[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63548-63549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31414]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-400121; FRL-5760-1]


Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know; Availability of 
Guidance Documents

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: EPA has prepared several documents to assist industries to 
understand their compliance responsibilities in association with 
section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 
of 1986 (EPCRA). One of the documents being made available today is a 
revision to the EPCRA section 313 Questions and Answers document, which 
provides guidance to commonly asked interpretive questions. In addition 
to this document, several industry-specific guidance documents have 
been developed for facilities in industry groups recently added to the 
list of industries covered under EPCRA section 313. These documents are 
intended to assist these recently added industries understand 
requirements under EPCRA section 313 and more easily determine if their 
facility is likely to have any reporting responsibilities. The 
industry-specific guidance documents for the recently added industry 
groups are intended for use for activities beginning on January 1, 
1998, with reports due on or before July 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Crawford, 202-260-1715, e-mail: 
[email protected], for specific information regarding the 
industry-specific guidance documents or Sara Hisel McCoy, 202-260-7937, 
e-mail: [email protected], for questions related to the 
Questions and Answers document. To receive a copy of these documents, 
please access EPA's Internet site at the following address: 
www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri, or you may contact the EPCRA Hotline and 
request a copy at Mail Code 5101, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Toll Free: 1-800-535-0202, in Virginia and Alaska: 703-412-9877 or Toll 
Free TDD: 1-800-535-7672.


[[Page 63549]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final rule adding certain industry sectors 
to the current list of facilities required to report under section 313 
of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 
(EPCRA), also known as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) was published 
on May 1, 1997 (62 FR 23833) (FRL-5578-3). This action added certain 
facilities in the following seven industry groups: Metal Mining (SIC 
code 10); Coal Mining (SIC code 12); Electric Utilities (SIC codes 
4911, 4931, 4939 each limited to facilities which combust coal and/or 
oil for purposes of generating power for distribution); Commercial 
Hazardous Waste Treatment (SIC code 4953); Chemicals and Allied 
Products-Wholesale (SIC code 5169); Petroleum Bulk Terminals and Plants 
(SIC code 5171); and Solvent Recovery Services (SIC code 7389). EPA has 
prepared guidance documents for each of these industry groups to assist 
them with determining their compliance requirements for activities 
beginning on January 1, 1998.
    These documents were made available in draft form for public review 
and comment through a notice in the Federal Register (62 FR 37053) 
(FRL-5727-6). Several comments were received and many of the issues 
raised have been addressed in the documents being made available today. 
EPA also intends to issue an addendum to accompany these documents 
which will address many of the issues raised during the recent training 
sessions offered to the new industry groups along with some of the 
issues raised during the comment period which were not incorporated in 
the body of the documents themselves.
    In addition, the 1997 version of the ``EPCRA Section 313 Questions 
and Answers'' document updates and significantly expands the 1990 
version of the document. This updated document addresses various EPCRA 
section 313 interpretive guidance questions on various topics such as 
threshold determinations, waste management calculations and the Form A. 
In addition, the Questions and Answers document addresses questions on 
the revised interpretation of the term ``otherwise use'' and recent 
toxic chemical listing modifications. To make the document more user 
friendly, the Agency has added a glossary of relevant terms and an 
expanded key word index.

    Dated: November 24, 1997.
Christine Augustyniak,
Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 97-31414 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F