[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14950]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 20, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 260, 261, 262, 264, 265, 268, 270, and 273

[FRL-5001-4]
RIN 2050-AD19

 

Hazardous Waste Management System; Modification of the Hazardous 
Waste Recycling Regulatory Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of data availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available 
for public comment additional data supporting a proposal published on 
February 11, 1993 (58 FR 8102). The proposal, known as the ``universal 
wastes'' proposal, addressed the management of certain widely-generated 
hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(RCRA) Subtitle C hazardous waste management regulations. The data made 
available for comment by this notice are included in a document 
entitled ``Analysis of Potential Cost Savings and the Potential for 
Reduced Environmental Benefits of the Proposed Universal Wastes Rule,'' 
U.S. EPA, April 1994. This document is available as discussed in the 
ADDRESSES section below.

DATES: Comments on the new data made available by this notice must be 
submitted on or before July 20, 1994. Please note that the comment 
period for the original ``universal wastes'' proposal (February 11, 
1993, 58 FR 8102) closed on May 12, 1993 (see notice of extension April 
8, 1993, 58 FR 18197). The Agency is not requesting additional comments 
on the issues discussed in that proposal. Comments are requested only 
on the new data made available by this notice.

ADDRESSES: The data made available by this notice (``Analysis of 
Potential Cost Savings and the Potential for Reduced Environmental 
Benefits of the Proposed Universal Wastes Rule,'' U.S. EPA, April 1994) 
is available for review in the EPA RCRA Docket, located in Room M2616, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20460. The docket is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. To review docket materials, 
the public must make an appointment by calling (202) 260-9327. The 
public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no 
cost. Additional copies cost $0.15 per page.
    Copies of the data made available by this notice, and of the 
original universal waste proposal, can also be obtained by mail by 
calling the RCRA Hotline at the numbers below.
    Persons who wish to comment on the notice must provide an original 
and two copies of their comments, include the docket number (F-94-SCSA-
FFFFF), and send them to EPA RCRA Docket (5305), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20460. In order to not be considered ``late,'' 
comments must be postmarked on or before July 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA/Superfund Hotline toll free at (800) 424-9346. In the Washington, 
D.C. metropolitan area, call (703) 412-9810. For information regarding 
specific aspects of this notice, contact Charlotte Mooney, Office of 
Solid Waste (5304), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
telephone (202) 260-6926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. February 11, 1993 Proposal

    On February 11, 1993, EPA proposed a streamlined, reduced 
regulatory management structure for certain widespread hazardous wastes 
currently subject to full RCRA Subtitle C regulation, in an effort to 
facilitate their collection and proper management (58 FR 8102). The 
proposed reduced regulatory structure, known as a special collection 
system, is designed to ensure that management of these hazardous wastes 
is conducted in a manner that is protective of human health and the 
environment, given the diffuse and diverse population of generators of 
these wastes. Proposed regulatory language was included for hazardous 
waste batteries, and suspended and/or cancelled hazardous waste 
pesticides that are recalled. Several other wastes, including hazardous 
waste thermostats, were also discussed briefly in the preamble as 
possible additions to the special collection system. The Agency also 
included a proposed petition process to be used to add additional 
wastes to the special collection system in the future, and criteria to 
identify wastes that would be appropriate for addition. See 58 FR 8102, 
February 11, 1993 for a detailed discussion of the proposal.

II. Description of Available Data

    In the February 11, 1993 ``universal wastes'' proposal (58 FR 8126) 
the Agency committed to:
     ``Analyze the costs of the current regulatory requirements 
for generators and collection facilities and of the requirements 
[proposed]'';
     ``Analyze whether there are significant reduced 
environmental benefits from the modifications being proposed''; and
     Notice the analysis for comment prior to promulgating a 
final rule.
    The document made available for comment by this notice, ``Analysis 
of Potential Cost Savings and the Potential for Reduced Environmental 
Benefits of the Proposed Universal Wastes Rule,'' U.S. EPA, April 1994, 
presents these analyses. Part I of the document summarizes the proposed 
universal wastes regulations and introduces the analyses. Part II 
discusses and compares estimated costs of the existing Subtitle C 
regulations and of the proposed changes to these regulations. The 
conclusion of this analysis is that the proposed regulations will 
result in total annual savings of approximately 93 million dollars. A 
sensitivity analysis is also included.
    Part III of the document discusses whether the proposed regulatory 
changes will significantly reduce the environmental benefits provided 
by the current Subtitle C regulations. The conclusion of this analysis 
is that the proposed reduced regulations will not significantly 
diminish the environmental protection currently provided by the full 
Subtitle C regulations.
    The Agency is requesting comment on the methodology used and the 
results of both the cost analysis and the analysis of potential 
significantly reduced environmental benefits.

    Dated: June 13, 1994.
Elliott P. Laws,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-14950 Filed 6-17-94; 8:45 am]
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