Hanford
Environmental
Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 22, Number 5 - May 12, 2000

From Washington D.C.:

EPA ISSUES FINAL AUDIT POLICY

On April 11, 2000, EPA issued final revisions (65 FR 19618) to its Audit Policy that was previously published in the Federal Register in 1995 (60 FR 66706). The Audit Policy provides incentives for regulated facilities to detect, promptly disclose, and expeditiously correct violations of Federal environmental requirements. The revised Audit Policy is intended to encourage greater compliance with Federal laws and regulations. The revisions include:

The Audit Policy becomes effective May 11, 2000. EPA, at the same time, is releasing the small business enforcement policy. A copy of the Audit Policy can be obtained from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/oeca/finalpolstate.pdf. For more information, email or call Marsha_A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

EPA SOLICITS PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ON NEW DATA FOR LIMITING RADIONUCLIDES IN DRINKING WATER

On April 21, 2000, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register (65 FR 21576) asking the public to review and comment on new information that the Agency has made available which it proposes to use in finalizing the radionuclides in drinking water regulations. EPA first promulgated drinking water regulations for radionuclides, specifically, beta and photon emitters, radium-226 and -228, and gross alpha radiation, in 1976. In 1991, EPA proposed revisions to these radionuclides plus added a standard for uranium. In this action, EPA is evaluating new data about radionuclides in drinking water including a discussion on:

EPA is under a court agreement to finalize the regulations by November 2000. Comments on this new information must be received in EPA by June 20, 2000. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
65 FR 18018
On April 6, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it is extending the comment period on the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 1999, on the use and concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in certain non-liquid PCB applications. EPA at that time was soliciting additional information on these PCBs and is extending the comment period to October 10, 2000.
65 FR 19327
On April 11, 2000, EPA published a notice to expand the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy program. The list of acceptable substitutes is effective April 11, 2000.
65 FR 19618
On April 11, 2000, EPA published a revised final policy statement on "Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Corrective and Prevention of Violations" (see article, this edition). The revised policy becomes effective May 11, 2000.
65 FR 20304
On April 14, 2000, EPA published a direct final rule to make minor revisions to the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR) and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR) published in the Federal Register on December 16, 1998. EPA is also making minor revisions to the State Primacy Requirements to Implement Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments published in the Federal Register on April 28, 1998. The direct final rule revises compliance dates for the IESWTR and the Stage 1 DBPR so that the monitoring periods will coincide with calendar quarters. The direct final rule becomes effective June 13, 2000, unless EPA receives adverse comments. Elsewhere in this same Federal Register, EPA is publishing a proposed rule (65 FR 20314) in the event that adverse comments are received.
65 FR 20109
On April 14, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing the availability of documents on waste characterization programs for certain transuranic radioactive waste at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Comments on the documents must be received in EPA by May 15, 2000.
65 FR 20934
On April 19, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that it was extending the comment period on an exemption from hazardous waste management as discussed in Hazardous Waste Identification Rule (sections V-XX and XXI - XVI of the preamble) published in the Federal Register on November 19, 1999 (64 FR 63382). The comment period has been extended to August 15, 2000.
65 FR 21416
On April 21, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an Information Collection Request (ICR), in response to a request from Congress concerning the RCRA Corrective Action Program, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 22, 2000.
65 FR 21506
On April 21, 2000, EPA published a proposed amendment to the "Guideline on Air Quality Models". EPA is proposing to include two new dispersion models in appendix A of the guideline and revise two existing models: the Industrial Source Complex 3 and the Emissions Dispersion Modeling System. Comments on the proposed amendments must be received in EPA by July 20, 2000.
65 FR 21576
On April 21, 2000, EPA published a notice requesting public comment on radionuclides in drinking waters (see article, this edition). Comments on the information must be received in EPA by June 20, 2000.
65 FR 24194
On April 25, 2000, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System has been forwarded to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received in EPA by May 25, 2000.
65 FR 24387
On April 26, 2000, EPA published a final rule listing two substitutes for ozone-depleting substances in the fire suppression and explosion protection sector as acceptable under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy program.
WSR 00-07-051
On April 5, 2000, Ecology published a preproposal statement of inquiry to amend Chapter 197-11 WAC, the State Environmental Policy Act rule. Ecology is amending the process and forms used to conduct environmental analysis of plans, policies, regulations and programs.
WSR 00-07-085
On April 5, 2000, the Department of Health published its final rule to adopt Chapter 246-246, Requirements for Radiological Criteria for License Termination. The purpose of the rule is to bring the state radiation protection regulations into conformance with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations on radiological criteria for license termination. The final rule became effective April 16, 2000.
WSR 00-07-112WAC
On April 5, 2000, Ecology published an expedited adoption on Chapter 173-224 WAC, the Wastewater Discharge Permit Fees. The purpose of this expedited adoption is to correct an error that sets the FY 2001 fee for municipalities at a rate higher than allowed. Objections to using the expedited rule adoption process for this rule must be received in Ecology by May 22, 2000.

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