Hazardous Waste Management System; Final Exclusion for Identification and Listing Hazardous Waste, 44496-44505 [05-15329]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 3, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
rule is not a ‘‘major rule ’’as defined by
5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: July 27, 2005.
Donald R. Stubbs,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office
of Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
amended as follows:
I
PART 180—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 180
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
§ 180.910
[Amended]
2. Section 180.910 is amended by
removing the following exemptions and
any associated Limits and Uses from the
table: Dichlorodifluoromethane,
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and
Trichlorofluoromethane.
I
§ 180.930
[Amended]
3. Section 180.930 is amended by
removing the following exemptions and
any associated Limits and Uses from the
table: Dichlorodifluoromethane and
Trichlorofluoromethane.
I
[FR Doc. 05–15334 Filed 8–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 261
[SW–FRL–7946–8]
Hazardous Waste Management
System; Final Exclusion for
Identification and Listing Hazardous
Waste
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency is finalizing its proposed action
to grant a petition submitted by the
United States Department of Energy,
Richland Operations Office (Energy) to
exclude (or ‘delist’) from regulation as
listed hazardous waste certain mixed
waste (‘petitioned waste’) following
treatment at the 200 Area Effluent
Treatment Site (200 Area ETF) on the
Hanford Facility, Richland, Washington.
This action conditionally grants the
exclusion based on an evaluation of
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waste stream-specific and treatment
process information provided by
Energy. Wastes meeting the conditions
of this exclusion are exempt from the
requirements of hazardous waste
regulations under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
of 1976 as amended. In finalizing this
action, EPA has concluded that Energy’s
petitioned waste does not meet any of
the criteria under which the wastes
were originally listed, and that there is
no reasonable basis to believe other
factors exist which could cause the
waste to be hazardous.
DATES: This final rule is effective on
September 2, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The RCRA regulatory
docket for this final rule is maintained
by EPA, Region 10. You may examine
docket materials at the EPA Region 10
library, 1200 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA
98101, (206) 553–1289, during the hours
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
Copies of key docket documents are
available for review at the following
Hanford Site Public Information
Repository locations:
University of Washington, Suzzallo
Library, Government Publications
Division, Box 352900, Seattle, WA
98195–2900. (206) 543–4664. Contact:
Eleanor Chase,
echase@u.washington.edu, (206) 543–
4664.
Gonzaga University, Foley Center, East
502 Boone, Spokane, WA 99258–
0001. (509) 323–5806. Contact:
Connie Scarppelli,
carter@its.gonzaga.edu.
Portland State University, Branford
Price Millar Library, 934 SW
Harrison, Portland, OR 97207–1151.
(503) 725–3690. Contact: Michael
Bowman, bowman@lib.pdx.edu.
U.S. DOE Public Reading Room,
Washington State University-TC, CIC
Room 101L, 2770 University Drive,
Richland, WA 99352. (509) 372–7443.
Contact: Janice Parthree,
reading_room@pnl.gov.
Copies of material in the regulatory
docket can be obtained by contacting
the Hanford Site Administrative Record
via mail, phone, fax, or e-mail:
Address: Hanford Site Administrative
Record, PO Box 1000, MSIN H6–08,
2440 Stevens Center Place, Richland,
WA 99352. (509) 376–2530. E-mail:
Debra_A_Debbie_Isom@rl.gov.
The docket contains the petition, and
all information used by EPA to evaluate
the petition including public comments
received by EPA and comment
responses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information concerning this document,
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contact Dave Bartus, Office of Air,
Waste and Toxics (OAWT), EPA, Region
10, 1200 6th Avenue, MS AWT–127,
Seattle, WA 98101, telephone (206)
553–2804, or via e-mail at
bartus.dave@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
information in this section is organized
as follows:
I. Overview Information
A. What Rule is EPA Finalizing?
B. Why is EPA Finalizing the Proposed
Exclusion?
C. What Are the Limits of This Exclusion?
D. When Is the Final Rule Effective
II. Background
A. What is a Delisting Petition?
B. What Regulations Allow Wastes to be
Delisted?
C. What Information Must the Generator
Supply for a Delisting Petition?
D. How Will This Action Affect States?
III. EPA’s Evaluation of the Waste
Information for 200 Area ETF Treated
Effluent
What waste did Energy petition EPA to
delist?
IV. Public Comments Received on the
Proposed Rule
A. Department of Energy Comments
B. Individual Commenter
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children from Environmental Health and
Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions that
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations
K. Congressional Review Act
I. Overview Information
A. What Rule Is EPA Finalizing?
After evaluating Energy’s petition and
supplemental information provided by
Energy, EPA proposed on July 15, 2004
(69 FR 42395), to exclude the petitioned
mixed 1 wastes managed or generated by
the 200 Area ETF on the Hanford
Facility in Richland, Washington. The
action relates to treated liquid effluents
1 Mixed waste is defined as waste that contains
both hazardous waste subject to the requirements of
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of
1976 as amended, and source, special nuclear, or
by-product material subject to the requirements of
the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) (see 42 United States
Code (U.S.C.) 6903 (41), added by the Federal
Facility Compliance Act (FFCA) of 1992).
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produced by the 200 Area ETF, which
were first delisted in June 1995. See 60
FR 6054, February 1, 1995. EPA’s final
exclusion modifies this existing
delisting by increasing the annual
quantity of waste delisted to conform to
the expected full treatment capacity of
the 200 Area ETF and by expanding the
list of hazardous waste numbers and
F039 constituents for which 200 Area
ETF treated effluent is delisted. Changes
relating to waste numbers for which 200
Area ETF treated effluent is excluded
include expanding the list of
constituents associated with hazardous
waste number F039 (multisource
leachate), from the current F001 to F005
constituents to all constituents for
which F039 waste is listed,2 adding
certain wastewater forms of U- and Plisted wastes, and certain additional Flisted waste numbers. These additional
U-, P- and F-listed waste numbers are
those whose chemical constituents are
included in the list of hazardous
constituents for which F039 was listed
(see 40 CFR part 261, appendix VII).
This latter addition is intended to
accommodate possible management of
U-, P- and F-listed wastewaters from
spill cleanup or decontamination
associated with management of these
wastes at the Central Waste Complex
(CWC) or other storage facilities. These
spill cleanup wastes include exactly the
same constituents that will eventually
contribute to F039 when the source
wastes are land disposed, so today’s
analysis of expanding the 200 Area ETF
treated effluent to include F039 applies
equally to the wastewater forms of the
same chemical constituents in their
U-, P- and F-listed waste forms.
The effect of these changes is to allow
the 200 Area ETF to fulfill an expanded
role in supporting Hanford Facility
cleanup actions beyond those activities
considered in the 1995 delisting
rulemaking. In particular, these changes
will allow the 200 Area ETF to treat
mixed wastewaters from a number of
additional sources beyond 242–A
Evaporator process condensate (PC)
upon which the original delisting was
based.
B. Why Is EPA Finalizing the Proposed
Exclusion?
We believe that the petitioned waste
should be conditionally delisted
because the waste, when managed in
2 As
noted in the proposed rule, this final rule is
not modifying the list of constituents for which
F039 multiscource leachate is listed. At the time of
the original delisting, DOE–RLS did not expect to
manage F039 wastes at the 200 Area ETF from
sources other than F001–F005 wastes. Therefore,
the original 200 Area ETF delisting excluded only
F039 wastes from F001–F005 sources.
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accordance with today’s final
conditions, do not meet the criteria for
which the wastes originally were listed
and the waste do not contain other
constituents or factors that could cause
the waste stream to be a hazardous
waste or warrant retaining the waste as
a hazardous waste. Our final decision to
delist the petitioned waste is based on
information submitted by Energy,
including the description of the
wastewaters managed by the ETF and
their original generating sources, the
ETF treatment processes, and the
analytical data characterizing
performance of the 200 Area ETF.
In reviewing this petition, we
considered the original listing criteria
and the additional factors required by
the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments (HSWA) of 1984. See 42
U.S.C. 6921(f), and 40 CFR 260.22.
These factors include: (1) Whether the
waste are considered acutely toxic; (2)
the toxicity of the constituents; (3) the
concentration of the constituents in the
waste; (4) the tendency of the hazardous
constituents to migrate and to bioaccumulate; (5) persistence of the
constituents in the environment once
released from the waste; (6) plausible
and specific types of management of the
petitioned waste; (7) the quantity of
waste produced; and (8) variability of
the waste. We also evaluated the
petitioned waste against the listing
criteria at 40 CFR 261.11(a)(1), (2) and
(3) and factors required by 40 CFR
260.22(a)(2). EPA finds the petitioned
wastes do not meet the listing criteria
and determined that none of the factors
listed above warrant retaining the
petitioned wastes as hazardous.
C. What Are the Limits of This
Exclusion?
This exclusion applies to certain 200
Area ETF treated effluents identified in
today’s final rule, provided the
conditions contained herein are
satisfied.
D. When Is the Final Rule Effective?
The effective date of today’s action is
September 2, 2005. RCRA Section
3010(b)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6930(b)(1), allows
rules to become effective in less than six
months when the regulated community
does not need the six-month period to
come into compliance with the new
regulatory requirements. In the
proposed rule preamble, EPA noted that
the rule, if finalized, would reduce
existing regulatory requirements, so that
a six-month period was not necessary
for Energy to come into compliance.
EPA further noted that, if finalized, the
proposal would be effective
immediately upon final publication, and
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that a later date would impose
unnecessary hardship and expense on
the petitioner.
After further reflection and
consideration of Energy’s comments,
EPA continues to believe that a full six
month period is not necessary to
achieve full compliance with this rule.
EPA recognizes, however, that the
revised exclusion will contain
somewhat different conditions than the
original exclusion rule. Even though
today’s final rule provides relief from
RCRA regulatory requirements for
significantly more wastes than was
previously the case, Energy must still
demonstrate compliance with the new
conditions of the new exclusion, even
for wastes currently being processed in
compliance with the existing exclusion.
One example of such a condition is
preparation of a waste processing
strategy. To ensure Energy has adequate
opportunity to update its internal
procedures and produce documentation
required by the new exclusion
conditions, EPA is delaying the effective
date of the final rule to 30 days after
publication.
II. Background
A. What Is a Delisting Petition?
A delisting petition is a request from
a generator to EPA or another agency
with jurisdiction to exclude, or delist,
from the RCRA list of hazardous waste,
waste the generator believes should not
be considered hazardous under RCRA.
B. What Regulations Allow Wastes To
Be Delisted?
Under 40 CFR 260.20 and 260.22,
facilities may petition the EPA to
remove their wastes from hazardous
waste regulation by excluding them
from the lists of hazardous wastes
contained in 40 CFR 261.31 and 261.32.
Specifically, 40 CFR 260.20 allows any
person to petition the Administrator to
modify or revoke any provision of parts
260 through 265 and 268 of Title 40 of
the Code of Federal Regulations. 40 CFR
260.22 provides generators the
opportunity to petition the
Administrator to exclude a waste from
a particular generating facility from the
hazardous waste lists.
C. What Information Must the Generator
Supply for a Delisting Petition?
Petitioners must provide sufficient
information to EPA to allow EPA to
determine that the waste to be excluded
does not meet any of the criteria under
which the waste was listed as a
hazardous waste. In addition, the
Administrator must determine, where
he/she has a reasonable basis to believe
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that factors (including additional
constituents) other than those for which
the waste was listed could cause the
waste to be a hazardous waste, that such
factors do not warrant retaining the
waste as a hazardous waste.
D. How Will This Action Affect States?
This final rule is issued under the
federal (RCRA) delisting authority found
at 40 CFR 260.22. Some states are
authorized to administer a delisting
program in lieu of the federal program,
i.e., to make their own delisting
decision. Therefore, this rule does not
apply under RCRA in those authorized
states. For states not authorized to
administer a delisting program in lieu of
the federal program (as is the case with
the State of Washington as of the date
of today’s final rule), today’s rule will
become effective with respect to the
federal (RCRA) program. Energy will,
however, have to comply with any
additional applicable state
requirements.
States are allowed to impose
regulatory requirements that are more
stringent than EPA’s, pursuant to
section 3009 of RCRA. These more
stringent requirements may include a
provision that prohibits a federallyissued exclusion from taking effect in a
state. Because a petitioner’s waste may
be regulated under a dual system, (i.e.,
both federal and state programs),
petitioners are urged to contact state
regulatory authorities to determine the
current status of their wastes under the
state laws.
III. EPA’s Evaluation of the Waste
Information for 200 Area ETF Treated
Effluent
What Waste Did Energy Petition EPA To
Delist?
The original delisting action
considered treatment of only one waste
stream, process condensate from the
242–A Evaporator (242–A Evaporator
PC). Since promulgation of the original
delisting, the operating mission of the
200 Area ETF has expanded
considerably. Currently, the operating
capacity of the 200 Area ETF provides
treatment of 242–A Evaporator PC,
treatment of Hanford Site contaminated
groundwater from various pump-andtreat systems, and a variety of other
wastewaters generated from waste
management and cleanup activities at
Hanford.
As discussed in section 3.0 of
Energy’s November 2001 petition, the
mission of the 200 Area ETF is to treat
wastewater generated on the Hanford
Facility from cleanup activities
including multisource leachate from
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operation of hazardous/mixed waste
landfills, and other hazardous
wastewaters from a variety of sources
including analytical laboratory
operations, research and development
studies, waste treatment processes,
environmental restoration and
deactivation projects, and other waste
management activities. Based on this
change in the 200 Area ETF mission,
Energy petitioned EPA to modify the
existing delisting applicable to treated
liquid effluent from the 200 Area ETF
by increasing the effluent volume limit
to 210 million liters per year, and to
conditionally exclude treated effluents
from treatment by the 200 Area ETF of
certain liquid Hanford wastes with
hazardous waste numbers identified at
40 CFR 261.31 and 261.33 as F001–
F005, F039, and all U- and P-listed
substances and selected additional Flisted waste numbers whose associated
compounds appear in the listing
definition of F039. Under the current
delisting, the liquid effluent volume is
limited to approximately 86 million
liters per year, and delisted only for
F001–F005 waste numbers and F039
waste constituents from F001 through
F005 waste numbers.
The November 2001 delisting petition
explains that wastes bearing numbers
P029, P030, P098, P106, P120, and
U123, as well as other U- and P-listed
numbers corresponding to F039
constituents, are currently managed, or
may be managed in the future, as part
of Hanford cleanup operations. Wastes
bearing these waste numbers are
intended for future disposal in the
mixed waste landfill (Low-Level Burial
Grounds (LLBG)). These wastes,
therefore, eventually will contribute to
generation of F039 multisource leachate
from this unit, and are specifically
considered in the analysis of F039
constituents in Energy’s delisting
petition (refer to Appendix B of the
November 2001 delisting petition).
Energy believes that wastewaters
bearing these waste numbers could be
generated from activities such as spill
cleanup or equipment decontamination,
and such wastewaters could be managed
best at the 200 Area ETF. Energy’s
petition did not propose to manage the
discarded commercial chemical
products in the 200 Area ETF, but only
wastewaters from spill cleanup or
equipment decontamination.
To ensure that the commercial
chemical compounds themselves are not
inappropriately managed at the 200
Area ETF, EPA’s proposal limited the
wastes that could be managed by the
200 Area ETF to only those influent
wastewaters bearing less than 1.0 weight
percent of any hazardous constituent.
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These wastewaters would also bear the
same U- and P-listed numbers by virtue
of the ’derived from’ rule discussed in
Section I.A of the proposed rule.
Because the hazardous constituents
from these U- and P-listed wastes are
already included in the analysis of 200
Area ETF performance for treatment of
F039, EPA is not proposing any separate
analysis specific to U- and P-listed
numbers. EPA’s proposal to include
these U- and P-listed waste numbers is
intended to include influent
wastewaters that might be generated
from management of wastes currently
stored in CWC, as well as such
wastewaters managed elsewhere at
Hanford or which may be generated in
the future.
As discussed below in section IV,
comments from Energy clarified
Energy’s intent in the November 29,
2001 petition to include a number of
other F-listed waste numbers among
those considered in the requested
exclusion.
IV. Public Comments Received on the
Proposed Rule
EPA received comments on the
proposed rule from the applicant and
from an individual commenter.
Individual comments and EPA’s
response may be found in the response
to comments document, which has been
included in the docket for this final
rulemaking. A summary of key
comments and changes, if any, to the
proposed rule, appear below.
In addition to changes made in
response to public comments, EPA is
also making changes to the proposed
rule necessary to conform to the
Methods Innovation Rule, 70 FR 34538,
June 14, 2005. Details of these changes
and EPA’s rationale for them can also be
found in the response to comments
document.
A. Department of Energy Comments
Comments from the Department of
Energy focused on the proposed
regulatory language and explanatory
preamble text. One of Energy’s
comments questioned the addition of a
number of conditions in the proposed
exclusion which do not appear in the
current exclusion, stating that EPA had
not provided an explanation for the
additional conditions. Energy presented
as a basis for its comment statements in
the proposed rule generally noting
EPA’s perspective that the 200 Area ETF
is a robust, well-designed and welloperated wastewater treatment unit.
While EPA affirms its statements
regarding the robust nature of the
facility, EPA fundamentally disagrees
with Energy’s comment. As noted in the
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proposal preamble and in EPA’s
response to comments, a key objective
of the revised 200 Area ETF ‘‘upfront’’
delisting is to accommodate treatment of
a wide range of waste streams not
considered in the original exclusion,
many of which have not yet been
generated or characterized. Since Energy
could not reasonably provide detailed
characterization of wastes streams that
have yet to be generated, EPA proposed
a waste acceptance framework based on
an engineering evaluation of waste
streams. This model provides a degree
of confidence that treatment in the 200
Area ETF will meet delisting exclusion
limits to the same degree of confidence
as if detailed waste stream
characterization were available, while
avoiding the need to frequently revise
the delisting rule itself. As a result, EPA
finds that the additional conditions
noted in Energy’s comments are not
only fully justified, but absolutely
essential to achieving the degree of
flexibility requested by Energy in their
delisting petition, given the lack of
complete waste characterization
information.
Another of Energy’s comments
provided clarification of Energy’s intent
to expand the suite of waste numbers
covered by the proposed exclusion.
Essentially, Energy provided a
defensible argument that a number of
additional F-listed waste numbers
should be addressed by the exclusion.
EPA agrees with this comment in part,
but is limiting the additional F-listed
waste numbers to those with a
reasonable nexus to wastes expected to
be managed by the 200 Area ETF. See
the first paragraph of the regulatory
exclusion language finalized today,
appearing below in Table 2 in Appendix
IX of 40 CFR part 261.
Energy requested relief from the
proposed exclusion condition relating to
recording of treated effluent
conductivity, contending that doing so
would be without basis and a burden.
EPA disagrees, since both measuring
and recording of treated effluent
provides important documentation
confirming performance of the 200 Area
ETF. This measurement also provides a
basis, in part, for EPA’s decision to relax
the verification sampling frequency for
treated effluent from every 10th
verification tank, as in the original
exclusion, to every 15th verification
tank. Given the extended interval
between full verification sampling,
measuring and recording of treated
effluent conductivity provide a simple
but effective indicator or 200 Area ETF
performance with regard to inorganic
treatment efficiency. Therefore, EPA is
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retaining the recording condition as
proposed.
Energy requested relief from the
condition generally limiting disposal of
treated effluent at the State Authorized
Land Disposal Site, or SALDS. Energy’s
comment is based on jurisdictional
grounds, and Energy’s belief that treated
effluent ‘‘is essentially demineralized
water.’’ As described in Section III.C of
the proposed rule preamble, the
condition in question is established on
the grounds that EPA evaluated the risk
of treated effluent only with respect to
a groundwater ingestion pathway,
consistent with the approach taken by
EPA in the original exclusion. The
requirement to generally dispose of
treated effluent at SALDS is intended to
ensure exposure pathways other than
groundwater do not occur without EPA
analysis of potential risks from such
pathways. EPA is retaining this
condition as proposed, noting that the
proposed and final rules do provide
flexibility with respect to disposal
practices through Condition 7 of the
exclusion rule. Energy also requested
deletion of Condition 7, on the basis
that no non-radiological considerations
warrant the condition, and that Energy
is already engaged in various reuse
activities using treated effluent. EPA is
retaining Condition 7, since it relates
directly to the scope of EPA’s analysis
of treated effluent risks, and since it
provides flexibility for exactly the reuse
practices noted in the comment.
Energy raised issues concerning
reporting of environmental data,
including groundwater data, to EPA in
Condition (4)(a) of the proposed rule.
Energy requested deletion of this
condition on the grounds of being
vague, and if retained, reconsideration
of the requirement to report certain data
within a ten-day period. EPA does not
agree that the proposed condition is
vague—in fact, EPA specifically crafted
the condition to be specific in its scope.
Although EPA did not propose explicit
environmental or groundwater
monitoring requirements as a condition
of the proposed exclusion, EPA
continues to believe that information
that may otherwise become available to
Energy relating to performance
deficiencies of the 200 Area ETF (or any
treatment facility subject to a delisting
exclusion, for that matter) should be
timely made available to EPA for
consideration. EPA needs to ensure its
ability to timely obtain and consider
data that may indicate adverse
environmental impacts of activities
subject to the exclusion. Therefore, EPA
is retaining the environmental data
submission condition as defensible and
implementable.
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44499
Finally, Energy requested
modification to condition 4(b) relating
to notification to EPA of changes to the
200 Area ETF. EPA accepted this
comment in part, and has added
clarifying language to more clearly
define facility changes subject to this
reporting requirement. See condition
(4)(b).
Energy also provided a number of
comments on preamble language in the
proposed rule. In general, EPA notes
these comments, and where appropriate,
provides a clarifying analysis in the
response to comments document to
assist in implementing the regulatory
exclusion conditions themselves. EPA
has also provided an expanded
discussion in the response to comments
document of the relationship between
exclusion conditions and Land Disposal
Restriction treatment standards to assist
Energy and the public in understanding
this nexus, noting that the delisting
exclusion rule does not impose nor
demonstrate compliance with LDR
treatment standards.
B. Individual Commenter
One individual provided a number of
detailed comments. A number of these
comments applied to Energy’s
November 29, 2001 petition document,
rather than EPA’s proposed rule. EPA
has noted these comments, but finds
that they were appropriately addressed
in the proposal itself. One comment,
however raised a valid point about a
technical issue relating to how inorganic
treatment/removal efficiencies were
presented in Energy’s petition. Energy’s
petition presented historical data in
terms of maximum removal efficiencies.
In some cases, data exists for some
waste streams indicating removal
efficiencies less than the maximum.
While EPA does not believe that these
differences would require significant
change in the exclusion from what EPA
proposed, EPA is never the less
updating exclusion conditions to better
relate removal efficiencies referenced by
Condition (1)(a)(i) for purposes of
establishing waste treatment strategies
to actual or measured performance of
the 200 Area ETF. More specifically,
EPA is requiring Energy to adopt a more
conservative approach to use of existing
removal efficiency data that are applied
to influent waste streams other than
from which they were generated. In
addition, EPA is defining more explicit
methodology for Energy to update these
removal efficiency data as it gains
additional processing experience with
new influent waste streams. See
exclusion conditions 1(a)(ii) and 1(b).
EPA expects that this change will not
alter actual operations of the 200 Area
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ETF, but it will provide a more
defensible basis for the engineering
demonstrations that Energy must make
under terms of the final exclusion.
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), the Agency
must determine whether the regulatory
action is ‘‘significant’’, and therefore
subject to OMB review and the
requirements of the Executive Order.
The Order defines ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as one that is likely
to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an
annual effect on the economy of $100
million or more, or adversely affect in
a material way, the economy, a sector of
the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or
safety, or State, local or tribal
governments or communities; (2) create
a serious inconsistency or otherwise
interfere with an action taken or
planned by another agency; (3)
materially alter the budgetary impact of
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan
programs, or the rights and obligations
of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel
legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President’s priorities, or
the principles set forth in the Executive
Order. It has been determined that
today’s final rule is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order 12866, since its effect
is to reduce the overall costs and
economic impact of EPA’s hazardous
waste management regulations. This
reduction is achieved by excluding
waste generated at a specific facility
from EPA’s lists of hazardous wastes,
thus enabling a facility to manage its
waste as non-hazardous. Therefore, EPA
has determined that this final rule is not
subject to OMB review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act, 44
U.S.C. 3501, et seq., is intended to
minimize the reporting and recordkeeping burden on the regulated
community, as well as to minimize the
cost of Federal information collection
and dissemination. In general, the Act
requires that information requests and
record-keeping requirements affecting
ten or more non-Federal respondents be
approved by OMB. Although this final
rule establishes information and recordkeeping requirements for Energy, it does
not impose those requirements on any
other facility or respondents, and
therefore is not subject to the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
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C. Regulatory Flexibility
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions. For purposes of assessing
the impacts of today’s rule on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A
small business, as codified in the Small
Business Administration Regulations at
13 CFR part 121; (2) a small
governmental jurisdiction that is a
government of a city, county, town,
school district or special district with a
population of less than 50,000; and (3)
a small organization that is any not-forprofit enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field. The final
exclusion will only have the effect of
impacting the waste management of
waste proposed for conditional delisting
at the Hanford facility in the State of
Washington. After considering the
economic impacts of today’s final rule
on small entities, I certify that this
action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. This final rule
will not impose any requirements on
small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995 (Public
Law 104–4) establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures to State, local and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or
to the private sector, of $100 million or
more in any year. Before promulgating
an EPA rule for which a written
statement is needed, section 205 of the
UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and to
adopt the least costly, most costeffective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule.
The provisions of section 205 do not
apply when they are inconsistent with
applicable law. Moreover, section 205
allows EPA to adopt an alternative other
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than the least costly, most cost-effective
or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why the alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
This final rule contains no Federal
mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for
State, local or tribal governments or the
private sector. It imposes no new
enforceable duty on any State, local or
tribal governments or the private sector.
Thus, today’s final rule is not subject to
the requirements of sections 202 and
205 of the UMRA. EPA has determined
that this final rule contains no
regulatory requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect small
government entities. Thus, the
requirements of section 203 of the
UMRA do not apply to this rule.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), requires EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by State
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ is defined in
the Executive Order to include
regulations that have ‘‘substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and
the States, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities among
various levels of government.’’
This final rule does not have
federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among various levels of
government, as specified in Executive
Order 13132. This final rule addresses
the conditional delisting of waste at the
federal Hanford Facility. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
to this rule. Although Section 6 of the
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
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to this proposed rule, EPA did consult
with representatives of State and local
governments in developing this rule.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249, November 9, 2000), requires EPA
to develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’ This final rule does not
have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175. The final rule
conditionally delists certain wastes at
the federal Hanford Facility and does
not establish any regulatory policy with
tribal implications. Thus, Executive
Order 13175 does not apply to this final
rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) is determined to be ‘‘economically
significant’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If
the regulatory action meets both criteria,
the Agency must evaluate the
environmental health or safety effects of
the planned rule on children, and
explain why the planned regulation is
preferable to other potentially effective
and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the Agency.
This final rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant as defined in
Executive Order 12866 and because the
Agency does not have reason to believe
the environmental health or safety risks
addressed by this proposed action
present a disproportionate risk to
children. The final rule concerns the
proposed conditional delisting of
certain wastes at the Hanford facility.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This final rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations that
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001) because it is not a ‘‘significant
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regulatory action’’ as defined under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards in its regulatory activities
unless to do so would be inconsistent
with applicable law or otherwise
impractical. Voluntary consensus
standards are technical standards (e.g.,
materials specifications, test methods,
sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted
by voluntary consensus bodies. The
NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
explanations when the Agency decides
to use ‘‘government-unique’’ standards
in lieu of available and applicable
voluntary consensus standards.
This final rule involves
environmental monitoring and
measurement, but is not establishing
new technical standards for verifying
compliance with concentration limits,
data quality or test methodology. EPA is
not requiring the use of specific,
prescribed analytic methods. Therefore,
EPA did not explicitly consider the use
of any voluntary consensus standards.
Rather, the Agency has specifically
accommodated use of an alternative
method that meets the prescribed
performance criteria. Examples of
performance criteria are discussed in
‘‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid
Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,’’
EPA Publication-846, Third Edition, as
amended by updates I, II, IIA, IIB and
III.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low
Income Populations
To the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, and consistent with
the principles set forth in the report on
the National Performance Review, each
Federal agency must make achieving
environmental justice part of its mission
by identifying and addressing, as
appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health and
environmental effects of its programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States and its
territories and possessions, the District
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44501
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of
the Mariana Islands. Because this final
rule addresses the conditional delisting
of certain waste streams at the Hanford
Facility, with no anticipated significant
adverse human health or environmental
effects, the rule is not subject to
Executive Order 12898.
K. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. Section 804
exempts from section 801 the following
types of rules: (1) rules of particular
applicability; (2) rules relating to agency
management or personnel; and (3) rules
of agency organization, procedure, or
practice that do not substantially affect
the rights or obligations of non-agency
parties. 5 U.S.C. 804(3). EPA is not
required to submit a rule report
regarding today’s action under section
801 because this is a rule of particular
applicability.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 261
Environmental protection, Hazardous
waste, Recycling, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: Sec. 3001(f) RCRA, 42 U.S.C.
6921(f).
Dated: July 25, 2005.
Julie M. Hagensen,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
For the reasons set out in the preamble,
40 CFR part 261 is amended as follows:
I
PART 261—IDENTIFICATION AND
LISTING HAZARDOUS WASTE
1. The authority citation for part 261
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921,
6922, 6924(4), and 6938.
2. In Table 2, of Appendix IX of Part
261, the existing entry for ‘‘DOE RL,
Richland, WA’’ is removed and a new
entry for ‘‘Department of Energy
(Energy)’’ is added in alphabetical order
to read as follows:
I
Appendix IX to Part 261—Wastes
Excluded Under §§ 260.20 and 260.22
*
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*
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*
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TABLE 2.—WASTES EXCLUDED FROM SPECIFIC SOURCES
Facility
*
United States Department of Energy (Energy).
Address
Waste description
*
*
*
*
*
*
Richland, Washington .... Treated effluents bearing the waste numbers identified below, from the 200 Area Effluent
Treatment Facility (ETF) located at the Hanford Facility, at a maximum generation rate of
210 million liters per year, subject to Conditions 1–7: This conditional exclusion applies
to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazardous Waste Nos. F001, F002, F003,
F004, F005, and F039. This exclusion also applies to EPA Hazardous Waste Nos.
F006–F012, F019 and F027 provided that the as-generated waste streams bearing these
waste numbers prior to treatment in the 200 Area ETF is in the form of dilute wastewater
containing a maximum of 1.0 weight percent of any hazardous constituent. In addition,
this conditional exclusion applies to all other U- and P-listed waste numbers that meet
the following criteria: The U/P listed substance has a treatment standard established for
wastewater forms of F039 multi-source leachate under 40 CFR 268.40,’’Treatment
Standards for Hazardous Wastes’’; and the as-generated waste stream prior to treatment
in the 200 Area ETF is in the form of dilute wastewater containing a maximum of 1.0
weight percent of any hazardous constituent. This exclusion shall apply at the point of
discharge from the 200 Area ETF verification tanks after satisfaction of Conditions 1–7.
Conditions:
(1) Waste Influent Characterization and Processing Strategy Preparation
(a) Prior to treatment of any waste stream in the 200 Area ETF, Energy must:
(i) Complete sufficient characterization of the waste stream to demonstrate that the waste
stream is within the treatability envelope of 200 Area ETF as specified in Tables C–1
and C–2 of the delisting petition dated November 29, 2001. Results of the waste stream
characterization and the treatability evaluation must be in writing and placed in the facility operating record, along with a copy of the November 29, 2001 petition. Waste stream
characterization may be carried out in whole or in part using the waste analysis procedures in the Hanford Facility RCRA Permit, WA7 89000 8967;
(ii) Prepare a written waste processing strategy specific to the waste stream, based on the
ETF process model documented in the November 29, 2001 petition. For waste processing strategies applicable to waste streams for which inorganic envelope data is provided in Table C–2 of the November 29, 2001 petition, Energy shall use envelope data
specific to that waste stream, if available. Otherwise, Energy shall use the minimum envelope in Table C–2.
(b) Energy may modify the 200 Area ETF treatability envelope specified in Tables C–1 and
C–2 of the November 29, 2001 delisting petition to reflect changes in treatment technology or operating practices upon written approval of the Regional Administrator. Requests for modification shall be accompanied by an engineering report detailing the basis
for a modified treatment envelope. Data supporting modified envelopes must be based
on at least four influent waste stream characterization data points and corresponding
treated effluent verification sample data points for wastes managed under a particular
waste processing strategy. Treatment efficiencies must be calculated based on a comparison of upper 95 percent confidence level constituent concentrations. Upon written
EPA approval of the engineering report, the associated inorganic treatment efficiency
data may be used in lieu of those in Tables C–1 and C–2 for purposes of condition
(1)(a)(i).
(c) Energy shall conduct all 200 Area ETF treatment operations for a particular waste
stream according to the written waste processing strategy, as may be modified by Condition 3(b)(i).
(d) The following definitions apply:
(i) A waste stream is defined as all wastewater received by the 200 Area ETF that meet
the 200 Area ETF waste acceptance criteria as defined by the Hanford Facility RCRA
Permit, WA7 89000 8967 and are managed under the same 200 Area ETF waste processing strategy.
(ii) A waste processing strategy is defined as a specific 200 Area ETF unit operation configuration, primary operating parameters and expected maximum influent total dissolved
solids (TDS) and total organic carbon (TOC). Each waste processing strategy shall require monitoring and recording of treated effluent conductivity for purposes of Condition
(2)(b)(i)(E), and for monitoring and recording of primary operating parameters as necessary to demonstrate that 200 Area ETF operations are in accordance with the associated waste processing strategy.
(iii) Primary operating parameters are defined as ultraviolet oxidation (UV/OX) peroxide addition rate, reverse osmosis reject ratio, and processing flow rate as measured at the
200 Area ETF surge tank outlet.
(iv) Key unit operations are defined as filtration, UV/OX, reverse osmosis, ion exchange,
and secondary waste treatment.
(2) Testing. Energy shall perform verification testing of treated effluents according to Conditions (a), (b), and (c) below.
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TABLE 2.—WASTES EXCLUDED FROM SPECIFIC SOURCES—Continued
Facility
Address
Waste description
(a) No later than 45 days after the effective date of this rule, or such other time as may be
approved of in advance and in writing by EPA, Energy shall submit to EPA a report proposing required data quality parameters and data acceptance criteria (parameter values)
for sampling and analysis which may be conducted pursuant to the requirements of this
rule. This report shall explicitly consider verification sampling and analysis for purposes
of demonstrating compliance with exclusion limits in Condition 5, as well as any sampling and analysis which may be required pursuant to Conditions (1)(a)(i) and (1)(d)(ii).
This report shall contain a detailed justification for the proposed data quality parameters
and data acceptance criteria. Following review and approval of this report, the proposed
data quality parameters and data acceptance criteria shall become enforceable conditions of this exclusion. Pending EPA approval of this report, Energy may demonstrate
compliance with sampling and analysis requirements of this rule through application of
methods appearing in EPA Publication SW–846 or equivalent methods. Energy shall
maintain a written sampling and analysis plan, including QA/QC requirements and procedures, based upon these enforceable data quality parameters and data acceptance criteria in the facility operating record, and shall conduct all sampling and analysis conducted pursuant to this rule according to this written plan. Records of all sampling and
analysis, including quality assurance QA/QC information, shall be placed in the facility
operating record. As applicable to the method-defined parameters of concern, analyses
requiring the use of SW–846 methods incorporated by reference in 40 CFR 260.11 must
be used without substitution. As applicable, the SW–846 methods might include Methods
0010, 0011, 0020, 0023A, 0030, 0031, 0040, 0050, 0051, 0060, 0061, 1010A, 1020B,
1110A, 1310B, 1311, 1312, 1320, 1330A, 9010C, 9012B, 9040C, 9045D, 9060A, 9070A
(uses EPA Method 1664, Rev. A), 9071B, and 9095B.
(b) Initial verification testing.
(i) Verification sampling shall consist of a representative sample of one filled effluent discharge tank, analyzed for all constituents in Condition (5), and for conductivity for purposes of establishing a conductivity baseline with respect to Condition (2)(b)(i)(E).
Verification sampling shall be required under each of the following conditions:
(A) Any new or modified waste strategy;
(B) Influent wastewater total dissolved solids or total organic carbon concentration increases by an order of magnitude or more above values established in the waste processing strategy;
(C) Changes in primary operating parameters;
(D) Changes in influent flow rate outside a range of 150 to 570 liters per minute;
(E) Increase greater than a factor of ten (10) in treated effluent conductivity (conductivity
changes indicate changes in dissolved ionic constituents, which in turn are a good indicator of 200 Area ETF treatment efficiency).
(F) Any failure of initial verification required by this condition, or subsequent verification required by Condition (2)(c).
(ii) Treated effluents shall be managed according to Condition 3. Once Condition (3)(a) is
satisfied, subsequent verification testing shall be performed according to Condition (2)(c).
(c) Subsequent Verification: Following successful initial verification associated with a specific waste processing strategy, Energy must continue to monitor primary operating parameters, and collect and analyze representative samples from every fifteenth (15th)
verification tank filled with 200 Area ETF effluents processed according to the associated
waste processing strategy. These representative samples must be analyzed prior to disposal of 200 Area ETF effluents for all constituents in Condition (5). Treated effluent
from tanks sampled according to this condition must be managed according to Condition
(3).
(3) Waste Holding and Handling: Energy must store as hazardous waste all 200 Area ETF
effluents subject to verification testing in Condition (2)(b) and (2)(c), that is, until valid
analyses demonstrate Condition (5) is satisfied.
(a) If the levels of hazardous constituents in the samples of 200 Area ETF effluent are
equal to or below the levels set forth in Condition (5), the 200 Area ETF effluents are not
listed as hazardous wastes provided they are disposed of in the State Authorized Land
Disposal Site (SALDS) (except as provided pursuant to Condition (7)) according to applicable requirements and permits. Subsequent treated effluent batches shall be subject to
verification requirements of Condition (2)(c).
(b) If hazardous constituent levels in any representative sample collected from a
verification tank exceed any of the delisting levels set in Condition (5), Energy must:
(i) Review waste characterization data, and review and change accordingly the waste processing strategy as necessary to ensure subsequent batches of treated effluent do not
exceed delisting criteria;
(ii) Retreat the contents of the failing verification tank;
(iii) Perform verification testing on the retreated effluent. If constituent concentrations are at
or below delisting levels in Condition (5), the treated effluent are not listed hazardous
waste provided they are disposed at SALDS according to applicable requirements and
permits (except as provided pursuant to Condition (7)), otherwise repeat the requirements of Condition (3)(b).
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TABLE 2.—WASTES EXCLUDED FROM SPECIFIC SOURCES—Continued
Facility
Address
Waste description
(iv) Perform initial verification sampling according to Condition (2)(b) on the next treated effluent tank once testing required by Condition (3)(b)(iii) demonstrates compliance with
delisting requirements.
(4) Re-opener Language
(a) If, anytime before, during, or after treatment of waste in the 200 Area ETF, Energy possesses or is otherwise made aware of any data (including but not limited to groundwater
monitoring data, as well as data concerning the accuracy of site conditions or the validity
of assumptions upon which the November 29, 2001 petition was based) relevant to the
delisted waste indicating that the treated effluent no longer meets delisting criteria (excluding record keeping and data submissions required by Condition (6)), or that groundwater affected by discharge of the treated effluent exhibits hazardous constituent concentrations above health-based limits, Energy must report such data, in writing, to the
Regional Administrator within 10 days of first possessing or being made aware of that
data.
(b) Energy shall provide written notification to the Regional Administrator no less than 180
days prior to any planned or proposed substantial modifications to the 200 Area ETF, exclusive of routine maintenance activities, that could affect waste processing strategies or
primary operating parameters. This condition shall specifically include, but not be limited
to, changes that do or would require Class II or III modification to the Hanford Facility
RCRA Permit WA7 89000 8967 (in the case of permittee-initiated modifications) or
equivalent modifications in the case of agency-initiated permit modifications operations.
Energy may request a modification to the 180-day notification requirement of this condition in the instance of agency-initiated permit modifications for purposes of ensuring coordination with permitting activities.
(c) Based on the information described in paragraph (4)(a) or (4)(b) or any other relevant
information received from any source, the Regional Administrator will make a preliminary
determination as to whether the reported information requires Agency action to protect
human health or the environment. Further action could include suspending or revoking
the exclusion, or other appropriate response necessary to protect human health and the
environment.
(5) Delisting Levels: All total constituent concentrations in treated effluents managed under
this exclusion must be equal to or less than the following levels, expressed as mg/L:
Inorganic Constituents
Ammonia—6.0
Barium—1.6
Beryllium—4.5 × 10¥2
Nickel—4.5 × 10¥1
Silver—1.1 × 10¥1
Vanadium—1.6 × 10¥1
Zinc—6.8
Arsenic—1.5 × 10¥2
Cadmium—1.1 × 10¥2
Chromium—6.8 × 10¥2
Lead—9.0 × 10¥2
Mercury—6.8 × 10¥3
Selenium—1.1 × 10¥1
Fluoride—1.2
Cyanides—4.8 × 10¥1
Organic Constituents:
Cresol—1.2
2,4,6 Trichlorophenol—3.6 × 10¥1
Benzene—6.0 × 10¥2
Chrysene—5.6 × 10¥1
Hexachlorobenzne—2.0 × 10¥3
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene—1.8 × 10¥1
Dichloroisopropyl ether
[Bis(2-Chloroisopropyl) either]—6.0 × 10¥2
Di-n-octylphthalate—4.8 × 10¥1
1-Butanol—2.4
Isophorone—4.2
Diphenylamine—5.6 × 10¥1
p-Chloroaniline—1.2 × 10¥1
Acetonitrile—1.2
Carbazole—1.8 × 10¥1
N-Nitrosodimethylamine—2.0 × 10¥2
Pyridine—2.4 × 10¥2
Lindane [gamma-BHC]—3.0 × 10¥3
Arochlor [total of Arochlors 1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260]—5.0 × 10¥4
Carbon tetrachloride—1.8 × 10¥2
Tetrahydrofuran—5.6 × 10¥1
Acetone—2.4
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TABLE 2.—WASTES EXCLUDED FROM SPECIFIC SOURCES—Continued
Facility
Address
Waste description
Carbon disulfide—2.3
Tributyl phosphate—1.2 × 10¥1
(6) Recordkeeping and Data Submittals.
(a) Energy shall maintain records of all waste characterization, and waste processing strategies required by Condition (1), and verification sampling data, including QA/QC results,
in the facility operating record for a period of no less than three (3) years. However, this
period is automatically extended during the course of any unresolved enforcement action
regarding the 200 Area ETF or as requested by EPA.
(b) No less than thirty (30) days after receipt of verification data indicating a failure to meet
delisting criteria of Condition (5), Energy shall notify the Regional Administrator. This notification shall include a summary of waste characterization data for the associated influent, verification data, and any corrective actions taken according to Condition (3)(b)(i).
(c) Records required by Condition (6)(a) must be furnished on request by EPA or the State
of Washington and made available for inspection. All data must be accompanied by a
signed copy of the following certification statement to attest to the truth and accuracy of
the data submitted:
‘‘Under civil and criminal penalty of law for the making or submission of false or fraudulent
statements or representations (pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Federal
Code, which include, but may not be limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 42 U.S.C. 6928). I
certify that the information contained in or accompanying this document is true, accurate,
and complete.
As to the (those) identified section(s) of the document for which I cannot personally verify
its (their) truth and accuracy, I certify as the official having supervisory responsibility of
the persons who, acting under my direct instructions, made the verification that this information is true, accurate, and complete.
In the event that any of this information is determined by EPA in its sole discretion to be
false, inaccurate, or incomplete, and upon conveyance of this fact to Energy, I recognize
and agree that this exclusion of waste will be void as if it never had effect to the extent
directed by EPA and that the Energy will be liable for Energy’s reliance on the void exclusion.’’
(7) Treated Effluent Disposal Requirements. Energy may at any time propose alternate
reuse practices for treated effluent managed under terms of this exclusion in lieu of disposal at the SALDS. Such proposals must be in writing to the Regional Administrator,
and demonstrate that the risks and potential human health or environmental exposures
from alternate treated effluent disposal or reuse practices do not warrant retaining the
waste as a hazardous waste. Upon written approval by EPA of such a proposal, nonhazardous treated effluents may be managed according to the proposed alternate practices in lieu of the SALDS disposal requirement in paragraph (3)(a). The effect of such
approved proposals shall be explicitly limited to approving alternate disposal practices in
lieu of the requirements in paragraph (3)(a) to dispose of treated effluent in SALDS.
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 05–15329 Filed 8–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 268
[RCRA–2004–0009; FRL–7947–8]
Land Disposal Restrictions: SiteSpecific Treatment Variances for
Heritage Environmental Services LLC
and Chemical Waste Management,
Chemical Services, Inc
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA or Agency) is today
granting two site-specific treatment
standard variances from the Land
Disposal Restrictions (LDR) treatment
VerDate jul<14>2003
15:20 Aug 02, 2005
Jkt 205001
*
*
standards to Chemical Waste
Management, Chemical Services LLC
(CWM), and to Heritage Environmental
Services LLC (Heritage), to treat a
selenium-bearing hazardous waste from
the glass manufacturing industry. This
final rule follows a proposed rule and a
subsequent request for comment. These
facilities intend to treat and dispose of
selenium-bearing hazardous waste from
Guardian Industries Corp. (Guardian) at
their RCRA permitted facilities in Model
City, New York and Indianapolis,
Indiana, respectively. Based on
treatment data on a new proprietary
chemical stabilization technology
provided by Heritage, EPA is issuing
variances so that both facilities may
treat the Guardian waste to an alternate
treatment standard of 11 mg/L selenium,
as measured by the TCLP.
Upon promulgation of this final rule,
CWM and Heritage may dispose of the
treated waste in permitted RCRA
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
*
*
Subtitle C landfills, provided they meet
the applicable LDR treatment standards
for any other hazardous constituents in
the waste. EPA is granting these
variances because the chemical
properties of the wastes differ
significantly from the waste used to
establish the current LDR standard for
selenium (5.7 mg/L, as measured by the
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching
Procedure (TCLP)), and the petitions
have adequately demonstrated that the
waste cannot be treated to meet this
treatment standard.
DATES: This final rule is effective August
3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. RCRA–2004–0009. All documents
in the docket are listed in the EDOCKET
index at https://www.epa.gov/edocket.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
i.e., CBI or other information whose
E:\FR\FM\03AUR1.SGM
03AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44496-44505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15329]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 261
[SW-FRL-7946-8]
Hazardous Waste Management System; Final Exclusion for
Identification and Listing Hazardous Waste
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing its proposed
action to grant a petition submitted by the United States Department of
Energy, Richland Operations Office (Energy) to exclude (or `delist')
from regulation as listed hazardous waste certain mixed waste
(`petitioned waste') following treatment at the 200 Area Effluent
Treatment Site (200 Area ETF) on the Hanford Facility, Richland,
Washington. This action conditionally grants the exclusion based on an
evaluation of waste stream-specific and treatment process information
provided by Energy. Wastes meeting the conditions of this exclusion are
exempt from the requirements of hazardous waste regulations under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 as amended. In
finalizing this action, EPA has concluded that Energy's petitioned
waste does not meet any of the criteria under which the wastes were
originally listed, and that there is no reasonable basis to believe
other factors exist which could cause the waste to be hazardous.
DATES: This final rule is effective on September 2, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The RCRA regulatory docket for this final rule is maintained
by EPA, Region 10. You may examine docket materials at the EPA Region
10 library, 1200 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, (206) 553-1289, during
the hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
Federal holidays. Copies of key docket documents are available for
review at the following Hanford Site Public Information Repository
locations:
University of Washington, Suzzallo Library, Government Publications
Division, Box 352900, Seattle, WA 98195-2900. (206) 543-4664. Contact:
Eleanor Chase, echase@u.washington.edu, (206) 543-4664.
Gonzaga University, Foley Center, East 502 Boone, Spokane, WA 99258-
0001. (509) 323-5806. Contact: Connie Scarppelli,
carter@its.gonzaga.edu.
Portland State University, Branford Price Millar Library, 934 SW
Harrison, Portland, OR 97207-1151. (503) 725-3690. Contact: Michael
Bowman, bowman@lib.pdx.edu.
U.S. DOE Public Reading Room, Washington State University-TC, CIC Room
101L, 2770 University Drive, Richland, WA 99352. (509) 372-7443.
Contact: Janice Parthree, reading_room@pnl.gov.
Copies of material in the regulatory docket can be obtained by
contacting the Hanford Site Administrative Record via mail, phone, fax,
or e-mail:
Address: Hanford Site Administrative Record, PO Box 1000, MSIN H6-
08, 2440 Stevens Center Place, Richland, WA 99352. (509) 376-2530. E-
mail: Debra--A--Debbie--Isom@rl.gov.
The docket contains the petition, and all information used by EPA
to evaluate the petition including public comments received by EPA and
comment responses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this
document, contact Dave Bartus, Office of Air, Waste and Toxics (OAWT),
EPA, Region 10, 1200 6th Avenue, MS AWT-127, Seattle, WA 98101,
telephone (206) 553-2804, or via e-mail at bartus.dave@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information in this section is organized
as follows:
I. Overview Information
A. What Rule is EPA Finalizing?
B. Why is EPA Finalizing the Proposed Exclusion?
C. What Are the Limits of This Exclusion?
D. When Is the Final Rule Effective
II. Background
A. What is a Delisting Petition?
B. What Regulations Allow Wastes to be Delisted?
C. What Information Must the Generator Supply for a Delisting
Petition?
D. How Will This Action Affect States?
III. EPA's Evaluation of the Waste Information for 200 Area ETF
Treated Effluent
What waste did Energy petition EPA to delist?
IV. Public Comments Received on the Proposed Rule
A. Department of Energy Comments
B. Individual Commenter
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions that Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations
K. Congressional Review Act
I. Overview Information
A. What Rule Is EPA Finalizing?
After evaluating Energy's petition and supplemental information
provided by Energy, EPA proposed on July 15, 2004 (69 FR 42395), to
exclude the petitioned mixed \1\ wastes managed or generated by the 200
Area ETF on the Hanford Facility in Richland, Washington. The action
relates to treated liquid effluents
[[Page 44497]]
produced by the 200 Area ETF, which were first delisted in June 1995.
See 60 FR 6054, February 1, 1995. EPA's final exclusion modifies this
existing delisting by increasing the annual quantity of waste delisted
to conform to the expected full treatment capacity of the 200 Area ETF
and by expanding the list of hazardous waste numbers and F039
constituents for which 200 Area ETF treated effluent is delisted.
Changes relating to waste numbers for which 200 Area ETF treated
effluent is excluded include expanding the list of constituents
associated with hazardous waste number F039 (multisource leachate),
from the current F001 to F005 constituents to all constituents for
which F039 waste is listed,\2\ adding certain wastewater forms of U-
and P-listed wastes, and certain additional F-listed waste numbers.
These additional U-, P- and F-listed waste numbers are those whose
chemical constituents are included in the list of hazardous
constituents for which F039 was listed (see 40 CFR part 261, appendix
VII). This latter addition is intended to accommodate possible
management of U-, P- and F-listed wastewaters from spill cleanup or
decontamination associated with management of these wastes at the
Central Waste Complex (CWC) or other storage facilities. These spill
cleanup wastes include exactly the same constituents that will
eventually contribute to F039 when the source wastes are land disposed,
so today's analysis of expanding the 200 Area ETF treated effluent to
include F039 applies equally to the wastewater forms of the same
chemical constituents in their U-, P- and F-listed waste forms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Mixed waste is defined as waste that contains both hazardous
waste subject to the requirements of Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 as amended, and source, special nuclear,
or by-product material subject to the requirements of the Atomic
Energy Act (AEA) (see 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 6903 (41),
added by the Federal Facility Compliance Act (FFCA) of 1992).
\2\ As noted in the proposed rule, this final rule is not
modifying the list of constituents for which F039 multiscource
leachate is listed. At the time of the original delisting, DOE-RLS
did not expect to manage F039 wastes at the 200 Area ETF from
sources other than F001-F005 wastes. Therefore, the original 200
Area ETF delisting excluded only F039 wastes from F001-F005 sources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The effect of these changes is to allow the 200 Area ETF to fulfill
an expanded role in supporting Hanford Facility cleanup actions beyond
those activities considered in the 1995 delisting rulemaking. In
particular, these changes will allow the 200 Area ETF to treat mixed
wastewaters from a number of additional sources beyond 242-A Evaporator
process condensate (PC) upon which the original delisting was based.
B. Why Is EPA Finalizing the Proposed Exclusion?
We believe that the petitioned waste should be conditionally
delisted because the waste, when managed in accordance with today's
final conditions, do not meet the criteria for which the wastes
originally were listed and the waste do not contain other constituents
or factors that could cause the waste stream to be a hazardous waste or
warrant retaining the waste as a hazardous waste. Our final decision to
delist the petitioned waste is based on information submitted by
Energy, including the description of the wastewaters managed by the ETF
and their original generating sources, the ETF treatment processes, and
the analytical data characterizing performance of the 200 Area ETF.
In reviewing this petition, we considered the original listing
criteria and the additional factors required by the Hazardous and Solid
Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984. See 42 U.S.C. 6921(f), and 40 CFR
260.22. These factors include: (1) Whether the waste are considered
acutely toxic; (2) the toxicity of the constituents; (3) the
concentration of the constituents in the waste; (4) the tendency of the
hazardous constituents to migrate and to bio-accumulate; (5)
persistence of the constituents in the environment once released from
the waste; (6) plausible and specific types of management of the
petitioned waste; (7) the quantity of waste produced; and (8)
variability of the waste. We also evaluated the petitioned waste
against the listing criteria at 40 CFR 261.11(a)(1), (2) and (3) and
factors required by 40 CFR 260.22(a)(2). EPA finds the petitioned
wastes do not meet the listing criteria and determined that none of the
factors listed above warrant retaining the petitioned wastes as
hazardous.
C. What Are the Limits of This Exclusion?
This exclusion applies to certain 200 Area ETF treated effluents
identified in today's final rule, provided the conditions contained
herein are satisfied.
D. When Is the Final Rule Effective?
The effective date of today's action is September 2, 2005. RCRA
Section 3010(b)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6930(b)(1), allows rules to become
effective in less than six months when the regulated community does not
need the six-month period to come into compliance with the new
regulatory requirements. In the proposed rule preamble, EPA noted that
the rule, if finalized, would reduce existing regulatory requirements,
so that a six-month period was not necessary for Energy to come into
compliance. EPA further noted that, if finalized, the proposal would be
effective immediately upon final publication, and that a later date
would impose unnecessary hardship and expense on the petitioner.
After further reflection and consideration of Energy's comments,
EPA continues to believe that a full six month period is not necessary
to achieve full compliance with this rule. EPA recognizes, however,
that the revised exclusion will contain somewhat different conditions
than the original exclusion rule. Even though today's final rule
provides relief from RCRA regulatory requirements for significantly
more wastes than was previously the case, Energy must still demonstrate
compliance with the new conditions of the new exclusion, even for
wastes currently being processed in compliance with the existing
exclusion. One example of such a condition is preparation of a waste
processing strategy. To ensure Energy has adequate opportunity to
update its internal procedures and produce documentation required by
the new exclusion conditions, EPA is delaying the effective date of the
final rule to 30 days after publication.
II. Background
A. What Is a Delisting Petition?
A delisting petition is a request from a generator to EPA or
another agency with jurisdiction to exclude, or delist, from the RCRA
list of hazardous waste, waste the generator believes should not be
considered hazardous under RCRA.
B. What Regulations Allow Wastes To Be Delisted?
Under 40 CFR 260.20 and 260.22, facilities may petition the EPA to
remove their wastes from hazardous waste regulation by excluding them
from the lists of hazardous wastes contained in 40 CFR 261.31 and
261.32. Specifically, 40 CFR 260.20 allows any person to petition the
Administrator to modify or revoke any provision of parts 260 through
265 and 268 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 40 CFR
260.22 provides generators the opportunity to petition the
Administrator to exclude a waste from a particular generating facility
from the hazardous waste lists.
C. What Information Must the Generator Supply for a Delisting Petition?
Petitioners must provide sufficient information to EPA to allow EPA
to determine that the waste to be excluded does not meet any of the
criteria under which the waste was listed as a hazardous waste. In
addition, the Administrator must determine, where he/she has a
reasonable basis to believe
[[Page 44498]]
that factors (including additional constituents) other than those for
which the waste was listed could cause the waste to be a hazardous
waste, that such factors do not warrant retaining the waste as a
hazardous waste.
D. How Will This Action Affect States?
This final rule is issued under the federal (RCRA) delisting
authority found at 40 CFR 260.22. Some states are authorized to
administer a delisting program in lieu of the federal program, i.e., to
make their own delisting decision. Therefore, this rule does not apply
under RCRA in those authorized states. For states not authorized to
administer a delisting program in lieu of the federal program (as is
the case with the State of Washington as of the date of today's final
rule), today's rule will become effective with respect to the federal
(RCRA) program. Energy will, however, have to comply with any
additional applicable state requirements.
States are allowed to impose regulatory requirements that are more
stringent than EPA's, pursuant to section 3009 of RCRA. These more
stringent requirements may include a provision that prohibits a
federally-issued exclusion from taking effect in a state. Because a
petitioner's waste may be regulated under a dual system, (i.e., both
federal and state programs), petitioners are urged to contact state
regulatory authorities to determine the current status of their wastes
under the state laws.
III. EPA's Evaluation of the Waste Information for 200 Area ETF Treated
Effluent
What Waste Did Energy Petition EPA To Delist?
The original delisting action considered treatment of only one
waste stream, process condensate from the 242-A Evaporator (242-A
Evaporator PC). Since promulgation of the original delisting, the
operating mission of the 200 Area ETF has expanded considerably.
Currently, the operating capacity of the 200 Area ETF provides
treatment of 242-A Evaporator PC, treatment of Hanford Site
contaminated groundwater from various pump-and-treat systems, and a
variety of other wastewaters generated from waste management and
cleanup activities at Hanford.
As discussed in section 3.0 of Energy's November 2001 petition, the
mission of the 200 Area ETF is to treat wastewater generated on the
Hanford Facility from cleanup activities including multisource leachate
from operation of hazardous/mixed waste landfills, and other hazardous
wastewaters from a variety of sources including analytical laboratory
operations, research and development studies, waste treatment
processes, environmental restoration and deactivation projects, and
other waste management activities. Based on this change in the 200 Area
ETF mission, Energy petitioned EPA to modify the existing delisting
applicable to treated liquid effluent from the 200 Area ETF by
increasing the effluent volume limit to 210 million liters per year,
and to conditionally exclude treated effluents from treatment by the
200 Area ETF of certain liquid Hanford wastes with hazardous waste
numbers identified at 40 CFR 261.31 and 261.33 as F001-F005, F039, and
all U- and P-listed substances and selected additional F-listed waste
numbers whose associated compounds appear in the listing definition of
F039. Under the current delisting, the liquid effluent volume is
limited to approximately 86 million liters per year, and delisted only
for F001-F005 waste numbers and F039 waste constituents from F001
through F005 waste numbers.
The November 2001 delisting petition explains that wastes bearing
numbers P029, P030, P098, P106, P120, and U123, as well as other U- and
P-listed numbers corresponding to F039 constituents, are currently
managed, or may be managed in the future, as part of Hanford cleanup
operations. Wastes bearing these waste numbers are intended for future
disposal in the mixed waste landfill (Low-Level Burial Grounds (LLBG)).
These wastes, therefore, eventually will contribute to generation of
F039 multisource leachate from this unit, and are specifically
considered in the analysis of F039 constituents in Energy's delisting
petition (refer to Appendix B of the November 2001 delisting petition).
Energy believes that wastewaters bearing these waste numbers could be
generated from activities such as spill cleanup or equipment
decontamination, and such wastewaters could be managed best at the 200
Area ETF. Energy's petition did not propose to manage the discarded
commercial chemical products in the 200 Area ETF, but only wastewaters
from spill cleanup or equipment decontamination.
To ensure that the commercial chemical compounds themselves are not
inappropriately managed at the 200 Area ETF, EPA's proposal limited the
wastes that could be managed by the 200 Area ETF to only those influent
wastewaters bearing less than 1.0 weight percent of any hazardous
constituent. These wastewaters would also bear the same U- and P-listed
numbers by virtue of the 'derived from' rule discussed in Section I.A
of the proposed rule. Because the hazardous constituents from these U-
and P-listed wastes are already included in the analysis of 200 Area
ETF performance for treatment of F039, EPA is not proposing any
separate analysis specific to U- and P-listed numbers. EPA's proposal
to include these U- and P-listed waste numbers is intended to include
influent wastewaters that might be generated from management of wastes
currently stored in CWC, as well as such wastewaters managed elsewhere
at Hanford or which may be generated in the future.
As discussed below in section IV, comments from Energy clarified
Energy's intent in the November 29, 2001 petition to include a number
of other F-listed waste numbers among those considered in the requested
exclusion.
IV. Public Comments Received on the Proposed Rule
EPA received comments on the proposed rule from the applicant and
from an individual commenter. Individual comments and EPA's response
may be found in the response to comments document, which has been
included in the docket for this final rulemaking. A summary of key
comments and changes, if any, to the proposed rule, appear below.
In addition to changes made in response to public comments, EPA is
also making changes to the proposed rule necessary to conform to the
Methods Innovation Rule, 70 FR 34538, June 14, 2005. Details of these
changes and EPA's rationale for them can also be found in the response
to comments document.
A. Department of Energy Comments
Comments from the Department of Energy focused on the proposed
regulatory language and explanatory preamble text. One of Energy's
comments questioned the addition of a number of conditions in the
proposed exclusion which do not appear in the current exclusion,
stating that EPA had not provided an explanation for the additional
conditions. Energy presented as a basis for its comment statements in
the proposed rule generally noting EPA's perspective that the 200 Area
ETF is a robust, well-designed and well-operated wastewater treatment
unit. While EPA affirms its statements regarding the robust nature of
the facility, EPA fundamentally disagrees with Energy's comment. As
noted in the
[[Page 44499]]
proposal preamble and in EPA's response to comments, a key objective of
the revised 200 Area ETF ``upfront'' delisting is to accommodate
treatment of a wide range of waste streams not considered in the
original exclusion, many of which have not yet been generated or
characterized. Since Energy could not reasonably provide detailed
characterization of wastes streams that have yet to be generated, EPA
proposed a waste acceptance framework based on an engineering
evaluation of waste streams. This model provides a degree of confidence
that treatment in the 200 Area ETF will meet delisting exclusion limits
to the same degree of confidence as if detailed waste stream
characterization were available, while avoiding the need to frequently
revise the delisting rule itself. As a result, EPA finds that the
additional conditions noted in Energy's comments are not only fully
justified, but absolutely essential to achieving the degree of
flexibility requested by Energy in their delisting petition, given the
lack of complete waste characterization information.
Another of Energy's comments provided clarification of Energy's
intent to expand the suite of waste numbers covered by the proposed
exclusion. Essentially, Energy provided a defensible argument that a
number of additional F-listed waste numbers should be addressed by the
exclusion. EPA agrees with this comment in part, but is limiting the
additional F-listed waste numbers to those with a reasonable nexus to
wastes expected to be managed by the 200 Area ETF. See the first
paragraph of the regulatory exclusion language finalized today,
appearing below in Table 2 in Appendix IX of 40 CFR part 261.
Energy requested relief from the proposed exclusion condition
relating to recording of treated effluent conductivity, contending that
doing so would be without basis and a burden. EPA disagrees, since both
measuring and recording of treated effluent provides important
documentation confirming performance of the 200 Area ETF. This
measurement also provides a basis, in part, for EPA's decision to relax
the verification sampling frequency for treated effluent from every
10th verification tank, as in the original exclusion, to every 15th
verification tank. Given the extended interval between full
verification sampling, measuring and recording of treated effluent
conductivity provide a simple but effective indicator or 200 Area ETF
performance with regard to inorganic treatment efficiency. Therefore,
EPA is retaining the recording condition as proposed.
Energy requested relief from the condition generally limiting
disposal of treated effluent at the State Authorized Land Disposal
Site, or SALDS. Energy's comment is based on jurisdictional grounds,
and Energy's belief that treated effluent ``is essentially
demineralized water.'' As described in Section III.C of the proposed
rule preamble, the condition in question is established on the grounds
that EPA evaluated the risk of treated effluent only with respect to a
groundwater ingestion pathway, consistent with the approach taken by
EPA in the original exclusion. The requirement to generally dispose of
treated effluent at SALDS is intended to ensure exposure pathways other
than groundwater do not occur without EPA analysis of potential risks
from such pathways. EPA is retaining this condition as proposed, noting
that the proposed and final rules do provide flexibility with respect
to disposal practices through Condition 7 of the exclusion rule. Energy
also requested deletion of Condition 7, on the basis that no non-
radiological considerations warrant the condition, and that Energy is
already engaged in various reuse activities using treated effluent. EPA
is retaining Condition 7, since it relates directly to the scope of
EPA's analysis of treated effluent risks, and since it provides
flexibility for exactly the reuse practices noted in the comment.
Energy raised issues concerning reporting of environmental data,
including groundwater data, to EPA in Condition (4)(a) of the proposed
rule. Energy requested deletion of this condition on the grounds of
being vague, and if retained, reconsideration of the requirement to
report certain data within a ten-day period. EPA does not agree that
the proposed condition is vague--in fact, EPA specifically crafted the
condition to be specific in its scope. Although EPA did not propose
explicit environmental or groundwater monitoring requirements as a
condition of the proposed exclusion, EPA continues to believe that
information that may otherwise become available to Energy relating to
performance deficiencies of the 200 Area ETF (or any treatment facility
subject to a delisting exclusion, for that matter) should be timely
made available to EPA for consideration. EPA needs to ensure its
ability to timely obtain and consider data that may indicate adverse
environmental impacts of activities subject to the exclusion.
Therefore, EPA is retaining the environmental data submission condition
as defensible and implementable.
Finally, Energy requested modification to condition 4(b) relating
to notification to EPA of changes to the 200 Area ETF. EPA accepted
this comment in part, and has added clarifying language to more clearly
define facility changes subject to this reporting requirement. See
condition (4)(b).
Energy also provided a number of comments on preamble language in
the proposed rule. In general, EPA notes these comments, and where
appropriate, provides a clarifying analysis in the response to comments
document to assist in implementing the regulatory exclusion conditions
themselves. EPA has also provided an expanded discussion in the
response to comments document of the relationship between exclusion
conditions and Land Disposal Restriction treatment standards to assist
Energy and the public in understanding this nexus, noting that the
delisting exclusion rule does not impose nor demonstrate compliance
with LDR treatment standards.
B. Individual Commenter
One individual provided a number of detailed comments. A number of
these comments applied to Energy's November 29, 2001 petition document,
rather than EPA's proposed rule. EPA has noted these comments, but
finds that they were appropriately addressed in the proposal itself.
One comment, however raised a valid point about a technical issue
relating to how inorganic treatment/removal efficiencies were presented
in Energy's petition. Energy's petition presented historical data in
terms of maximum removal efficiencies. In some cases, data exists for
some waste streams indicating removal efficiencies less than the
maximum. While EPA does not believe that these differences would
require significant change in the exclusion from what EPA proposed, EPA
is never the less updating exclusion conditions to better relate
removal efficiencies referenced by Condition (1)(a)(i) for purposes of
establishing waste treatment strategies to actual or measured
performance of the 200 Area ETF. More specifically, EPA is requiring
Energy to adopt a more conservative approach to use of existing removal
efficiency data that are applied to influent waste streams other than
from which they were generated. In addition, EPA is defining more
explicit methodology for Energy to update these removal efficiency data
as it gains additional processing experience with new influent waste
streams. See exclusion conditions 1(a)(ii) and 1(b). EPA expects that
this change will not alter actual operations of the 200 Area
[[Page 44500]]
ETF, but it will provide a more defensible basis for the engineering
demonstrations that Energy must make under terms of the final
exclusion.
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), the
Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'',
and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the
Executive Order. The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as
one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual
effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely affect in a
material way, the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity,
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State,
local or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or
the principles set forth in the Executive Order. It has been determined
that today's final rule is not a ``significant regulatory action''
under the terms of Executive Order 12866, since its effect is to reduce
the overall costs and economic impact of EPA's hazardous waste
management regulations. This reduction is achieved by excluding waste
generated at a specific facility from EPA's lists of hazardous wastes,
thus enabling a facility to manage its waste as non-hazardous.
Therefore, EPA has determined that this final rule is not subject to
OMB review.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq., is intended
to minimize the reporting and record-keeping burden on the regulated
community, as well as to minimize the cost of Federal information
collection and dissemination. In general, the Act requires that
information requests and record-keeping requirements affecting ten or
more non-Federal respondents be approved by OMB. Although this final
rule establishes information and record-keeping requirements for
Energy, it does not impose those requirements on any other facility or
respondents, and therefore is not subject to the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
C. Regulatory Flexibility
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative
Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses,
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. For purposes
of assessing the impacts of today's rule on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business, as codified in the Small
Business Administration Regulations at 13 CFR part 121; (2) a small
governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town,
school district or special district with a population of less than
50,000; and (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field. The final exclusion will only have the effect of
impacting the waste management of waste proposed for conditional
delisting at the Hanford facility in the State of Washington. After
considering the economic impacts of today's final rule on small
entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This final
rule will not impose any requirements on small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995 (Public
Law 104-4) establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local and tribal
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that
may result in expenditures to State, local and tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any
year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement is
needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify and
consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and to adopt
the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205
do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover,
section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why the
alternative was not adopted. Before EPA establishes any regulatory
requirements that may significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal governments, it must have developed under
section 203 of the UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments to have meaningful and timely
input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant
Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and
advising small governments on compliance with the regulatory
requirements.
This final rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local or tribal
governments or the private sector. It imposes no new enforceable duty
on any State, local or tribal governments or the private sector. Thus,
today's final rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202
and 205 of the UMRA. EPA has determined that this final rule contains
no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect
small government entities. Thus, the requirements of section 203 of the
UMRA do not apply to this rule.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among various levels of government.''
This final rule does not have federalism implications. It will not
have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among various levels of government, as
specified in Executive Order 13132. This final rule addresses the
conditional delisting of waste at the federal Hanford Facility. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this rule. Although Section 6
of the Executive Order 13132 does not apply
[[Page 44501]]
to this proposed rule, EPA did consult with representatives of State
and local governments in developing this rule.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' This final rule does not have
tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175. The final
rule conditionally delists certain wastes at the federal Hanford
Facility and does not establish any regulatory policy with tribal
implications. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this final
rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any
rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically significant'' as
defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental
health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action meets
both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental health or
safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
This final rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it
is not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866 and
because the Agency does not have reason to believe the environmental
health or safety risks addressed by this proposed action present a
disproportionate risk to children. The final rule concerns the proposed
conditional delisting of certain wastes at the Hanford facility.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use
This final rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions
Concerning Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) because it is not a
``significant regulatory action'' as defined under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C.
272) directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by
voluntary consensus bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress,
through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), explanations when
the Agency decides to use ``government-unique'' standards in lieu of
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
This final rule involves environmental monitoring and measurement,
but is not establishing new technical standards for verifying
compliance with concentration limits, data quality or test methodology.
EPA is not requiring the use of specific, prescribed analytic methods.
Therefore, EPA did not explicitly consider the use of any voluntary
consensus standards. Rather, the Agency has specifically accommodated
use of an alternative method that meets the prescribed performance
criteria. Examples of performance criteria are discussed in ``Test
Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,'' EPA
Publication-846, Third Edition, as amended by updates I, II, IIA, IIB
and III.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations
To the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, and
consistent with the principles set forth in the report on the National
Performance Review, each Federal agency must make achieving
environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and
addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human
health and environmental effects of its programs, policies, and
activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the
United States and its territories and possessions, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the
Mariana Islands. Because this final rule addresses the conditional
delisting of certain waste streams at the Hanford Facility, with no
anticipated significant adverse human health or environmental effects,
the rule is not subject to Executive Order 12898.
K. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. Section 804 exempts from section 801 the following types
of rules: (1) rules of particular applicability; (2) rules relating to
agency management or personnel; and (3) rules of agency organization,
procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect the rights or
obligations of non-agency parties. 5 U.S.C. 804(3). EPA is not required
to submit a rule report regarding today's action under section 801
because this is a rule of particular applicability.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 261
Environmental protection, Hazardous waste, Recycling, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: Sec. 3001(f) RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6921(f).
Dated: July 25, 2005.
Julie M. Hagensen,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 40 CFR part 261 is amended as
follows:
PART 261--IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING HAZARDOUS WASTE
0
1. The authority citation for part 261 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921, 6922, 6924(4), and
6938.
0
2. In Table 2, of Appendix IX of Part 261, the existing entry for ``DOE
RL, Richland, WA'' is removed and a new entry for ``Department of
Energy (Energy)'' is added in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Appendix IX to Part 261--Wastes Excluded Under Sec. Sec. 260.20 and
260.22
* * * * *
[[Page 44502]]
Table 2.--Wastes Excluded From Specific Sources
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility Address Waste description
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
United States Department of Richland, Washington............. Treated effluents bearing the waste numbers
Energy (Energy). identified below, from the 200 Area
Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) located
at the Hanford Facility, at a maximum
generation rate of 210 million liters per
year, subject to Conditions 1-7: This
conditional exclusion applies to
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Hazardous Waste Nos. F001, F002, F003,
F004, F005, and F039. This exclusion also
applies to EPA Hazardous Waste Nos. F006-
F012, F019 and F027 provided that the as-
generated waste streams bearing these
waste numbers prior to treatment in the
200 Area ETF is in the form of dilute
wastewater containing a maximum of 1.0
weight percent of any hazardous
constituent. In addition, this conditional
exclusion applies to all other U- and P-
listed waste numbers that meet the
following criteria: The U/P listed
substance has a treatment standard
established for wastewater forms of F039
multi-source leachate under 40 CFR
268.40,''Treatment Standards for Hazardous
Wastes''; and the as-generated waste
stream prior to treatment in the 200 Area
ETF is in the form of dilute wastewater
containing a maximum of 1.0 weight percent
of any hazardous constituent. This
exclusion shall apply at the point of
discharge from the 200 Area ETF
verification tanks after satisfaction of
Conditions 1-7.
Conditions:
(1) Waste Influent Characterization and
Processing Strategy Preparation
(a) Prior to treatment of any waste stream
in the 200 Area ETF, Energy must:
(i) Complete sufficient characterization of
the waste stream to demonstrate that the
waste stream is within the treatability
envelope of 200 Area ETF as specified in
Tables C-1 and C-2 of the delisting
petition dated November 29, 2001. Results
of the waste stream characterization and
the treatability evaluation must be in
writing and placed in the facility
operating record, along with a copy of the
November 29, 2001 petition. Waste stream
characterization may be carried out in
whole or in part using the waste analysis
procedures in the Hanford Facility RCRA
Permit, WA7 89000 8967;
(ii) Prepare a written waste processing
strategy specific to the waste stream,
based on the ETF process model documented
in the November 29, 2001 petition. For
waste processing strategies applicable to
waste streams for which inorganic envelope
data is provided in Table C-2 of the
November 29, 2001 petition, Energy shall
use envelope data specific to that waste
stream, if available. Otherwise, Energy
shall use the minimum envelope in Table C-
2.
(b) Energy may modify the 200 Area ETF
treatability envelope specified in Tables
C-1 and C-2 of the November 29, 2001
delisting petition to reflect changes in
treatment technology or operating
practices upon written approval of the
Regional Administrator. Requests for
modification shall be accompanied by an
engineering report detailing the basis for
a modified treatment envelope. Data
supporting modified envelopes must be
based on at least four influent waste
stream characterization data points and
corresponding treated effluent
verification sample data points for wastes
managed under a particular waste
processing strategy. Treatment
efficiencies must be calculated based on a
comparison of upper 95 percent confidence
level constituent concentrations. Upon
written EPA approval of the engineering
report, the associated inorganic treatment
efficiency data may be used in lieu of
those in Tables C-1 and C-2 for purposes
of condition (1)(a)(i).
(c) Energy shall conduct all 200 Area ETF
treatment operations for a particular
waste stream according to the written
waste processing strategy, as may be
modified by Condition 3(b)(i).
(d) The following definitions apply:
(i) A waste stream is defined as all
wastewater received by the 200 Area ETF
that meet the 200 Area ETF waste
acceptance criteria as defined by the
Hanford Facility RCRA Permit, WA7 89000
8967 and are managed under the same 200
Area ETF waste processing strategy.
(ii) A waste processing strategy is defined
as a specific 200 Area ETF unit operation
configuration, primary operating
parameters and expected maximum influent
total dissolved solids (TDS) and total
organic carbon (TOC). Each waste
processing strategy shall require
monitoring and recording of treated
effluent conductivity for purposes of
Condition (2)(b)(i)(E), and for monitoring
and recording of primary operating
parameters as necessary to demonstrate
that 200 Area ETF operations are in
accordance with the associated waste
processing strategy.
(iii) Primary operating parameters are
defined as ultraviolet oxidation (UV/OX)
peroxide addition rate, reverse osmosis
reject ratio, and processing flow rate as
measured at the 200 Area ETF surge tank
outlet.
(iv) Key unit operations are defined as
filtration, UV/OX, reverse osmosis, ion
exchange, and secondary waste treatment.
(2) Testing. Energy shall perform
verification testing of treated effluents
according to Conditions (a), (b), and (c)
below.
[[Page 44503]]
(a) No later than 45 days after the
effective date of this rule, or such other
time as may be approved of in advance and
in writing by EPA, Energy shall submit to
EPA a report proposing required data
quality parameters and data acceptance
criteria (parameter values) for sampling
and analysis which may be conducted
pursuant to the requirements of this rule.
This report shall explicitly consider
verification sampling and analysis for
purposes of demonstrating compliance with
exclusion limits in Condition 5, as well
as any sampling and analysis which may be
required pursuant to Conditions (1)(a)(i)
and (1)(d)(ii). This report shall contain
a detailed justification for the proposed
data quality parameters and data
acceptance criteria. Following review and
approval of this report, the proposed data
quality parameters and data acceptance
criteria shall become enforceable
conditions of this exclusion. Pending EPA
approval of this report, Energy may
demonstrate compliance with sampling and
analysis requirements of this rule through
application of methods appearing in EPA
Publication SW-846 or equivalent methods.
Energy shall maintain a written sampling
and analysis plan, including QA/QC
requirements and procedures, based upon
these enforceable data quality parameters
and data acceptance criteria in the
facility operating record, and shall
conduct all sampling and analysis
conducted pursuant to this rule according
to this written plan. Records of all
sampling and analysis, including quality
assurance QA/QC information, shall be
placed in the facility operating record.
As applicable to the method-defined
parameters of concern, analyses requiring
the use of SW-846 methods incorporated by
reference in 40 CFR 260.11 must be used
without substitution. As applicable, the
SW-846 methods might include Methods 0010,
0011, 0020, 0023A, 0030, 0031, 0040, 0050,
0051, 0060, 0061, 1010A, 1020B, 1110A,
1310B, 1311, 1312, 1320, 1330A, 9010C,
9012B, 9040C, 9045D, 9060A, 9070A (uses
EPA Method 1664, Rev. A), 9071B, and
9095B.
(b) Initial verification testing.
(i) Verification sampling shall consist of
a representative sample of one filled
effluent discharge tank, analyzed for all
constituents in Condition (5), and for
conductivity for purposes of establishing
a conductivity baseline with respect to
Condition (2)(b)(i)(E). Verification
sampling shall be required under each of
the following conditions:
(A) Any new or modified waste strategy;
(B) Influent wastewater total dissolved
solids or total organic carbon
concentration increases by an order of
magnitude or more above values established
in the waste processing strategy;
(C) Changes in primary operating
parameters;
(D) Changes in influent flow rate outside a
range of 150 to 570 liters per minute;
(E) Increase greater than a factor of ten
(10) in treated effluent conductivity