Hanford
Environmental
Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 22, Number 6 - June 9, 2000

From Washington D.C.:

EPA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR RADIONUCLIDE EMISSIONS AT DOE FACILITIES

On May 9, 2000, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal Register (65 FR 29934) to amend Subpart H of 40 CFR, Part 61, the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) for radionuclides (other than radon-222 and -220) that are emitted by facilities owned or operated by the DOE. The proposed rulemaking will also apply to non-DOE facilities in Subpart I of 40 CFR Part 61. The purpose of Subpart H is to limit radionuclide emissions from the stacks and vents at DOE facilities so that no member of the public receives an effective dose equivalent of more than 10 millirem (mrem) per year. Likewise, facilities affected by Subpart I are limited to radionuclide emissions including iodine from stacks and vents so that no member of the public receives a dose equivalent of more than 10 mrem/year including an effective dose equivalent of 3 mrem/year for iodine.

Both Subparts H and I require emission sampling, monitoring, and calculations to determine compliance with the standards. The measurements are required to be done in accordance with ANSI N13.1-1969, "Guide to Sampling Airborne Radioactive Materials at Nuclear Facilities." However, this guidance has recently been revised, changed, and retitled, ANSI N13.1-1999, "Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stacks and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities." The purpose of this NPR is to require that facilities use ANSI N13.1-1999 after October 1, 2000, as the sampling guidance for any newly constructed source and any source undergoing modification that are subject to these radionuclide NESHAPS. Bill Davis with Fluor Hanford's Environmental Services, Compliance Field Services, is evaluating this NPR to determine how it will impact Hanford. Comments on this NPR must be received by EPA on or before June 9, 2000. For more information, email or call William_E_Davis@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 376-3861.

EPA STREAMLINES THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM REGULATION

On May 15, 2000, EPA published final rule amendments in the Federal Register (65 FR 30886) to streamline the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulation. This revision responds to a directive issued by President Clinton on February 21, 1995, that requires Federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of their regulations in order to identify those rules that are obsolete or unduly burdensome. This is the second round of amendments to streamline the NPDES program regulations. The first round was published in the Federal Register on June 29, 1995.

In March and April of 1995, EPA solicited informal comments from the public, regulated facilities, States, and municipalities on ways to identify rules that are obsolete, redundant, or unduly burdensome. EPA also held a number of public meetings and on April 3, 1996, issued a preliminary report which identified those provisions of the regulation that could be streamlined. On December 11, 1996, EPA proposed amendments in the Federal Register (61 FR 65268). In this action, EPA is issuing the final rule with revisions that include:

The final rule becomes effective June 14, 2000. Wayne Toebe with Fluor Hanford's Environmental Services, Compliance Field Services, is reviewing the final rule to determine how it will impact Hanford. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2359.

BRIEFLY:

EPA recently announced that it will soon publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register that discusses changes the agency could make to the hazardous waste land disposal restrictions (LDR) program. This ANPR will be soliciting comment from the public on these amendments. Some of the changes EPA is considering include:

The ANPR was approved by the OMB on April 21 and is expected to be published in the Federal Register soon.

On May 3, 2000, EPA released a draft guidance manual which implements the radionuclides in drinking water rule due to be finalized under a court order November 21, 2000. The draft guidance is intended to assist public water systems, states, and EPA regional offices in complying with the rule. The draft guidance includes an explanation of the rules requirements, provides guidance for preparing state primacy revisions; and provides information on grandfathered data, monitoring waivers, requirements for new systems, approved laboratory methods, treatment technologies, timetable with key dates for complying with the new rule and costs. The draft guidance can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW.

President Clinton recently issued an executive order (E.O. 13148) that requires federal agencies to conduct audits of their environmental management systems (EMSs). Under this order, each agency will be required to develop an agency-wide self-assessment of its EMSs by the end of October 2001 and to implement pilot projects to illustrate the adopted EMSs by May 2002. These EMSs are required to be implemented at all appropriate agency facilities by December 31, 2005. Additionally, the executive order expands the compliance requirements of federal agencies under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act by requiring them to adopt the goal of reducing by 10% annually or by 40% overall releases and transfers of chemicals that must be reported. The executive order also requires that federal agencies reduce their use of 15 priority chemicals by 50% by December 31, 2006.

On May 10, 2000, Ecology announced that it plans to reissue the stormwater general permits for industrial and construction activities in November without any changes to the requirements in the current permits. The current general permits expire November 18, 2000. Ecology is proposing to revise and reissue these permits in a two-step process: reissue the permits as is with an expiration date for these permits of November 18, 2005; revise and renew the permits immediately after they are reissued to comply with EPA's Phase II Storm Water Regulations. Ecology is interested in any comments stakeholders have regarding this proposed two-step process.

On May 10, 2000, EPA published a NPR in the Federal Register (65 FR 30194) to require a targeted risk-based regulatory strategy for all ground water systems under the National Primary Drinking Water Standards. The proposed requirements are intended to reduce public health risk associated with the consumption of water-borne pathogens from fecal contamination for persons served water by ground water systems. Certain facilities at Hanford served by ground water will be affected by this rule, however, many of the requirements for disinfection are already being implemented at these facilities. Comments on the NPR must be received by EPA on or before July 10, 2000.

On May 23, 2000, EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (65 FR 33268) to improve and simplify emission reporting. This action directly impacts local, state, and federal agencies but will indirectly impact regulated facilities. In the proposed rule, EPA has consolidated reporting requirements, improved reporting efficiency, provided flexibility for data gathering and reporting, and explained the need for a consistent inventory program. EPA is also adding reporting requirements for hazardous air pollutants and particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers as well as reducing the reporting requirements for other criteria pollutants. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by EPA on or before July 7, 2000.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
65 FR 25322
On May 1, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that they have submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) on Part 72, Federal Operating Permit Rules to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before June 30, 2000.
65 FR 25982
On May 4, 2000, EPA published a final rule revision to implement the public notification requirements of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments. The final rule became effective on June 5, 2000.
65 FR 26196
On May 5, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that EPA has submitted an ICR on Hazardous Waste Specific Unit Requirements and Special Waste Processes and Types to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before July 5, 2000.
65 FR 26603
On May 8, 2000, EPA published a notice designating two new reference methods for measuring concentrations of PM 2.5 and four new equivalent methods for measuring concentrations of O3, SO2, NO2, and Pb in ambient air.
65 FR 26829
On May 9, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was submitting an ICR on Investigations into Possible Noncompliance of Stationary Sources with the Accidental Release Prevention Program to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before July 10, 2000.
65 FR 29934
On May 9, 2000, EPA published a NPR to amend the regulations that apply to operations owned or operated by the DOE that emit radionuclides other than radon-222 and radon 220 into the air (see article, this edition). The proposed rulemaking also applies to non-DOE federal facilities in the radionuclide NESHAPs. Comments on the NPR must be received by EPA on or before June 9, 2000.
65 FR 30194
On May 10, 2000, EPA published a NPR to require a targeted risk-based strategy for all ground water public water supply systems (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before July 10, 2000.
65 FR 30886
On May 15, 2000, EPA published a final rule revising the NPDES regulations (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective June 14, 2000.
65 FR 31309
On May 17, 2000, EPA published a notice adding the chemical substances hexachlorobenzene and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-triazine to the Integrated Risk Information System and soliciting scientific data for consideration. Information must be received by EPA on or before July 17, 2000.
65 FR 31551
On May 18, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on Performance Track Program Level One: The Environmental Achievement Track, has been submitted to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 19, 2000.
65 FR 31858
On May 19, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing the Seventh Conference on Air Quality modeling. The purpose of the Conference is to provide a forum for public review on the proposed rule revising the Guidelines for Air Quality Models. These revisions are based on comments received during the Sixth Conference. The Conference will be held June 28, 2000, and June 29, 2000, at EPA Headquarters in Washington D.C. Comments on the revisions must be received by EPA on or before August 21, 2000.
65 FR 31894
On May 19, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on Establishing No-Discharge Zones under the Clean Water Act under Section 312 has been submitted to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before July 18, 2000.
65 FR 31896
On May19, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on Chemical-Specific Rules, under TSCA Section 8(a) has been submitted to OMB for review and approval. Comments must be received by EPA on or before July 18, 2000.
65 FR 32035
On May 22, 2000, EPA published a final rule amending the operating permits regulation to extend the deadline for all operating permits program interim approvals until December 1, 2001. The final rule became effective May 31, 2000.
65 FR 33268
On May 23, 2000, EPA published a proposed rule to improve and simplify emissions reporting (see briefly, this edition). Comments must be received by EPA on or before July 7, 2000.
65 FR 34172
On May 26, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on the proposed revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation has been forwarded to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 26, 2000.
WSR 00-09-083
On May 3, 2000, Ecology published a notice announcing that it was withdrawing the proposed rule amending the Model Toxics Control Act, Chapter 173-340 WAC, the Remedial Action Grants, Chapter 173-322 WAC, and the Public Participation Grants, Chapter 173-321 WAC. The withdrawal is the result of an administrative error.
WSR 00-10-052
On May 17, 2000, Ecology published an expedited adoption to amend the pollution prevention plans rule, Chapter 173-307 WAC. The amendment will correct errors in punctuation and grammar as well as clarify the language of the rule. Objections to the proposed rule being adopted under this expedited rulemaking process must be expressed in writing and received by Ecology on or before July 5, 2000.
WSR 00-10-053
On May 17, 2000, Ecology published an expedited adoption to amend the Hazardous Waste Fee regulation. The amendment is being proposed to make the rule consistent with Chapter 70.95 RCW, to correct grammatical and punctuation errors, and to clarify the language of the rule. Objections to the proposed rule being adopted using the expedited rulemaking process must be expressed in writing and received by Ecology on or before July 5, 2000.
WSR 00-10-054
On May 17, 2000, Ecology published an expedited adoption to amend Chapter 173-240 WAC, Submission of Plans and Reports for Construction of Wastewater Facilities. This rule is being amended to correct grammatical and punctuation errors and to clarify the language of the rule. Objections to the rule being adopted using the expedited rulemaking process must be expressed in writing and received by Ecology on or before July 5, 2000.

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