Notice of New Streamlined Approval Process for Non-Regulatory Methods in SW-846, 66272-66274 [2016-23299]

Download as PDF 66272 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices requests and maintenance plans for the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain and Columbus areas on July 6, 2016 and June 16, 2016, respectively. Ohio submitted a redesignation request and maintenance plan for the Ohio portion of the Cincinnati area on April 21, 2016. Indiana submitted a redesignation request and maintenance plan for the Indiana portion of the Cincinnati area on February 23, 2016. As a result of our finding, these areas must use their submitted MVEBs for future transportation conformity determinations. This finding is effective October 12, 2016. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Maietta, Life Scientist, Control Strategies Section (AR–18J), Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353–8777, maietta.anthony@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, whenever ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean EPA. Background Today’s notice is an announcement of a finding that we have already made. On August 23, 2016, EPA sent letters to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency transmitting our determination that the 2020 and 2030 MVEBs contained in the redesignations and maintenance plans for the Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio areas and Indiana and Ohio portions of the Cincinnati area are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. These MVEBs were announced on EPA’s transportation conformity Web site, and no comments were submitted in response. The information is available at EPA’s conformity Web site: 2020 NOX (tpd) Area asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Indiana and Ohio Portions of the Cincinnati—Indiana/Ohio/Kentucky Area ... Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio ......................................................................... Columbus, Ohio ............................................................................................... Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the CAA. EPA’s conformity rule requires that transportation plans, programs, and projects conform to state air quality implementation plans and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they conform. Conformity to a State Implementation Plan (SIP) means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP’s MVEBs are adequate for transportation conformity purposes are outlined in the regulation at 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). As set forth above, EPA determined that these MVEBs are adequate under the applicable standards set forth in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Please note that an adequacy review is separate from EPA’s completeness review, and it also should not be used to prejudge EPA’s ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if we find a budget adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401–7671q. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Sep 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 [FR Doc. 2016–23295 Filed 9–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9953–22–OLEM] Notice of New Streamlined Approval Process for Non-Regulatory Methods in SW–846 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is providing notice of a new streamlined approval process for non-regulatory methods in the ‘‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods’’ manual, also known as SW–846. This new process will employ the use of Web site postings and an extensive email list to notify the SW–846 scientific community of methods being released for public comment, which differs from the traditional Federal Register publication. All methods beginning with Update VI to SW–846 will utilize PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2020 VOCs (tpd) 30.79 61.56 99.54 Dated: September 19, 2016. Robert Kaplan, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5. SUMMARY: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/ stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm. The Cleveland-Akron-Lorain ozone nonattainment area consists of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties. The Columbus ozone nonattainment area consists of Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, and Madison Counties. The Indiana portion of the Cincinnati ozone nonattainment area consists of Lawrenceburg Township (located within Dearborn County, Indiana). The Ohio portion of the Cincinnati area consists of Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren Counties. For transportation conformity purposes, the MVEBs for the Indiana and Ohio portions of the Cincinnati area are combined. The 2020 and 2030 MVEBs, in tons per day (tpd), for VOCs and NOX for the Indiana and Ohio portions of Cincinnati, and the Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio areas are as follows: 30.00 38.85 50.66 2030 NOX (tpd) 2030 VOCs (tpd) 16.22 43.82 85.13 18.22 30.80 44.31 the new process. This new process only applies to SW–846 methods published as guidance, where there are no changes to the hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The process for updating or publishing SW–846 analytical methods that are required in the RCRA regulations (referred to as Method Defined Parameters or MDPs) will not change. EPA is not requesting public comment on this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Langlois-Miller, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (5304P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460–0002; telephone number: 703–308–0744; email address: LangloisMiller.Christina@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this notice apply to me? This notice is directed to the public in general. It may, however, be of particular interest to those conducting waste sampling and analysis for RCRArelated activities. This universe might include any entity that generates, treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous or nonhazardous solid waste and might also E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices include any laboratory that conducts waste sampling and analyses for such entities. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES B. How can I get additional information about the new process? You may access this Federal Register document electronically from the Government Printing Office under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at FDSys (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/ collection.action?collectionCode=FR) or at the SW–846 Methods Web site (https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/epasstreamlined-procedure-publishing-nonregulatory-sw-846-methods). II. What is the subject and purpose of this notice? The Agency is announcing a new streamlined process for adding nonregulatory methods to ‘‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/ Chemical Methods,’’ EPA publication SW–846. The SW–846 compendium consists of over 200 analytical methods for sampling and analyzing waste and other matrices. Most methods are intended as guidance (i.e., nonregulatory methods) with the exception of what EPA refers to as ‘‘method defined parameters’’ or MDPs, that are required in the RCRA regulations for compliance purposes. In the interest of releasing new and updated SW–846 methods more quickly in order to respond to emergencies and issues such as emerging contaminants and keeping up with the speed of scientific advancements, EPA will be using a new process to release validated nonregulatory methods for public comment and to incorporate these methods into the official SW–846 compendium. This notice serves to notify the public of the new process, which EPA will begin using for its next set of updates to SW– 846. Under the new process, EPA will no longer employ the Federal Register as a vehicle for adding non-regulatory methods and guidance to SW–846. However, the Agency will continue to use the regulatory development process for adding MDP methods to SW–846 (see https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/ final-rule-methods-innovation-rulemir#mdp for a list of MDPs). Nonregulatory methods and guidance will be released using EPA’s SW–846 Web site, which can be found at https:// www.epa.gov/hw-sw846, and a dedicated SW–846 electronic mailing list. III. Background Over the years, the regulated community has expressed concern that the Agency has not made available in a timely manner the use of analytical VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Sep 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 methods that take advantage of technological advancements. In an attempt to address the public’s concern, the Agency published the Methods Innovation Rule (MIR), on June 14, 2005 (see 70 FR 34538–34592 or https:// www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2005-06-14/ pdf/05-10197.pdf), which provided flexibility to laboratories regarding method selection for waste characterization in support of RCRA, as appropriate. In addition, the rule allowed modification to most SW–846 methods and substitution of non-SW– 846 methods, provided the modified or substituted method meets the defined quality assurance/quality control (QA/ QC) parameters established in the method or defined for the project and falls within EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. Since most SW–846 methods are guidance and not required by the RCRA regulations, EPA sought a more efficient approach to announce the availability of methods for public use and to solicit comment prior to incorporating new or revised methods in the SW–846 compendium. IV. What is the new process? EPA receives requests to add or update SW–846 methods from various sources (e.g., EPA Regions, other federal and state government agencies, analytical method developers, commercial laboratories, and other scientific groups). These requests are considered if the new method or revision: • Addresses a national emergency (e.g., oil spill); • Is essential for continuing the EPA mission (e.g., regulatory change); • Is needed by EPA Regions/program offices (e.g., bioavailability of lead) • Addresses an emerging environmental contaminant (e.g., perfluorinated compounds) • Makes available a new or updated technology (e.g., collision cell mass spectrometry) • Is a collaborative effort with other federal agencies (e.g., DOD, USGS, FDA) • Provides an opportunity for greener chemistry or increased safety (e.g., decreased solvent use) Once EPA selects a method for possible revision or inclusion in SW–846, the method will be sent to the SW–846 method workgroup, made up of chemists and technical experts with knowledge of and experience with the specific methodology and/or technology, for further evaluation. Listed below are the new steps that EPA will follow for publication of nonregulatory SW–846 methods, beginning PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66273 with final review from the SW–846 method workgroup. EPA will: 1. Obtain Agency organic and/or inorganic workgroup approval of new and/or revised methods. a. Agency workgroups consist of EPA scientists from the Regions and program offices. 2. Post methods on the ‘‘Validated Methods’’ Web page at https:// www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/validated-testmethods-recommended-waste-testing and link to the Hazardous Waste Test Methods landing page, at https:// www.epa.gov/hw-sw846. 3. Notify the SW–846 analytical community via emails and web posting of the comment-period initiation date. The comment period will be set for a minimum of 30 days, depending on the number and complexity of methods. a. The Web pages will also indicate that the methods are drafts and that comments are being accepted until the end date of the comment period. 4. Catalog and respond to public comments in a ‘‘Response to Comments’’ document. 5. Revise methods based on EPA’s review of comments. 6. Post the new and/or revised methods, the ‘‘Response to Comments’’ background document(s), and other supporting documents permanently on the ‘‘SW–846 Compendium’’ Web page at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw846-compendium. 7. Email the SW–846 mailing list, notifying all entities of the incorporation of the new additions to the SW–846 compendium. V. How can I sign up for the SW–846 mailing list? If you would like to receive information regarding new policies, guidance related to SW–846 methods, announcements of open comment periods, and final changes or updates to methods in SW–846, it is important to sign up for the SW–846 mailing list. The form to sign up for the SW–846 mailing list is located at https://www.epa.gov/ hw-sw846/forms/contact-us-abouthazardous-waste-test-methods. To sign up, fill out the form at the bottom of the page, including the ‘‘Name’’ and ‘‘Email Address’’ sections, and click the ‘‘Yes’’ button for Email List Sign-up before submitting. The Agency also plans to find the email addresses of previous commenters on Updates to SW–846 to notify them of the new process and to see if they would like to be placed on the SW–846 mailing list. E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 66274 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices VI. Summary This new approach to announcing SW–846 methods for public comment will allow EPA to make available new advancements in technologies in a timely manner and provide increased accessibility to analytical procedures, guidance, and Updates to SW–846, while still employing a mechanism to request public comment and incorporate comments into the final methods. In addition, the new process will result in a cost savings for the Agency since it removes the burden of unnecessary steps in releasing guidance to the public while retaining the appropriate steps to ensure EPA’s standard of quality and integrity. Dated: September 20, 2016. Barnes Johnson, Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. [FR Doc. 2016–23299 Filed 9–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9952–56–Region 6] Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition for Objection to State Operating Permit for Yuhuang Chemical Company, Inc. Methanol Plant in Louisiana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of final action. AGENCY: Pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 505(b)(2) and 40 CFR 70.8(d), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order, dated August 31, 2016, denying in part and granting in part a petition asking EPA to object to the operating permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to Yuhuang Chemical Company, Inc. for its Methanol Plant (Title V operating permit 1560–00295–V0). The EPA’s August 31, 2016 Order responds to a petition submitted by the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) and Sierra Club (Collectively the Petitioners) on May 18, 2015. Sections 307(b) and 505(b)(2) of the Act provide that a petitioner may ask for judicial review of those portions of the Orders that deny objections raised in the petitions in the appropriate United States Court of Appeals. Any petition for review shall be filed by November 28, 2016, pursuant to section 307(b) of the Act. ADDRESSES: You may review copies of the final Order, the petition, and other asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Sep 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 supporting information at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202– 2733. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to view copies of the final Order, petition, and other supporting information. You may view the hard copies Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. If you wish to examine these documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours before the visiting day. Additionally, the final Order signed on August 31, 2016 is available electronically at: https:// www.epa.gov/title-v-operating-permits/ title-v-petition-database. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Toups at (214) 665–7258, email address: toups.brad@epa.gov or the above EPA, Region 6 address. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAA affords EPA a 45-day period to review, and object, as appropriate, to a title V operating permit proposed by a state permitting authority. Section 505(b)(2) of the CAA authorizes any person to petition the EPA Administrator, within 60 days after the expiration of this review period, to object to a title V operating permit if EPA has not done so. Petitions must be based only on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the public comment period provided by the state, unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise these issues during the comment period or unless the grounds for the issue arose after this period. EPA received the petition from the Petitioners on May 18, 2015 for the operating permit issued on May 5, 2015 to Yuhuang Chemical Facility located in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The Petitioner requested that the Administrator object to the proposed operating permit issued by the LDEQ to Yuhuang on several bases. In total, the Petitioner raised four primary claims in the Petition. The claims are described in detail in Section IV of the Order. In summary, the issues raised are that: (1, claim III) the permit fails to comply with the Act’s requirements for public participation; (2, claim IV) the permit fails to meet PSD requirements; (3, claim V) a tank design is hazardous and there are additional unaccounted for emissions; and (4, claim VI) the LDEQ failed to adequately respond to EPA’s comments. The Order issued on August 31, 2016 responds to claims III, IV, V, and VI (pp. 6–30). Pursuant to sections 505(b) and 505(e) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7661d(b) PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and (e)) and 40 CFR 70.7(g) and 70.8(d), the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has 90 days from the receipt of the Administrator’s order to resolve the objections identified in Claim IV of the Order and submit a proposed determination or termination, modification, or revocation and reissuance of the Yuhuang Chemical Company, Inc. title V permit in accordance with the EPA’s objection. The Order issued on August 31, 2016 responds to the Petition and explains the basis for EPA’s decision. Dated: September 21, 2016. Ron Curry, Regional Administrator, Region 6. [FR Doc. 2016–23255 Filed 9–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–XXXX] Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Correction In notice document 2016–22522 beginning on page 64461 in the issue of Tuesday, September 20, 2016, make the following correction: On page 63361, in the third column, under the DATES heading, in the second line ‘‘October 20, 2016’’ should read ‘‘November 21, 2016’’. [FR Doc. C1–2016–22522 Filed 9–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1505–01–P FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Notice of Termination, 10009 First Heritage Bank, N.A., Newport Beach, California The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), as Receiver for 10009 First Heritage Bank, N.A., Newport Beach, California (Receiver) has been authorized to take all actions necessary to terminate the receivership estate of First Heritage Bank, N.A. (Receivership Estate). The Receiver has made all dividend distributions required by law. The Receiver has further irrevocably authorized and appointed FDICCorporate as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file any and all documents that may be required to be executed by the Receiver which FDIC-Corporate, in its sole discretion, deems necessary; E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66272-66274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23299]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9953-22-OLEM]


Notice of New Streamlined Approval Process for Non-Regulatory 
Methods in SW-846

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
providing notice of a new streamlined approval process for non-
regulatory methods in the ``Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, 
Physical/Chemical Methods'' manual, also known as SW-846. This new 
process will employ the use of Web site postings and an extensive email 
list to notify the SW-846 scientific community of methods being 
released for public comment, which differs from the traditional Federal 
Register publication. All methods beginning with Update VI to SW-846 
will utilize the new process. This new process only applies to SW-846 
methods published as guidance, where there are no changes to the 
hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act (RCRA). The process for updating or publishing SW-846 
analytical methods that are required in the RCRA regulations (referred 
to as Method Defined Parameters or MDPs) will not change. EPA is not 
requesting public comment on this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Langlois-Miller, Office of 
Resource Conservation and Recovery (5304P), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460-0002; 
telephone number: 703-308-0744; email address: Langlois-Miller.Christina@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this notice apply to me?

    This notice is directed to the public in general. It may, however, 
be of particular interest to those conducting waste sampling and 
analysis for RCRA-related activities. This universe might include any 
entity that generates, treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous or non-
hazardous solid waste and might also

[[Page 66273]]

include any laboratory that conducts waste sampling and analyses for 
such entities.

B. How can I get additional information about the new process?

    You may access this Federal Register document electronically from 
the Government Printing Office under the ``Federal Register'' listings 
at FDSys (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR) or at the SW-846 Methods Web site 
(https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/epas-streamlined-procedure-publishing-non-regulatory-sw-846-methods).

II. What is the subject and purpose of this notice?

    The Agency is announcing a new streamlined process for adding non-
regulatory methods to ``Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, 
Physical/Chemical Methods,'' EPA publication SW-846. The SW-846 
compendium consists of over 200 analytical methods for sampling and 
analyzing waste and other matrices. Most methods are intended as 
guidance (i.e., non-regulatory methods) with the exception of what EPA 
refers to as ``method defined parameters'' or MDPs, that are required 
in the RCRA regulations for compliance purposes. In the interest of 
releasing new and updated SW-846 methods more quickly in order to 
respond to emergencies and issues such as emerging contaminants and 
keeping up with the speed of scientific advancements, EPA will be using 
a new process to release validated non-regulatory methods for public 
comment and to incorporate these methods into the official SW-846 
compendium. This notice serves to notify the public of the new process, 
which EPA will begin using for its next set of updates to SW-846. Under 
the new process, EPA will no longer employ the Federal Register as a 
vehicle for adding non-regulatory methods and guidance to SW-846. 
However, the Agency will continue to use the regulatory development 
process for adding MDP methods to SW-846 (see https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/final-rule-methods-innovation-rule-mir#mdp for a list of MDPs). 
Non-regulatory methods and guidance will be released using EPA's SW-846 
Web site, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846, and a 
dedicated SW-846 electronic mailing list.

III. Background

    Over the years, the regulated community has expressed concern that 
the Agency has not made available in a timely manner the use of 
analytical methods that take advantage of technological advancements. 
In an attempt to address the public's concern, the Agency published the 
Methods Innovation Rule (MIR), on June 14, 2005 (see 70 FR 34538-34592 
or https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2005-06-14/pdf/05-10197.pdf), which 
provided flexibility to laboratories regarding method selection for 
waste characterization in support of RCRA, as appropriate. In addition, 
the rule allowed modification to most SW-846 methods and substitution 
of non-SW-846 methods, provided the modified or substituted method 
meets the defined quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) parameters 
established in the method or defined for the project and falls within 
EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment.
    Since most SW-846 methods are guidance and not required by the RCRA 
regulations, EPA sought a more efficient approach to announce the 
availability of methods for public use and to solicit comment prior to 
incorporating new or revised methods in the SW-846 compendium.

IV. What is the new process?

    EPA receives requests to add or update SW-846 methods from various 
sources (e.g., EPA Regions, other federal and state government 
agencies, analytical method developers, commercial laboratories, and 
other scientific groups). These requests are considered if the new 
method or revision:
     Addresses a national emergency (e.g., oil spill);
     Is essential for continuing the EPA mission (e.g., 
regulatory change);
     Is needed by EPA Regions/program offices (e.g., 
bioavailability of lead)
     Addresses an emerging environmental contaminant (e.g., 
perfluorinated compounds)
     Makes available a new or updated technology (e.g., 
collision cell mass spectrometry)
     Is a collaborative effort with other federal agencies 
(e.g., DOD, USGS, FDA)
     Provides an opportunity for greener chemistry or increased 
safety (e.g., decreased solvent use)

Once EPA selects a method for possible revision or inclusion in SW-846, 
the method will be sent to the SW-846 method workgroup, made up of 
chemists and technical experts with knowledge of and experience with 
the specific methodology and/or technology, for further evaluation.
    Listed below are the new steps that EPA will follow for publication 
of non-regulatory SW-846 methods, beginning with final review from the 
SW-846 method workgroup. EPA will:
    1. Obtain Agency organic and/or inorganic workgroup approval of new 
and/or revised methods.
    a. Agency workgroups consist of EPA scientists from the Regions and 
program offices.
    2. Post methods on the ``Validated Methods'' Web page at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/validated-test-methods-recommended-waste-testing 
and link to the Hazardous Waste Test Methods landing page, at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846.
    3. Notify the SW-846 analytical community via emails and web 
posting of the comment-period initiation date. The comment period will 
be set for a minimum of 30 days, depending on the number and complexity 
of methods.
    a. The Web pages will also indicate that the methods are drafts and 
that comments are being accepted until the end date of the comment 
period.
    4. Catalog and respond to public comments in a ``Response to 
Comments'' document.
    5. Revise methods based on EPA's review of comments.
    6. Post the new and/or revised methods, the ``Response to 
Comments'' background document(s), and other supporting documents 
permanently on the ``SW-846 Compendium'' Web page at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-compendium.
    7. Email the SW-846 mailing list, notifying all entities of the 
incorporation of the new additions to the SW-846 compendium.

V. How can I sign up for the SW-846 mailing list?

    If you would like to receive information regarding new policies, 
guidance related to SW-846 methods, announcements of open comment 
periods, and final changes or updates to methods in SW-846, it is 
important to sign up for the SW-846 mailing list. The form to sign up 
for the SW-846 mailing list is located at https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/forms/contact-us-about-hazardous-waste-test-methods. To sign up, fill 
out the form at the bottom of the page, including the ``Name'' and 
``Email Address'' sections, and click the ``Yes'' button for Email List 
Sign-up before submitting.
    The Agency also plans to find the email addresses of previous 
commenters on Updates to SW-846 to notify them of the new process and 
to see if they would like to be placed on the SW-846 mailing list.

[[Page 66274]]

VI. Summary

    This new approach to announcing SW-846 methods for public comment 
will allow EPA to make available new advancements in technologies in a 
timely manner and provide increased accessibility to analytical 
procedures, guidance, and Updates to SW-846, while still employing a 
mechanism to request public comment and incorporate comments into the 
final methods. In addition, the new process will result in a cost 
savings for the Agency since it removes the burden of unnecessary steps 
in releasing guidance to the public while retaining the appropriate 
steps to ensure EPA's standard of quality and integrity.

    Dated: September 20, 2016.
Barnes Johnson, Director,
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2016-23299 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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