[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50788-50789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24455]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 261

[FRL-6441-2]


EPA Report to Congress on Fossil Fuel Combustion; Request for 
Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of period for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is today announcing 
an extension of the public comment period (see 64 FR 22820) for its 
Report to Congress on Wastes from the Combustion of Fossil Fuels until 
September 24, 1999.

DATES: The comment period of the Report to Congress on Wastes from the 
Combustion of Fossil Fuels is reopened and will close on September 24, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Those persons wishing to submit public comments must send an 
original and two copies of their comments referencing EPA docket number 
F-1999-FF2P-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket Information Center (5305W), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA,HQ), 401 M Street, 
SW., Washington, DC, 20460. Hand deliveries of comments, including 
courier, postal and non-postal express deliveries, should be made to 
the Arlington, VA address below.
    Comments may also be submitted electronically through the Internet 
to: [email protected]. Comments in electronic format should also 
identify the docket number F-1999-FF2P-FFFFF. All electronic comments 
must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption. 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 Document Control Officer, Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the RCRA Docket Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway 
I Building, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. 
The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
federal holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that 
the public 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 $0.15 per page. The Report to Congress 
is also available electronically. See the Supplementary Information 
section below for information on electronic access.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA Hotline at (800) 424-9346 or TDD (hearing impaired) (800) 553-
7672. In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, call (703) 412-9810 or 
TDD (703) 412-3323. For more detailed information on specific aspects 
of today's action, contact Dennis Ruddy, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (5306W), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, at (703) 308-
8430, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Customer Service

    In developing the Report to Congress, we tried to address the 
concerns of all our stakeholders. Your comments will help us improve 
this regulatory action. We invite you to provide different views on 
options we propose, new approaches

[[Page 50789]]

we have not considered, new data, how this regulatory action may affect 
you, or other relevant information. We welcome your views on all 
aspects of this action, but we request comments in particular on the 
items discussed in the Report to Congress. Your comments will be most 
effective if you follow the suggestions below:
     Explain your views as clearly as possible and why you feel 
that way.
     Provide solid technical and cost data to support your 
views.
     If you estimate potential costs, explain how you arrived 
at the estimate.
     Tell us which parts you support, as well as those you 
disagree with.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
     Offer specific alternatives.
     Refer your comments to specific sections of the report.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
     Be sure to include the name, date, and docket number with 
your comments.
    Copies of the full report, titled Report to Congress: Wastes from 
the Combustion of Fossil Fuels; Volume 2--Methods, Findings, and 
Recommendations (EPA publication number EPA 530-R-99-010), are 
available for inspection and copying at the EPA Headquarters library, 
at the RCRA Docket (RIC) office identified in Addresses above, at all 
EPA Regional Office libraries, and in electronic format at the 
following EPA Web site: http://www.epa.gov/osw/special.htm. Printed 
copies of Volume 2 and the executive summary, titled Report to 
Congress: Wastes from the Combustion of Fossil Fuels; Volume 1--
Executive Summary (EPA publication number EPA 530-S-99-010), can also 
be obtained by calling the RCRA/Superfund Hotline at (800) 424-9346 or 
(703) 412-9810. The Executive Summary is also available in electronic 
format at the EPA Web site identified above.

Background

    RCRA section 3001(b)(3) (hereafter referred to as the Bevill 
Exemption) exempts, among other things, fossil fuel combustion wastes 
from regulation under RCRA subtitle C, pending completion of a Report 
to Congress and a subsequent determination of whether such regulation 
is warranted. In RCRA section 8002(n), Congress directed EPA to conduct 
a detailed and comprehensive study based on eight study factors, and 
submit a Report to Congress on ``the adverse effects on human health 
and the environment, if any, of the disposal and utilization of fossil 
fuel combustion wastes.'' RCRA section 3001(b)(3)(C) then requires that 
EPA determine, within six months of the date of submission of the 
Report to Congress, either to promulgate regulations for fossil fuel 
combustion wastes under subtitle C or determine that subtitle C 
regulation is unwarranted.
    The Bevill Exemption was added to RCRA on October 12, 1980, as part 
of the 1980 Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments. In response to the 
1980 RCRA amendments, EPA published an interim final amendment to its 
hazardous waste regulations to reflect the provisions of the Bevill 
Exemption (40 CFR 261.4(b)(4)). In 1991, a suit was filed against EPA 
for failure to complete a regulatory determination on fossil fuel 
combustion (FFC) wastes. Gearhart versus Reilly Civil No. 91-2345 
(D.D.C.). On June 30, 1992, the Agency entered into a Consent Decree 
which established a schedule for EPA to complete the regulatory 
determinations for all fossil fuel combustion (FFC) wastes. FFC wastes 
were divided into two categories: (1) fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, 
and flue gas emission control waste from the combustion of coal by 
electric utilities and independent commercial power producers, when 
such wastes are managed separately, and (2) all remaining wastes 
subject to RCRA sections 3001(b)(3)(A)(i) and 8002(n). On August 9, 
1993, EPA published a determination for the first category of wastes, 
concluding that regulation under subtitle C for these wastes was not 
warranted. To make an appropriate determination for the second 
category, or ``remaining wastes,'' EPA decided that additional study 
was necessary. Under consent-decree deadlines, the Agency completed the 
Report to Congress by March 31, 1999, and was to issue the regulatory 
determination by October 1, 1999. To meet this deadline, EPA 
established a 45-day public comment period following completion of the 
report, which closed on June 14, 1999. Subsequently, the plaintiffs in 
Gearhart versus Reilly moved to modify the consent decree to allow EPA 
until March 10, 2000 to complete the regulatory determination to allow 
EPA to reopen the comment period. EPA supported the motion and, on 
September 2, 1999, the Court granted the motion. The comment period 
will now extend until September 24, 1999, and the regulatory 
determination will be issued by March 10, 2000.

    Dated: September 8, 1999.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 99-24455 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]
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