentrations in ambient air. Comments must be received in EPA by November 1, 1998.
63 FR 24784
On May 5 EPA published a notice announcing that the Joint EPA/State Agreement to Pursue Regulatory Innovation was recently signed. The intent of the agreement is to ensure joint decision-making by EPA and the states, timely review, broad public involvement and continued progress in implementing ideas that are good for the environment and the public. The agreement was effective April 29, 1998.
63 FR 24963
On May 6, EPA published its direct final rule amending the used oil management standards. The direct final rule eliminates certian errors and clarifies ambiguities with the used oil management standards. Particularly, the rule clarifies that when used oil is contamnated with PCBs it is regulated under the used oil management standards and when it is not that the requirements are applicable in states that are not RCRA-authorized. EPA is also publishing a proposed rule elsewhere in the Federal Register. Comments on the direct final rule must be received in EPA by June 5, 1998. If no adverse comments are received then the direct final rule becomes effective July 6, 1998.
63 FR 25430
On May 8, EPA published a notice of intent to adopt a preformance-based measurement system for environmental monitoring and to improve availability and distribution of the EPA-approved test methods manual entitled "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods", EPA Publication SW-846 (see article this edition). Comments on this notice must be received in EPA by June 22, 1998.
63 FR 26078
On May 12, EPA published its final amendments to the National Emissions for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories; Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry to add tetrahydrobenzaldehyde and crotonaldehyde to the list of chemical production prcesses. The final rule became effective May 12, 1998.
63 FR
63 FR 26926—On May 14, EPA published a notice announcing the availability of a document entitled, "Guidelines for Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment". The notice discusses the: scientific basis for concern about the exposure to agents that cause neurotoxicity; the general process for assessing potential risks to humans; addresses public comments on the proposed guidelines published in the Federal Register in 1995 (60 FR 52032-52056). The guidelines became effective on April 30, 1998.
63 FR 26846
On May 14, EPA published a notice announcing the availability of a document entitled, "Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment" (see article this edition). The guidelines expand on and replace the previously published EPA report entitled, "Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (EPA/630/R-92/001) which proposed principles and terminology for the ecological risk assessment process. The final guidelines incorporate revisions based on public comment and comments from the Science Advisory Board. The final guidelines became effective April 30, 1998.
WSR 98-09-117
On May 6, Department of Health published its final rule amending Chapters 246-249 WAC, Radioactive Waste - Use of the Commercial Disposal Site and Chapter 246-250 WAC, Radioactive Waste - Licensing Land Disposal. These amendments change the definitions relating to low-level radioactive waste in order to make them consistent with federal rule and require the use of the uniform low-level radioactive waste disposal manifest. The final rule became effective May 20, 1998.
WSR 98-10-034
On May 20, Ecology published an expedited adoption to amend Chapter 173-400 WAC, General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources and Chapter 173-460 WAC, Controls for New Sources of Toxic Air Pollutants. The rules are being amended to be consistent with federal requirements. Ecology is using the expedited adoption process for this rulemaking. Objections to the use of this process must be received in Ecology by July 4, 1998.
WSR 98-10-091
On May 20, Ecology published an expedited adoption to amend Chapter 173-360 WAC, Underground Storage Tanks. The rule is being amended to increase the annual tank fee to $100 starting July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999. It will also allow Ecology to use the fiscal growth factor to calculate the fee for the next year. Ecology is using the expedited adoption process for this rulemaking. Objections to this process must be received in Ecology by July 4, 1998.
WSR 98-10-033
On May 20, Ecology published an emergency rule to amend Chapter 173-160 WAC, Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Water Wells. The rule is being amended to revise the casing well thickness of 6 inch and 8 inch diameter pipe. The emergency rule is effective immediately.

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Last Updated: June 10, 1998