Hanford Environmental Report - September 10, 2004

Privacy & Security Notice

	Hanford Environmental Report
Dedicated to Environmental Compliance

Volume 26, Number 9 - September 10, 2004

From Washington, D.C.:

DOE ANNOUNCES INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR DECOMISSIONING THE FAST FLUX TEST FACILITY AT HANFORD

On August 13, 2004, DOE published a notice (69 FR 50176) in the Federal Register (FR) announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed decommissioning of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) at Hanford. DOE proposes to decommission the deactivated FFTF and its support facilities by September 2012. The EIS will assess the range of reasonable alternatives for decommissioning the FFTF including:

No Action Alternative. Under this alternative, deactivation would be completed such that the FFTF and support buildings could be maintained in a long-term surveillance and maintenance condition for the foreseeable future and no decommissioning would occur.
Entombment Alternative. Under this alternative, DOE would decontaminate, dismantle and remove the FFTF Reactor Containment Building (RCB) dome including structures within above grade level. The FFTF Reactor Vessel (RV), contained within the RCB, along with radioactive and contaminated equipment, components, piping, and materials would remain in place. The RCB below grade level would be filled with grout or other suitable fill material. An engineered barrier would then be used to cover the filled area. The FFTF support buildings outside the entombed area would be decontaminated and demolished to below grade level, backfilled, and remediated. Appropriate institutional controls would be implemented.
Removal Alternative. Under this alternative, DOE would decontaminate, dismantle, and remove the RCB dome including structures within above grade. The RV along with radioactive and contaminated equipment, components, piping, and materials would be removed. The removed materials would be disposed of in appropriate Hanford Site 200 Area disposal units. The RCB at grade and below grade, and the FTFF support buildings outside the RCB area would be decontaminated and demolished to below grade, backfilled and covered to minimize free spaces, and remediated. Appropriate institutional controls would be implemented.

DOE is soliciting public comment on the proposed scope of the EIS. DOE will hold public scoping meetings on the EIS on September 22, 2004 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn in Richland, WA and on September 30, 2004 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Comments on the proposed scope of the EIS must be received by DOE on or before October 8, 2004. For more information, email or call Wayne_E_Toebe@rl.gov at (509) 372-2359 with Fluor Hanford's Program Services.

From Olympia:

ECOLOGY PUBLISHES FINAL RULES SETTING NEW PERMIT FEES FOR WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER DISCHARGERS

On August 4, 2004, Ecology published a final rule (WSR 04-15-046) in the Washington State Register (WSR) to set permit fees for wastewater and stormwater dischargers for fiscal year 2005 and 2006. The final rule includes changes that:

Create a new subcategory for shipyard in water vessel repair;
Redefine animal unit;
Revised existing definition for non-contact cooling water with additives;
Add new definitions for median household income, gross revenue for business and disturbed acres;
Restructure fee categories for industrial and construction stormwater general permits; and
Establish new fees for municipal separate storm sewer system permits (Phase 2 Stormwater).

The final rule increases annual fees for all wastewater permit holders by 3.03% for FY 2005 and 2.62% for FY 2006. Examples of some of the increases in fees include: RCRA Corrective Action Sites which will be $19,882 in FY 2005 and $20,403 in FY 2006; Non-LUST (Leaking Underground Storage Tanks) sites with greater than 2 contaminants of concern will be $14,508 in FY5 and $14,888 in FY 2006. The final rule became effective September 13, 2004. For more information, email or call Raja Ranade at (509) 373-0743 with Fluor Hanford's Program Services.

Briefly:

On August 5, 2004, EPA published a notice (69 FR 47434) in the FR soliciting public comment on the efforts of EPA to promote adoption of environmental management systems (EMS) by local governments and other public entities through the establishment of EMS Local Resource Centers. EPA is seeking comments particularly from not-for-profit organizations interested in providing technical assistance to public entities that are considering adopting EMS's for their operations. EPA is interested in providing financial and technical assistance for up to three additional not-for-profit organizations who would work with various public entities, primarily local governments that are interested in developing EMSs. Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before September 7, 2004.
On August 6, 2004, EPA published a notice (69 FR 47924) in the FR designating one new reference method for measuring concentrations of NO2 and three new equivalent methods for measuring PM 2.5 in ambient air. The new reference method for NO2 is an automated method (analyzer) that utilizes the measurement principle (gas phase chemiluminescence) and calibration procedure specified in appendix F of 40 CFR part 50. The three equivalent methods for PM 2.5 are manual monitoring methods that are based on particular, commercially available samplers.
On August 16, 2004, EPA published a notice (69 FR 50380) in the FR announcing that it will be holding a public meeting of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee Task Force on the Performance of the Title V Operating Permit Program. The meeting will be held September 14, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois, at the Holiday Inn Chicago City Center from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. EPA is soliciting from interested parties with experience in the title V program feed back about what is working well and/or poorly in this program. See http://www.epa.gov/oar/caaac for more information.
On August 18, 2004, Ecology published the modified Industrial Stormwater General Permit (WSR 04-16-121) in the Washington State Register (WSR) for public review and comment. The modified permit provides coverage for industries located in Washington that discharge stormwater from industrial activities. The permit is being modified as a result of an appeal of a previously issued permit and a new law passed by the legislature. Ecology will be holding workshops throughout the state including a workshop in Lynnwood on September 20, 2004; in Olympia on September 21, 2004; in Spokane on September 23, 2004; in Ellensburg on September 24, 2004. Comments on the permit must be received by Ecology on or before September 27, 2004.
On August 23, 2004, EPA published a notice (69 FR 51841) in the FR announcing that Chapter 9 on Integrative Synthesis of the draft Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (PM) is available for public review and comment. The revised draft incorporates revisions that respond to earlier public comment and the Clean Air Act (CAA) Scientific Advisory Committee reviews of the draft document. The purpose of the draft is to provide an assessment of the latest scientific information on the effects of airborne particulate matter on the public health and welfare for use in EPA's current review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM. Comments on the revised draft Chapter 9 must be received by EPA on or before September 30, 2004.
On August 25, 2004, EPA published a final rule (69 FR 52176) in the FR approving the use of three additional analytical methods for compliance determinations of uranium in drinking water. These methods use an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technology that has gained wide acceptance in the analytical community. These methods could be more cost-effective, less labor-intensive or more sensitive than some of the technologies previously approved in the December 2000 Radionuclides rule (65 FR 76708.) The final rule became effective August 25, 2004.
On August 26, 2004, EPA published a proposed rule (69 FR 52541) in the FR on federal standards and practices for conducting all appropriate inquiries as required under Section 101L(35)(B)(ii) and (iii) of CERCLA. The proposed rule would establish specific regulatory requirements and standards for conducting all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership, uses, and environmental conditions of a property for the purposes of meeting the necessary provisions to qualify for certain landowner liability protections under CERCLA. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by EPA on or before October 25, 2004.

*FEDERAL/STATE*
	*REGISTER REVIEW*

69 FR 46532: On August 3, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) on Prevention of Significant Deterioration Nonattainment Area New Source Review (NSR) (Renewal) to the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before October 4, 2004.

69 FR 47210: On August 4, 2004, EPA published a correction to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System - Final Regulations to Establish Requirements for Cooling Water Intake Structures at Phase II Existing Facilities. The correction is effective immediately.

69 FR 47365: On August 5, 2004, EPA published a final rule approving the Central Puget Sound carbon monoxide and ozone second 10-year maintenance plans. The final rule becomes effective September 7, 2004.

69 FR 47434: On August 5, 2004, EPA published a notice soliciting public comment on efforts of EPA to promote adoption of EMSs by local governments and other public entities through the establishment of EMS Local Resource Centers (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the notice must be received by EPA on or before September 7, 2004.

69 FR 47924: On August 6, 2004, EPA published a notice designating a one new reference method for measuring concentrations of NO2 and three new equivalent metbods for measuring PM 2.5 in ambient air (see briefly, this edition).

69 FR 50176: On August 13, 2004, DOE published a notice announcing its intent to prepare an EIS on the proposed decommissioning of the FFTF at Hanford (see article, this edition). Comments on the EIS must be received by DOE on or before October 8, 2004.

69 FR 50380: On August 16, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it will be holding a public meeting of the CAA Advisory Committee Task Force on the Performance of the Title V Operating Permit Program (see briefly, this edition).

69 FR 51184: On August 18, 2004, EPA published a final rule staying the effectiveness of two subcategories of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for stationary combustion turbines: Lean premix gas-fired turbines and diffusion flame gas-fired turbines. The final rule became effective August 18, 2004.

69 FR 51283: On August 18, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on EPA Strategic Plan Information on Source Water Assessment and Protection to the OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before October 18, 2004.

69 FR 51841: On August 23, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that Chapter 9 of the draft Air Quality Criteria for PM is available for public review and comment (see briefly, this edition). Comments on the revised draft Chapter 9 must be received by EPA on or before September 30, 2004.

69 FR 52008: On August 24, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing the OMB responses to ICRs approved in July and August 2004.

69 FR 52176: On August 25, 2004, EPA published a final rule approving the use of three additional analytical methods for compliance determinations of uranium in drinking water (see briefly, this edition). The final rule became effective August 25, 2004.

69 FR 52181: On August 25, 2004, EPA published a withdrawal of a direct final rule that was published on June 2, 2004 (69 FR 31008) concerning three additional analytical methods for compliance determinations of uranium in drinking water. EPA has received adverse comment on the direct final rule so is withdrawing it and will include the comment letter in the proposed rule that was also published June 2, 2004.

69 FR 52366: On August 25, 2004, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the accelerated phaseout regulation on the production, import, export, transformation and destruction of substances that deplete the ozone layer. This action provides the framework for an exemption under the Montreal Protocol and specifies the amount of methyl bromide that may be supplied in 2005 from available stocks and new production and consumption to meet proposed critical uses. Comments on the proposed rulemaking must be received by EPA on or before October 12, 2004.

69 FR 52403: On August 25, 2004, EPA published a notice requiring a section 114 information request of individuals or legal entities that produce, import, distribute, sell, apply, or buy methyl bromide to provide EPA with data on the amount of methyl bromide material they hold for sale and amounts they hold for transfer to another entity. EPA needs the information to promulgate a rule to allow the continued production, consumption, and use of methyl bromide for proposed critical uses exempted from the January 1, 2005 phaseout of the substance.

69 FR 52541: On August 26, 2004, EPA published a proposed rule on federal standards and practices for conducting all appropriate inquiries as required under Section 101L(35)(B)(ii) and (iii) of CERCLA. The proposed rule would establish specific regulatory requirements and standards for conducting all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership, uses, and environmental conditions of a property for the purposes of meeting the necessary provisions to qualify for certain landowner liability protections under CERCLA. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by EPA on or before October 25, 2004.

69 FR 52505: On August 26, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it is planning to submit an ICR on Establishing No-Discharge Zones Under The Clean Air Act to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before October 25, 2004.

69 FR 52581: On August 26, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting to discuss EPA’s proposed rule that would set federal standards and practices for conducting all appropriate inquiries as required by CERCLA. The public meeting will be held on September 22, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

69 FR 52663: On August 27, 2004, EPA published a notice announcing that it was planning to submit an ICR on Application of Reference or Equivalent Method Determination to OMB for review and approval. Comments on the ICR must be received by EPA on or before October 26, 2004.

69 FR 52989: August 30, 2004, President Bush issued an Executive Order 13352 for the purpose of ensuring that the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense and EPA implement laws relating to the environment and natural resources in a manner that promotes cooperative conservation with an emphasis on appropriate inclusion of local participation in Federal decisionmaking. Cooperative conservation refers to actions that relate to use, enhancement, and enjoyment of natural resources, protection of the environment, or both, and that involve collaborative activity among Federal, State, local and tribal governments, private for-profit and nonprofit institutions, other nongovernmental entities and individuals.

WSR 04-16-121: On August 18, 2004, Ecology published the modified Industrial Stormwater General Permit for public review and comment (see briefly, this edition).

WSR 04-15-046: On August 4, 2004, Ecology published a final rule to set permit fees for wastewater and stormwater dischargers for fiscal year 2005 and 2006 (see article, this edition). The final rule becomes effective on September 13, 2004.

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