[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54889-54890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26334]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6454-3]
Peer Reviews Associated With the Guide for Industrial Waste
Management
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: On June 11, 1999, the EPA released for public comment a draft
guidance document entitled ``Guide for Industrial Waste Management.''
The purpose of the draft voluntary Guide is to assist facility
managers, State and Tribal environmental managers, and the public in
evaluating and choosing protective practices regarding the management
of non-hazardous industrial wastes. The Guide is available on a CD-ROM
format. The CD-ROM also contains user-friendly ground-water and air
models. The ground-water model is called the Industrial Waste
Evaluation model, while the air model is called the Industrial Waste
Air Model. When the draft Guide, CD-ROM, and models were noticed for
comment in June, the EPA stated that both models would undergo peer
review by independent experts. These peer reviews have been completed
and the EPA is making the comments developed by the peer reviewers
publicly available by this notice. Persons wishing to comment on the
models may wish to review the independent peer review comments.
DATES: Public comments on the draft ``Guide for Industrial Waste
Management'', the CD-ROM, and the models are due on or before December
13, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Any public comments received to date on the draft Guide, the
CD-ROM, or the models and these peer review comments are available for
viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal
Gateway I, 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 (docket number F-1999-
IDWA-FFFFF), 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 index and some supporting material are available
electronically.
These peer review comments are also available on the Internet.
Follow these instructions to access the information electronically.
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/industrialwaste
FTP: ftp.epa.gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet address
Files are located in pub/epaoswer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information and copies of
the Ground-Water peer review comments or the Air peer review comments,
contact the RCRA Hotline at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672 (hearing
impaired). In the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, call 703-412-9810
or TDD 703-412-3323. A limited number of paper copies of the peer
review comments are available for distribution. These are available on
a first-come first-serve basis.
Questions regarding any aspect of the Ground-Water peer review
comments may be directed to Virginia Colten-Bradley (703-308-8613)
while questions regarding the Air peer review comments should be
directed to Charlotte Bertrand (703-308-9053). Questions for these
individuals can also be e-mailed to their e-mail address:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[[Page 54890]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Customer Service
How can I influence the development of the final ground-water and
air models that will be developed for the final Guide for Industrial
Waste Management? You can influence the development of the final
ground-water and air models by reviewing the peer review comments and
the draft models and providing your written comments regarding these
models to EPA. 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 data to support your views;
Tell us which parts you support, as well as those you disagree with;
Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns; and
Offer specific alternatives.
Background and Overview
The EPA, with assistance from State representatives, who serve as
members of a Task Force from the Association of State and Territorial
Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), industry, and public
interest stakeholders, has developed a draft voluntary ``Guide for
Industrial Waste Management.'' The Guide recommends best management
practices and key factors to take into account in siting, operating,
designing, monitoring, and performing corrective action and closure and
post closure care. The Guide is available in both paper copy and CD-
ROM. The CD-ROM also incorporates both the ground-water and air models
that can be used to evaluate potential risks and choose appropriate
facility designs.
The air model, called the Industrial Waste Air Model (IWAIR),
contains three modeling components. The first is an emissions model
that estimates emissions of specific constituents from the unit into
the atmosphere. The second component of the model estimates atmospheric
dispersion of constituents and ambient air concentrations at a specific
receptor point. The third component combines constituent concentrations
at the specified receptor point with receptor exposure factors and
toxicity benchmarks to estimate risk. IWAIR can be used two ways.
Forward calculation uses known constituent concentrations in a waste to
calculate risk to receptors at specified locations. Backward
calculation starts with a target risk level at a specified receptor
location. The model then calculates the concentration levels in a waste
that can be protectively managed in a unit without exceeding a pre-
selected target risk level.
The ground-water model, called the Industrial Waste Evaluation
Model, identifies a benchmark concentration (Maximum Contaminant Level
or Health-Based Number) for each constituent in a receptor well
associated with a waste management unit. The goal is not to exceed the
benchmark concentrations in the receptor well (defined as a monitoring
well). The model starts from this benchmark concentration in the
receptor well and uses the effects of dilution and attenuation and
leakage rate from a unit to determine the maximum concentration for
constituents that can be protectively managed in a particular unit
design. In a similar fashion, the model determines the maximum leachate
concentration for constituents that can be considered for land
application.
The IWAIR model and the IWEM have both undergone independent peer
reviews. The peer review summaries contain a summary of the actual peer
review comments and identification of the peer reviewers and their
qualifications. The individual peer reviews are included as attachments
to the peer review summaries. The EPA believes that these peer review
summaries are useful documents for people to review as they formulate
their own comments on the models. The EPA believes that announcing
these peer review summaries now provides adequate time for the general
public to review the summaries and formulate their own comments on the
models; therefore, the December 13, 1999 deadline for receipt of
comments on the draft Guide, CD-ROM, and models is not being extended.
After the December deadline, the EPA will again begin to work with
State, industry, and environmental representatives in assessing the
comments and determining the best course of action. This work will
continue through the next calendar year; therefore, if it is not
possible to submit your comments or concerns regarding the draft Guide,
CD-ROM, or models on time, you are still encouraged to submit comments/
concerns as soon after the deadline as possible. The EPA will make all
reasonable efforts to consider late comments.
Dated: September 29, 1999.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 99-26334 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P