[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30299-30300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14194]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5219-3]


Notice of Meeting on Targeted Legislative Changes to RCRA

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: On April 28, 1995, EPA announced in the Federal Register 
(volume 60, No. 82: 20992) an opportunity for interested individuals to 
present their ideas and suggestions for improving the solid and 
hazardous waste system under RCRA. This notice announces an additional 
meeting that EPA has scheduled for June 13, 1995. This additional 
meeting will focus primarily on issues faced by communities and small 
businesses. A limited number of individuals have been invited to sit on 
a panel and participate in a public, facilitated dialogue on various 
issues. Space is available for other members of the public to observe 
and comment on the dialogue as well. EPA's notice of April 28, 1995 
also provided information on the initiative, and solicited input from 
all interested individuals.

DATES: EPA will accept public comments on this initiative until June 
15, 1995. Both written and electronic comments must be submitted on or 
before this date.
    An additional public panel discussion has been scheduled. 
Representatives from a cross-section of communities, local 
environmental interest groups, Environmental Justice groups, small 
businesses and states will be invited to participate in a panel 
discussion. There will also be an opportunity for public comment.

ADDRESSES: The Meeting (open to the public) will be held as follows: 
June 13, 1995, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Crystal City Marriott, 1999 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Washington, DC 22202. Commenters must send an 
original and two copies of their comments referencing docket number F-
95-LRRA-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket Information Center (5305), Office of 
Solid Waste (5305), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, HQ), 401 
M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Comments also may be submitted electronically by sending electronic 
mail to RCRA-D[email protected]. Comments in electronic format 
should also be identified by the docket number F-95-LRRA-FFFFF. All 
electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use 
of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments will also be 
accepted on 3.5" disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file 
format.
    Commenters should not submit electronically any Confidential 
Business Information (CBI). An original and two copies of CBI must be 
submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Control Officer, Office of 
Solid Waste (5305), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Public comments and relevant documents are available for viewing in 
the RCRA Information Center (RIC) located in room M2616, at the EPA 
address listed above. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday 
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. To review docket materials, 
the public must make an appointment by calling (202) 260-9327. 
Materials may be copied for $0.15 per page. Charges under $25.00 are 
waived. For information on accessing paper and/or electronic copies of 
the materials, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Section.
    Individuals interested in the June 13 meeting should contact Denise 
Madigan of JAMS-ENDISPUTE at (202) 942-9180 if you wish to attend, as 
space may be limited.

[[Page 30300]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
One of the following individuals at EPA in the Office of Solid Waste, 
RCRA Legislative Reform Team may be contacted for further information: 
David Hockey at (202) 260-7596, Ginny Kronke at (202) 260-4498, or Judy 
Kertcher at (202) 260-4522.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As called for in the President's plan for 
``Reinventing Environmental Regulation'', EPA is seeking to identify a 
package of targeted legislative improvements to the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Agency will consider the 
views of all stakeholders and communicate the results, findings, and 
recommendations to Congress by July 15, 1995. EPA is providing an 
opportunity for interested individuals to present their ideas and 
suggestions for improving the solid and hazardous waste system under 
RCRA.
    Paper copies of this Federal Register and other relevant materials 
(meeting summaries, public comments) are available in the RCRA Docket 
at the address listed in the previous section. These materials will 
also be available in electronic format on the Internet System. Follow 
these instructions to access information electronically:

Gopher: gopher.epa.gov.
WWW: http://www.epa.gov
Dial-up: (919) 558-0335

These materials can be accessed off the main EPA Gopher menu, in the 
directory: EPA Offices and Regions/Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response (OSWER)/Office of Solid Waste (RCRA)/RCRA General/Notice of 
Meetings

FTP: ftp.epa.gov
Login: Anonymous
Password: Your Internet Address.
    Files are located in /pub/gopher/OSWRCRA

    The Federal Register notices, minutes of the public meetings, and 
copies of all comments submitted also will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into printed paper form as they are received, and will place the paper 
copies in the public record which will place the paper copies in the 
public record which will also include all comments submitted directly 
in writing. The official public record is the paper record maintained 
at the address in ``Addresses'' at the beginning of this notice.
    This notice is also available electronically through INDIANnet, 
operated by Americans for Indian Opportunity. For information and 
assistance with using INDIANnet, call 1-605-345-9642.
    This document is also available on the EPA's Clean-up Information 
Bulletin Board (CLU-IN). To access CLU-IN with a modem of up to 28,800 
baud, dial (301) 589-8366. First-time users will be asked to input some 
initial registration information. Next, select ``D'' (download) from 
the main menu. Input the file name ``RCRA.REF'' to download this 
notice. Follow the on-line instructions to complete the download. For 
additional help with these instructions, telephone the CLU-IN help line 
at (301) 589-8368.

Background

    The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act has been an enormously 
effective tool in achieving a dramatic transformation in the way that 
we manage hazardous waste. RCRA has allowed the Agency to develop a 
cradle-to-grave system to ensure the protection of human health and the 
environment when generating, transporting, storing, or disposing of 
hazardous waste. The Agency believes that a successful legislative 
process to make targeted changes to RCRA, could make the statute an 
even more effective tool in safely managing our solid and hazardous 
waste.
    EPA has already held three roundtable meetings as one of its 
methods of soliciting input from a wide range of stakeholders. This 
notice announces an additional meeting scheduled for June 13, 1995. 
This meeting will focus primarily on issues faced by communities and 
small businesses, such as reporting requirements, public access to 
information, disproportionate impacts and tailored requirements.
    In developing the package of targeted legislative reforms for RCRA, 
EPA will be following the principles for reinventing environmental 
protection outlined in the President's plan:

     Protecting public health and the environment is an 
important national goal, and individuals, businesses and government 
must take responsibility for the impact of their actions.
     Regulation must be designed to achieve environmental goals 
in a manner that minimizes costs to individuals, businesses, and other 
levels of government.
     Environmental regulations must be performance-based, 
providing maximum flexibility in the means of achieving our 
environmental goals, but requiring accountability for the results.
     Preventing pollution, not just controlling or cleaning it 
up, is preferred.
     Market incentives should be used to achieve environmental 
goals, whenever appropriate.
     Environmental regulation should be based on the best 
science and economics, subject to expert and public scrutiny, and 
grounded in values Americans share.
     Government regulations must be understandable to those who 
are affected by them.
     Decisionmaking should be collaborative, not adversarial, 
and decisionmakers must inform and involve those who must live with the 
decisions.
     Federal, state, tribal and local governments must work as 
partners to achieve common environmental goals, with non-federal 
partners taking the lead when appropriate.
     No citizen should be subjected to unjust or 
disproportionate environmental impacts.

    Dated: June 6, 1995.
James H. Mathews,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response.
[FR Doc. 95-14194 Filed 6-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M