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

Volume 20, Number 10 - November 13, 1998

From Washington D.C.:

EPA REGIONS ISSUE FINAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE MULTISECTOR STORM WATER GENERAL PERMIT

On September 30, EPA Regions I, II, III, IV, VI, IX and X issued a final notice of modifications to EPA's final National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water multi-sector general permit (MSGP) that was first issued on September 29, 1995 (60 FR 50804) and subsequently amended several times with the most recent amendment occurring on September 24, 1996 (61 FR 50020). The MSGP has been modified to allow facilities with storm water discharges that were previously excluded to be covered after EPA's Baseline Industrial General Permit (BIGP) expires. Some examples of the categories of facilities which are being added to the MSGP include:

EPA is also including special conditions in this notice such as authorizing mine dewatering discharges from construction sand and gravel, industrial sand, and crushed stone mines in EPA Regions I, II, and X; addition of new Addendum I to provide guidance and information to assist applicants with determining permit eligibility on protection of historic properties; updating the county/species list of endangered and threatened species; and addition of new Sector AD to the MSGP to authorize discharges from Phase I faciltieis which may not fall into one of the origian sectors of the permit which may be applicable to Hanford. Facilities transferring to the MSGP will now be subject to the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions of the MSGP. The modifications were effective on September 30, 1998. Facilities must submit a notice of intent within 90 days of this effective date to transfer to the MSGP. In States that have EPA approved NPDES programs with authority over discharges covered by the BIGP, the BIGP will remain in effect until superceded by either a State-issued NPDES permit or and EPA permit issued under Section 402(d)(4) of the Clean Water Act. For more information, email or call Jay_J_Kapadia@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 373-4932.

EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE AMENDMENTS ON POST-CLOSURE PERMITS AND CLOSURE OF CERTAIN LAND-BASED UNITS

On October 22, EPA published its final rule amendments on requirements applicable to: owners and operators of closed and closing hazarous waste management facilties, post-closure permitting, and the closure process under RCRA. The proposed amendments were published in the Federal Register on November 8, 1994. The final rule includes changes that:

The final rule becomes effective October 22, 1998. email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov of Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc. at (509) 372-2359.

Notice:

Ecology has scheduled their 1999 Hazardous Waste Generator Workshops. These workshops cover information on proper waste management and waste reduction opportunities plus how to fill out the Dangerous Waste Annual Report. The all day workshops will be held in several different cities in Washington including Spokane on 1/7/99, Pasco on 1/12/99, Yakima on 1/14/99. The workshop costs $35 which includes the training, lunch and a workbook. Pre-registration is required. For registration information, contact Ecology at 360/407-6718 or visit Ecology's website at http://www.wa.gov/ecology/hwtr for workshop details.


FEDERAL/STATE
REGISTER REVIEW
63 FR 45809
On September 30, EPA published a clarification of the combustion for energy recovery of chemicals covered by section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The clarification is effective immediately.
63 FR 52430
On September 30, EPA published final modifications to the NPDES storm water multi-sector general permit for industrial activities and termination of the storm water baseline industrial general permit (see article, this edition). The modifications are effective upon publication of the notice.
63 FR 55056
On October 14, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission published a notice announcing that the NRC staff recommendations for draft regulations for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is available. After the NRC approves publication of these recommendations as a proposed rule, they will be published in the Federal Register for formal public comment. A copy of the staff recommendations can be obtained on the Internet at http://techconf.linl. gov/cgi-bin/topics.
63 FR 55095
On October 14, the Army Corp of Engineers published a notice of intent to make additional changes to the proposed Nationwide General Permits Program published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1998 (63 FR 36040). These changes include withdrawal of the Nationwide Permit B for discharges associated with Master Planned Developments, exclusion of the floodplains from the replacement NWPs, exclusion for use in designated critical resource waters, and limited use in impaired waters. Comments on the proposed changes must be received in the Corp of Engineers by November 30, 1998.
63 FR 55178
On October 14, EPA published a proposed rule to establish a "Generic MACT Standards" program for certain small source categories consisting of five or fewer sources. EPA would use this program to establish National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants under section 112 of the CAA for these small source categories. Comments on the proposed rule must be received in EPA by January 12, 1999.
63 FR 56191
On October 21, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a notice announcing that it is seeking public review and comment on the addition of one new draft toxicological profile and revisions to five existing draft toxicological profiles of priority hazardous substances. Comments must be received in the ATSDR by February 22, 1999.
63 FR 56710
On October 22, EPA published its final rule amending the requirement for post-closure permits and closure of land-based units that have released hazardous constituents (see article, this edition). It is also specifying the Part B information submission requirements for facilities that receive post-closure permits. The rule became effective October 22, 1998.
63 FR 58036
On October 29, EPA published a notice announcing that it has designated a new reference method, the "Thermo Environmental Instruments, Incorporated Model 605 Computer Assisted Particle Sampler", for measuring concentrations of PM2.5 in ambient air. EPA is also announcing that it has received three new applications for PM2.5 reference method determinations.
63 FR 68045
On October 29, EPA published a new Statement of Policy for Voluntary Preparation of National Environmental Policy Act Documents. This replaces the previous Statement of Policy for Voluntary Environmental Impact Statements published May 7, 1974 (39 FR 16186). The new policy broadens the scope of EPA's activities for which a NEPA document is voluntarily prepared. The new policy will take effect October 29, 1998.
WSR 98-20-108
On October 21, the Department of Health published a proposed amendment to the public water supply provisions of Chapter 246-290 WAC to develop preformance-based standards, incoporate state and federal legislative changes and reduce ambiguities. The changes are being made in response to the reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the recommendations of the Water Supply Advisory Committee and the Drinking Water Task Force 2000. Comments on the proposed amendments must be received in the DOH by November 12, 1998.

[Hanford Home Page] [Index List]

For technical questions regarding the subject matter, please send email to: Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov
URL: http://www.hanford.gov/pubs/envnews/nov1998.html
Last Updated: November 11, 1998