[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8058-8059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4835]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5432-1]


Formation and Open Meeting of the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste 
Stakeholders Focus Group

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste 
Stakeholders Focus Group and Notice of first meeting.

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SUMMARY: As required by sections 9 (a)(2) and 10 (a)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), EPA is giving notice of the 
formation of the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste Stakeholders' Focus 
Group and of its first meeting. EPA has determined that this action is 
in the public interest. The purpose of this committee is to advise EPA 
and ASTSWMO (the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste 
Management Officials) in developing voluntary guidance for the 
management of industrial nonhazardous waste in land-based disposal 
units. The Focus Group 

[[Page 8059]]
will facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among the 
interested parties relating to the development of such guidance. The 
agenda of the first meeting will include a discussion of the purpose 
and scope of the guidance under development, the ground rules for 
future meetings, tailoring management practices to risk, and liner 
system designs at industrial nonhazardous waste facilities. There will 
be an opportunity for public comment before the close of the meeting.

DATES: The committee's first meeting will be held on April 11-12, 1996 
beginning at 9:00 A.M. on each day. The meeting will conclude at 5:00 
P.M. on April 11 and at 3:00 P.M. on April 12.

ADDRESSES: The location of the meeting is the Hall of States, Room 383-
385, 444 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The seating capacity 
of the room is approximately 75 people, and seating will be on a first-
come basis. Supporting materials are available for viewing at Docket # 
F-96-INHA-FFFFF in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at 
Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, First Floor, 
Arlington, VA. The RIC 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 (703) 603-9230. The 
public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no 
charge. Additional copies cost $.15/page. For general information, 
contact the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or TDD 1-800-553-7672 
(hearing impaired). In the Washington metropolitan area, call 703-412-
9610 or TDD 703-412-3323.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Persons needing further information 
on the committee should contact Patricia Cohn, Municipal and Industrial 
Solid Waste Division, Office of Solid Waste, at (703) 308-8675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of the Focus Group

    EPA and ASTSWMO have formed a State/EPA Steering Committee to 
jointly develop voluntary facility guidance for the management of 
industrial nonhazardous waste in land-based disposal units. The purpose 
of the guidance is to recommend management practices that are 
environmentally sound, that are protective of public health, and that 
recognize opportunities for pollution prevention and waste 
minimization. The guidance will address such topics as appropriate 
groundwater monitoring and corrective action requirements, liner 
designs, daily operating requirements, and closure and post-closure 
practices.
    The State/EPA Steering Committee is convening this Stakeholders 
Focus Group to obtain recommendations from individuals who are members 
of a broad spectrum of public interest groups and affected industries. 
All recommendations from Focus Group participants will be forwarded to 
the State/EPA Steering Committee for consideration, as the 
Stakeholders' Focus Group will not strive for consensus. The State/EPA 
Steering Committee will also provide an opportunity for public comment 
on the draft guidance document.

Background

    ``Industrial nonhazardous waste'' under the federal Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) means waste that is neither 
municipal solid waste under RCRA Subtitle D nor a hazardous waste under 
RCRA Subtitle C. Industrial nonhazardous waste consists primarily of 
manufacturing process wastes, including wastewaters and non-wastewater 
sludges and solids.
    EPA estimates there are 7.6 billion tons of industrial nonhazardous 
waste generated annually in the U.S. and disposed on-site by 
approximately 12,000 industrial facilities in surface impoundments, 
landfills, land application units, or waste piles. Most of this waste 
is managed in surface impoundments, which are designed to hold 
wastewaters. These wastes present a broad range of risk, from nearly 
hazardous to inert.
    Under RCRA Subtitle D, the states are responsible for regulating 
the management of industrial nonhazardous waste. State requirements 
vary widely, and may include standards for design and operation, 
location, monitoring, and record keeping. This guidance is intended to 
complement existing state programs.
    EPA's role in the management of industrial nonhazardous waste is 
very limited. Under RCRA Subtitle D, EPA issued minimal criteria 
prohibiting ``open dumps'' (40 CFR 257) in 1979. The states, not EPA, 
are responsible for implementing the ``open dumping criteria,'' and EPA 
has no back-up enforcement role.
    Copies of the minutes of all Stakeholder Focus Group meetings will 
be made available through the docket at the RCRA Information Center.

Participants

    The Stakeholders Focus Group will consist of approximately 25 
members, who represent public interest groups, affected industries, 
states, and federal officials. Following is a list of representatives 
from the interested parties:
    Public interest groups--Doris Cellarius, Sierra Club; Michael 
Gregory, Sierra Club; John Harney, Citizens Round Table/Pennsylvanians 
United to Rescue the Environment; and Rick Lowery, Texas Center for 
Policy Studies.
    Industry sectors--Tim Saylor, International Paper; Gary Robbins, 
Exxon Company USA; Walter Carey, New Milford Farms/Nestle USA; Robert 
Giraud, Dupont Company; Paul Bork, Dow Chemical Company; Bruce Steiner, 
American Iron and Steel Institute; James Meiers, Indianapolis Power and 
Light Company; Andrew Miles, The Dexter Corporation; Scott Murto, 
General Motors Corporation; Lisa Williams, The Aluminum Association; 
Jonathan Greenberg, Browning-Ferris Industries; and Ed Skernolis, WMX 
Technologies, Inc.
    States--James Warner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Anne 
Dobbs, Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.
    Federal officials--Paul Cassidy, Patricia Cohn, Richard Kinch, John 
Sager and Bruce Weddle of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Dated: February 22, 1995.
Bruce R. Weddle,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 96-4835 Filed 2-29-96; 8:45 am]
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