[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14937-14938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6925]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5175-6]


Flow Control and Municipal Solid Waste; Availability of Report to 
Congress

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a Report to Congress 
on Flow Control and Municipal Solid Waste. Flow controls are legal 
provisions that allow state and local governments to designate where 
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) must be taken for processing, treatment, or 
disposal. These designated facilities may hold local monopolies on MSW 
and/or recoverable materials because of flow controls. Consequently, 
flow control has become a heavily debated issue among state and local 
governments, the waste management industry, the recycling industry, and 
environmental groups.
    The 102nd Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) to review flow control as a form of MSW management. Congress 
asked EPA to: (1) Review and compare states with and without flow 
control authority; (2) identify the impact of flow controls on human 
health and the environment; and (3) describe the impacts of flow 
control on the development of state and local waste management, and on 
the achievement of state and local goals set for source reduction, 
materials reuse, and recycling.
    The Report indicates that flow controls are an administratively 
efficient tool for local governments to plan and fund solid waste 
management systems. However, protection of human health and the 
environment is directly related to the implementation and enforcement 
of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, and not to 
[[Page 14938]] the existence of flow control measures. Data also 
indicate that flow control is not essential for developing MSW capacity 
or for achieving recycling goals.
    The Agency examined flow control nation-wide, finding that 35 
states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands authorize flow 
control directly. Four additional states authorize flow control 
indirectly through mechanisms such as solid waste management plans and 
home rule authority. Eleven states do not have flow control authority. 
It is important to recognize that the Report presents a national 
perspective on flow control, and that the needs and objectives of state 
and local jurisdictions may differ significantly from a national 
viewpoint. Factors such as local waste generation rates, financial and 
market conditions, demographics, and the local economy affect the 
planning and implementation of solid waste management systems.

ADDRESSES: Paper copies of the full Report are available from the 
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at 1-703-487-4650. The 
document number is PB95-179 263 (EPA530-R-95-008). Copies of the 
Report's Executive Summary (EPA530-S-95-008) are free, and may be 
obtained by calling the RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 1-800-424-9346; 1-
800-553-7672 (TDD).
    EPA is making these documents available electronically. The Agency 
is interested in learning whether people have obtained them 
electronically and what their experiences were in doing so. You are 
encouraged to provide feedback on the electronic availability of these 
documents by sending E-mail to OSW-Pilot @epamail.epa.gov. The Report 
and the Executive Summary can be accessed in electronic format on the 
Internet System through:

EPA Public Access Gopher Server: Go to gopher.epa.gov; from the main 
menu, choose ``EPA Offices and Regions''; next, choose ``Office of 
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)''; finally, choose ``Office 
of Solid Waste/Nonhazardous/Municipal Solid Waste/General.''
Through FTP: Go to ftp.epa.gov; Login: anonymous; Password: Your 
Internet Address. Files are located in directories/pub/gopher. All OSW 
files are in directories beginning with ``OSW.''
Through MOSAIC: Go to http://www.epa.gov; choose the EPA Public Access 
Gopher; from the main (Gopher) menu, choose ``EPA Office and Regions.'' 
Next, choose ``Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER).'' 
Finally, choose ``Office of Solid Waste/Nonhazardous/Municipal Solid 
Waste/General.''
Through Dial-up Access: Dial 919-558-0335. Choose EPA Public Access 
Gopher. From the main (Gopher) menu, choose ``EPA Offices and 
Regions''; then ``Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 
(OSWER)''; finally, ``Office of Solid Waste/Nonhazardous/Municipal 
Solid Waste/General.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 1-800-553-7673 (TDD); in 
the Washington, DC metropolitan area, 703-412-9810 or 703-412-3323 
(TDD). For technical information on specific aspects of the Report, 
contact Angie Leith (5306), Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 308-
7253.

    Dated: March 15, 1995.
Elizabeth A. Cotsworth,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 95-6925 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]
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