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

Volume 20, Number 5 - May 8, 1998

From Washington D.C.:

EPA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO THE CLEAN AIR ACT RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RULES

On April 17, EPA published its proposed amendments to the risk management program rule under 40 CFR Part 68 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). This rule requires owners and operators of stationary sources to submit risk management plans to EPA by June 21, 1999. Amendments that EPA is making to the rule include:

EPA will also be making technical corrections and clarifications to the rule. Comments on the amendments must be received in EPA by June 1, 1998. FDH's Environmental Protection is currently reviewing the rule to determine how it will impact Hanford. For more information, email or call Kirk_A_Peterson@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 372-2364.

EPA PLANS TWO RULEMAKINGS UNDER RCRA TO EASE REGULATORY BURDENS FOR GENERATORS

EPA plans two rulemakings this year that will ease the regulatory burden for hazardous waste generators. These rulemaking efforts include the following:

FDH's Environmental Protection staff will be monitoring these rulemakings as they move forward to determine their impact at Hanford. For more information, email or call Marsha_A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

Briefly:

On April 13, EPA released a draft report entitled, "Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides". This draft report provides a comprehensive tabulation of cancer risk coefficients that use up to date models for estimating cancer risks from external and internal exposure. EPA is asking for comment by June 30, 1998. For a copy, contact EPA's National Center for Environmental Publications at (800) 490-9198.

On March 24, EPA released a document entitled, "Guidance for Implementing Superfund Reform Initiative 9a: Risk Sharing". This guidance is intended to encourage the development and use of innovative technologies at Superfund sites. Under the guidance, EPA has agreed to share the risk of implementing new remediation technologies that will improve performance and reduce costs. A copy of the guidance can be obtained on the Internet at http://clu-in.com/oswerdir.htm or email or call Marsha_A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

On April 14, EPA released guidance entitled, "Guidance on Potential to Emit Under the CAA". This guidance addresses the minor source status of eight source categories of lower emitting air sources. EPA has issued the guidance to States and local agencies for use in establishing potential-to-emit limits for small sources. A copy of this guidance can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
63 FR 15765
On April 1, EPA published its direct final rule revising the Toxic Substances Control Act Section 8(d) health and safety data reporting rule. This rule requires chemical manufacturers and processors of listed substances and listed mixtures to report unpublished health and safety studies. This rule revision is part of EPA's 1994 regulatory review process. Comments on the rule revisions must be received in EPA by May 1, 1998.
63 FR 16070
On April 1, the Department of Transportation published revisions to its final rule published January 8, 1997 amending the Hazardous Material Regulations to better identify hazardous materials in transportation. These revisions respond, in part, to four petitions for reconsideration and one appeal DOT received during the public comment period. The final rule becomes effective October 1, 1998.
63 FR 16182
On April 2, EPA published its proposed rule to revise the human health water quality criteria for PCBs in the National Toxics Rule under the Clean Water Act. The NTR establishes numeric water quality criteria for toxic pollutants in 14 states that have not yet adopted criteria necessary to comply with the Clean Water Act. EPA is taking this action based on a reassessment of the cancer potency of PCBs. Comments on this proposed rule must be received in EPA by June 1, 1998.
63 FR 17331
On April 9, EPA published its final rule revising the definition of volatile organic compounds for the purpose of preparing State Implementation Plans for attaining the national ambient air quality standards for ozone under Title I of the Clean Air Act. This revision adds methyl acetate to the list of compounds excluded from the definition of VOC. The final rule becomes effective May 11, 1998.
63 FR 17414
On April 9, EPA published a notice announcing that it is extending the policy on civil enforcement of the storage prohibition in Section 3004(j) of RCRA at facilities that generate mixed waste. EPA is extending the policy from April 1996 to October 31, 1998. The policy affects mixed wastes that are prohibited from land disposal for which there are no available options for treatment or disposal. The extension became effective April 21, 1998.
63 FR 17838
On April 10, EPA published its list of source categories for regulation under section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act. This listing is to identify source categories for which additional standards can be developed under Section 112(d). Based on this list, EPA will perform further analyses on emissions and control methods for the source categories listed.
63 FR 18911
On April 16, EPA published a notice announcing that it has designated three reference methods for measuring PM 2.5 concentrations in ambient air. These methods are acceptable for use by states and other air monitoring agencies under the requirements of 40 CFR Part 58 for ambient air quality surveillance. Each method is a manual monitoring method based on a particular PM 2.5 sampler.
63 FR 19216
On April 17, EPA published its proposed rule to amend the risk management program regulations under the accidental release prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act (see article, this edition). EPA is proposing amendments to this rule to adopt the government's new industrial classification systems, add data elements to the risk management program, establish procedures for protecting confidential information and clarify certain provisions of the rule. Comments on the proposed rule must be received in EPA by June 1, 1998.
63 FR 19573
On April 20, DOT published a notice announcing that the 1998-1999 registration year under the Hazardous Materials Registration Program will begin July 1, 1998. Persons who transport or who offer certain hazardous materials for transportation are required to file an annual registration statement and pay DOT a fee. Those transporters who registered for the 1997-1998 year will be automatically mailed a registration form and information brochure.
63 FR 19694
On April 21, EPA published its amended proposed rule under Section 4(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act that would require manufacturers and processors to test hazardous air pollutants included in the amended proposed test rule for certain health effects. This amended proposed rule revises provisions that identify the person who would be required to test under the rule and provides guidance on what their responsibilities would be. Comments on the amended proposed rule must be received in EPA by June 22, 1998.
WSR 98-07-082
On April 1, the Department of Health published a proposed rule to increase fees for water system evaluation and project review under Chapters 246-290-900 WAC and water works certification under Chapter 246-292-160 WAC. The increase in these fees is necessary to stay current with operator certification requirements mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act and to meet increased program costs as a result of a 3% cost of living adjustment in salaries. Comments on this proposed rule must be received in DOH by April 22, 1998.
WSR 98-08-031
On April 15, Ecology published its final amended rule governing the regulation and licensing of well contractors and operators under Chapter 173-162 WAC. The purpose of the amendment was to establish procedures for the examination, licensing, and regulation of water well contractors and drillers. The final rule became effective April 23, 1998.
WSR 98-08-032
On April 15, Ecology published its final rule amending the minimum standards for construction and maintenance of water wells under Chapter 173-160 WAC. The amendments are being done as a result of legislative mandate. The final rule became effective April 23, 1998.
WSR 98-08-062
On April 15, Ecology published its final rule amending the Instream Resources Protection Program for the Columbia River Main Stem, Chapter 173-563-020(4) WAC and the John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River, Chapter 173-531A-060 WAC. The rules are being amended to ensure that nay new water rights issues from the river are conditioned with adequate instream flow protection conditions. The final rule became effective April 30, 1998.

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URL: http://www.hanford.gov/pubs/envnews/may1998.html
Last Updated: May 13, 1998