Hanford Environmental Report

	Hanford Environmental Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 23, Number 5 - May 11, 2001

From Washington D.C.:

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE AMENDING REQUIREMENTS FOR RECLASSIFICATION OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS IN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

On April 2, 2001, EPA published a final rule (66 FR 17602) amending the requirements for reclassifying PCBs in electrical equipment such as transformers, electromagnets, switches, voltage regulators, circuit breakers, reclosers, or cables from PCB status to PCB-contaminated or non-PCB status, or from PCB-contaminated to non-PCB status. Reclassification is a voluntary process a generator can use to lower the PCB concentration in electrical equipment. The final rule contains provisions that:

Eliminate the requirement to raise the temperature of a transformer's dielectric fluid to at least 50 degrees centigrade;
Eliminate the 90-day in-service use requirements for all transformers, electromagnets, switches, and voltage regulators with a pre-retrofill PCB concentration of less than 1000 parts per million (ppm);
Allow a generator to reclassify PCB-contaminated transformers, electromagnets, switches, and voltage regulators to non-PCB status by retrofilling with fluid less than 2 ppm PCBs and does not require that the generator test the equipment after 90 days; and
Require generators to keep records showing that the required classification procedures were followed and make these records available to EPA or to any party holding or possessing the equipment.

The final rule became effective May 2, 2001. For more information, email or call Andrea_L_Prignano@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 376-1057.

EPA REQUESTS PUBLIC COMMENT ON SEVERAL INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUESTS

EPA recently published several notices in the Federal Register announcing that the agency was planning to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is seeking public input on these ICRs before they are submitted. The ICRs include:

Hazardous Waste Generator Standards (66 FR 17701). In this ICR, EPA is focusing on several categories of informational requirements in Part 262 including the hazardous waste determination requirements; pre-transportation requirements for large (LQGs) and small quantity generators (SQGs); record keeping and reporting requirements for LQGs and SQGs; air emission standards requirements for LQGs and SQGs; and export requirements for LQGs and SQGs. The ICR is necessary to assist EPA and generators in: identifying and understanding the waste streams being generated and the hazards associated with them; determining whether employees have acquired the necessary expertise to perform their jobs; and determining whether LQGs have developed adequate procedures to respond to unplanned sudden or non-sudden releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to air, soil, or surface water. The information is also necessary to help EPA determine whether tank systems are operated in a manner that is fully protective of human health and the environment, and to ensure that releases to the environment are managed quickly and efficiently. Comments on this ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 4, 2001.
Compliance Assurance Monitoring. In this ICR, EPA is seeking public comment on requirements that owners and operators of major sources of air pollution conduct monitoring activities and certify that they are complying with applicable requirements as specified under Title V and Section 114 of Title I of the Clean Air Act. EPA is soliciting comments to: evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of Agency functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; evaluate the accuracy of EPA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond. Comments on this ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 25, 2001.
Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Non-attainment New Source Review. In this ICR, EPA is seeking public comment on information applicants are required to obtain in order to receive a construction permit for major new sources of air pollution or major modifications to existing sources of air pollution. For a construction permit, applicants must conduct the necessary research, perform the appropriate analyses, and prepare the permit application with documentation to demonstrate that their project meets all applicable statutory and regulatory new source review requirements. EPA is seeking public comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques. Comments on this ICR must be received by EPA on or before May 7, 2001.

For more information on these ICRs, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.

Briefly:

On April 2, 2001, EPA published a direct final rule (66 FR 17512) removing amendments to Washington's Air Operating Permit (AOP) Program that had been made in a previous direct final rule (66 FR 16) published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2001. EPA is deleting certain effective dates listed for each of the Air Pollution Control Authorities, Ecology, and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council as a result of adverse comments received on this previous direct final rule. EPA intends to summarize and respond to the comments received and take final rulemaking action on the AOP program in a subsequent final rule. For more information, email or call Kirk_A_FDH_Peterson@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2364.
On April 3, 2001, Ecology submitted an interpretive statement to the Washington State Code Revisers Office that is intended to guide development of the list of impaired water bodies (303(d) list) for 2001. Under the Clean Water Act and implementing regulations, Ecology is required to prepare a list every four years of water body segments that do not meet state surface water quality standards, the National Toxic Rule criteria or Water Quality Standards. Ecology will use this policy to review and evaluate information against the current water quality standards in order to revise the last list approved by EPA. Ecology will first solicit information from the public and then propose the revised list for public comment in December 2001. The policy can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/index.html. Comments on the interpretive statement must be received by Ecology on or before May 18 2001. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.
On April 12, 2001, EPA published a notice (66 FR 18929) announcing that the External Review Draft of the Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter is available for public review and comment. This draft provides an assessment of the latest scientific information on the effects of airborne particulate matter on public health and welfare that EPA will use in the next review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. Comments on the draft document must be received by EPA on or before July 12, 2001. A copy of the document can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/. For more information, email or call Kirk_A_FDH_Peterson@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford at (509) 372-2364.
On April 14, 2001, EPA published a notice (66 FR 18935) announcing that the final 2001 Update: Aquatic Life Criteria for Cadmium was available. Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to develop, publish, and revise criteria for water to accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge. EPA previously solicited public input on a draft 2001 update in August 17, 2000, and based on that public input, the draft was revised. A copy of the final document can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/.
On April 23, 2001, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (66 FR 20580) to delay the current May 22, 2001, effective date of the arsenic standards in drinking water to February 22, 2002. The final amendments to arsenic standard (66 FR 6976) were published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2001. These lowered the current standard of 50 parts per billion to 10 ppb by 2006. This delay is the result of President Bush's regulatory review plan, which allows members of the new administration a 60-day opportunity to review published regulations that haven't taken effect. EPA is reassessing the scientific and cost issues of this rule and seeking public input on them. Comments on the delay must be received by EPA on or before May 7, 2001. For more information, email or call Marsha A_Beery@rl.gov of Fluor Hanford's Olympia Office at (360) 709-0664.
On April 26, 2001, the National Council on Science released a report entitled, "Recommendation for Improving the Scientific Basis for Decisionmaking." This report is a compendium of ideas from 450 scientists and other experts designed to help improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking. The report discusses the need for a significant investment in new approaches to science as well as reevaluation of current government assets to address current voids in collecting and translating scientific data into policy. The report can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.cnie.org.

*FEDERAL/STATE*
	*REGISTER REVIEW*

66 FR 17512: On April 2, 2001, EPA published a direct final rule approving Washington State's operating permit program (see briefly, this edition). The direct final rule became effective April 2, 2001.

66 FR 17602: On April 2, 2001, EPA published a final rule amending the requirements for reclassifying electrical equipment that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from PCB status to PCB-contaminated or non-PCB status; or from PCB-contaminated to non-PCB status (see article, this edition). The final rule became effective May 2, 2001.

66 FR 17701: On April 3, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) on Hazardous Waste Generator Standards to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval (see article, this edition). Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 4, 2001.

66 FR 17702: On April 3, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on Identification, Listing, and Rulemaking Petitions to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 4, 2001.

66 FR 17704: On April 3, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that it was seeking public comment and information on an ICR on Partial Updating of Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory Data Base, Production and Site Reports before it is submitted to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 4, 2001.

66 FR 18058: On April 10, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that the DOE documents on characterization of transuranic radioactive waste at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is available for review and comment. Comments on the document must be received by EPA on or before May 7, 2001.

66 FR 18242: On April 5, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that an ICR on Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Non-attainment New Source Review has been forwarded to OMB for review and comment (see article, this edition). Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before May 7, 2001.

66 FR 18629: EPA published a notice listing OMB responses to several EPA ICRs that were submitted earlier, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NESHAP) Compliance Assessment/Certification Information; NESHAP Hazardous Air Pollutants; Community Water System Survey, etc.

66 FR 18929: On April 12, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that the second external review draft of the Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter is available for review and comment (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the draft must be received by EPA on or before July 12, 2001.

66 FR 18935: On April 12, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that the document entitled, "2001 Update of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Cadmium" is available (see briefly, this edition). A copy of the document can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/.

66 FR 19939: On April 18, 2001, EPA published final additions to the "Final Guidelines for the Certification and Recertification of the Operators of Community and Nontransient Noncommunity Public Water Systems." The final additions became effective April 8, 2001.

66 FR 20580: On April 23 2001, EPA published a notice proposing a nine-month extension from May 22, 2001, to February 22, 2002, of the effective date for the arsenic in drinking water standards proposed rule (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the proposed regulation must be received by EPA on or before May 7, 2001.

66 FR 20986: On April 26, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on the Compliance Assurance Monitoring Program to OMB for review and comment (see article,this edition). Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 25, 2001.

66 FR 20987: On April 26, 2001, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before June 25, 2001.

WSR 01-07-090: On April 4, 2001, Ecology published a notice announcing that the wastewater discharge permit fees will be increased by 2.79% for Fiscal Year 2002 to match the final fiscal growth factor.

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