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

Volume 20, Number 3 - March 13, 1998

From Washington D.C.:

EPA REISSUES NPDES GENERAL PERMITS FOR STORM WATER DISCHARGES FROM CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

On February 17, EPA published a notice announcing that it was reissuing final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits in Regions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 for storm water discharges from construction activities. These permits will replace the NPDES general permit for these same activities that expired in September 1997. Changes to the previous general permit include:

Jay Kapadia with Fluor Daniel Hanford's Environmental Protection is reviewing the requirements to determine how they will impact Hanford. The general permit became effective on February 17, 1998. For more information, email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 373-4932.

EPA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE AMENDING THE NPDES STORM WATER DISCHARGE PROGRAM

EPA recently published its proposed rule amending the NPDES Storm Water Discharge Program. This amendment will expand the existing program, which covers major industrial facilities, medium to large city storm sewers, and construction sites of 5 acres or more, to include smaller municipalities and construction sites that disturb 1 to 5 acres. In addition to this expansion, EPA is proposing to:

Comments on the proposed rule must be received in EPA by April 9, 1998. Jay Kapadia is reviewing the rule to determine how it will impact Hanford. For more information, email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 373-4932.

From Olympia:

ECOLOGY CONTINUES WATER QUALITY STANDARDS TRIENNIAL REVIEW

Ecology is continuing its surface water quality standards triennial review with the recent release of several draft discussion papers. These discussion papers detail Ecology's proposal to change the current standards to a use-based structure and include the following topics:

Ecology has also prepared draft discussion papers on two other topics: the antidegradation implementation plan and phasing out the use of mixing zones for certain bioaccumulative pollutants. Ecology will be holding several workshops throughout the state including a workshop in Kennewick on March 3 at the Ecology Kennewick Office from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to discuss these topics. Jay Kapadia is currently reviewing these documents to determine how the proposals impact Hanford. Comments on the discussion papers must be received in Ecology by March 27, 1998. For more information, email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 373-4932.

ECOLOGY ISSUES FINAL AMENDMENTS TO THE WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT FEES RULE

On February 4, Ecology published final rule amendments to Chapter 173-224 WAC, Wastewater Discharge Permit Fees. This rule provides the fee schedule Ecology uses in assessing annual permit fees to wastewater and/or stormwater permit holders. The final rule amendments increase the annual wastewater permit fees by 4.05% in FY 98 and 4.01% in FY99. Ecology also finalized changes that will:

The final rule was adopted on January 15, 1998. It became effective on February 16, 1998. For more information, email or call Christopher_P_Strand@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 376-8556.

KEY REGULATORY REFORM BILL MOVING THROUGH LEGISLATURE

Substitute House Bill 2345 continues to move through the legislative process. This Bill writes into law Governor Locke's Executive Order 97-02 on regulatory reform which would :

The Bill also includes sections of a previous regulatory reform Bill, ESSHB 1032, that were vetoed by the Governor and language that requires agencies to disclose interpretive and policy statements. For more information, email or call Marsha_A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

BRIEFLY

EPA has recently released its draft implementation plan for reassessing chemical cancer risk assessments. This document describes the process EPA will use to prioritize chemicals for review under this reassessment. EPA anticipates finalizing these guidelines this spring. The draft implementation plan can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/riskassf.htm.

The Department of Defense, DOE, EPA, and NRC recently announced that the final manual entitled, "Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual" is available. This manual describes how radiation surveys and investigations of potentially contaminated sites are conducted to demonstrate compliance with radiation standards. It can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/radiation.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
Note: For electronic copies of Federal Register (FR) items or hard copies of Washington State Register (WSR) items listed here, email or call JoAnn_A_ McCoy@rl.gov of Waste Management Federal Services of Hanford, Inc. at (509) 372-3596.
63 FR 5915
On February 5, EPA published a notice announcing that it was extending the public comment period on the proposed amendments to the test rule under 40 CFR 799 for testing certain hazardous air pollutants for specific health effects. The deadline for the public comment period has been extended from February 9, 1998 to May 11, 1998. EPA is also extending the deadline for receipt of proposals for enforceable consent agreements for HAPs test rule chemicals from February 9, 1998 to March 11, 1998. Comments on the proposed rule amendments must be received in EPA by May 11, 1998.
63 FR 6426
On February 6, EPA published its proposed rule to set effluent limits and pretreatment standards for wastewater discharges from stand-alone landfills that are not associated with other industrial or commercial activities. The proposed rule would set limits for wastewater discharges to navigable waters for new and existing hazardous and non-hazardous landfills regulated under Subtitle C and D, respectively, of RCRA. Comments on the proposed rule must be received in EPA by May 7, 1998.
63 FR 6493
On February 9, EPA published a correction to the effective date of its final rule adding Method 29 "Determination of Metals Emissions from Stationary Sources" to appendix A of 40 CFR Part 60 and amending Method 101A of appendix B of 40 CFR Part 61. The new effective date is February 9, 1998.
63 FR 7155
On February 12, EPA published revisions that have been made or that are proposed to be made to the list of categories of sources of hazardous air pollutants under section 112 of the Clean Air Act. EPA has also published schedules for promulgation of emission standards for these categories. The revisions became effective February 12, 1998.
63 FR 7606
On February 13, EPA published its proposed rule under amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act to require community water system purveyors to prepare and provide annual water quality reports to their customers. Comments on the proposed rule must be received in EPA by March 30, 1998.
63 FR 7858
On February 17, EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 published final NPDES general permits for storm water discharges associated with construction activities (see article this edition). This permit replaces the general permit for this activity which expired in September 1997. The general permit became effective on February 17, 1998.
63 FR 8140
On February 18, the Department of Transportation published technical amendments to its final rule amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations published in the Federal Register on January 8, 1997. This final rule expanded the scope of the regulations to all intrastate transportation of hazardous materials. The final rule became effective on February 18, 1998.
63 FR 8196
On February 18, EPA published a notice announcing that it has issued guidance for Implementing the 1-Hour Ozone and Pre-existing PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard. It applies to all areas now subject to the 1-hour ozone standard and pre-existing PM10 standard regardless of a facility's attainment status.
63 FR 9151
On February 24, EPA published a notice with an expanded list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under the Significant New Alternatives Policy program. The expanded list became effective on February 24, 1998.
63 FR 9149
On February 24, EPA published its final notice of proposed rulemaking to amend certain sections of 40 CFR Part 51. This action is being taken in response to adverse comments EPA received when it deleted these sections through a direct final rule published April 11, 1996. As a separate action, EPA is also removing sections 40 CFR 51.103(a)(1) and (a)(2) since they were superseded by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking must be received in EPA by March 26, 1998.
WSR 98-03-018
On February 4, Ecology published its final rule amending the Chapter 173-303 WAC, the Dangerous Waste Regulations. The amendments incorporate changes made to the federal hazardous waste requirements. The amendment also includes a conditional exclusion for recycled antifreeze. The final rule became effective February 12, 1998.
WSR 98-03-095
On February 4, the Department of Health (DOH) published amendments to Chapter 246-249 WAC, Radioactive Waste - Use of the Commercial Disposal Site, and Chapter 246-250 WAC, Radioactive Waste - Licensing Land Disposal, under the expedited adoption process. The amendments are intended to make the existing regulation compatible with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules as necessary under the Agreement State Status. Comments on this proposal must be received in DOH by March 21, 1998.
WSR 98-03-046
On February 4, Ecology published its final rule amending Chapter 173-224 WAC, Wastewater Discharge Permit Fees (see article, this edition). The final rule amends the annual permit fees for wastewater/stormwater permit holders. The final rule became effective on February 16, 1998.
WSR 98-04-020
On February 18, Ecology published a notice announcing that the adoption date to amend Chapter 173-160 WAC, the Water Well Construction Act and Chapter 173-162 WAC, Regulations for Licensing of Well Contractors and Operators, has been extended from December 30, 1997 to March 6, 1998.
WSR 98-04-018
On February 18, Ecology published an extension to the existing emergency rule for processing certain water rights or applications for transfer of water rights since the adoption of the permanent rule has been extended from December 17, 1997 to February 18, 1998. The emergency rule is effective immediately.
WSR 98-04-019
On February 18, Ecology published a notice announcing that it was extending the date for adopting Chapter 173-152 WAC, Prioritizing Certain Water Right Applications, from December 17, 1997 to February 18, 1998.

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Last Updated: March 11, 1998