[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41608-41609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20371]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5550-2]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting of the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste 
Stakeholders Focus Group.

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SUMMARY: As required by section 10 (a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), EPA is giving notice of the second 
meeting of the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste Policy Dialogue 
Committee, also known as the Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste 
Stakeholders Focus Group. 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 will facilitate the exchange of information and 
ideas among the interested parties relating to the development of such 
guidance. The purpose of the second meeting will be to continue 
discussion of issues related to development of such guidance. The 
agenda will include a discussion of tailoring management practices to 
risk, liner system designs, groundwater monitoring, location 
considerations, waste minimization, and public involvement. There will 
be an opportunity for limited public comment at the end of each day of 
the meeting.

DATES: The committee will meet on September 11-12, 1996, from 9:00 A.M. 
to 5:00 p.m. on September 11, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 
September 12.

ADDRESSES: The location of the meeting is the Quality Hotel Arlington, 
1200 Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA. The seating capacity of the room 
is approximately 60 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

[[Page 41609]]

metropolitan area, call 703-412-9610 or TDD 703-412-3323.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Persons needing further information 
on the committee should contact Paul Cassidy, Municipal and Industrial 
Solid Waste Division, Office of Solid Waste, at (703) 308-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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 has convened 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.
    ``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, which include inert materials as well as 
materials which may be declared hazardous at some future date, present 
a broad range of risk.
    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, 
including minutes of the first Focus Group meeting, which was held on 
April 11-12, 1996.

Participants

    The Stakeholders Focus Group consists 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--Michael Gregory, Sierra Club; John Harney, 
Citizens Round Table/Pennsylvanians United to Rescue the Environment; 
and Richard Lowerre, Henry, Lowerre, Johnson, Hess & Frederick.
    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; Gene Mitchell, 
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; and Bill Pounds, 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.
    Federal officials--Paul Cassidy, Deborah Dalton, Robert Dellinger, 
Richard Kinch, John Sager and Carol Weisner of the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.

    Dated: August 1, 1996.
Michael H. Shapiro,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 96-20371 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P