[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11278-11279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5044]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 503

[FRL -6546-3]
RIN 2040-AC25


Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge; Reopening of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; Reopening of Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is today announcing 
a reopening of the public comment period to March 23, 2000 for its 
Proposed Rule on Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge 
which was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 1999 at (64 
FR 72045).

DATES: The comment period is reopened until March 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and enclosures should be mailed or hand-
delivered to: Part 503 Sewage Sludge Use or Disposal Rule; Docket 
Number W-99-18, Comment Clerk, Water

[[Page 11279]]

Docket MC-4101, Environmental Protection Agency, Room 57 East Tower 
Basement, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to [email protected]. For additional 
information see Additional Docket Information in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arleen Plunkett, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Water, Health and Ecological Criteria 
Division (4304), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. (202) 260-
3418.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional Docket Information

    The record for this rulemaking has been established under docket 
number W-99-18 and includes supporting documentation as well as the 
printed paper versions of electronic materials. When submitting written 
comments to the Water Docket, (see ADDRESSES section above) please 
reference docket number W-99-18 and submit an original and three copies 
of your comments and enclosures (including references). For an 
acknowledgment that we have received your information, please include a 
self-addressed, stamped envelope. EPA will not accept facsimiles 
(faxes). Comments may also be submitted electronically to: [email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as an 
ASCII, WP5.1, WP6.1 or WP8 file avoiding the use of special characters 
and form of encryption. Electronic comments must be identified by 
docket number W-99-18. Comments and data will also be accepted on discs 
in WP5.1, WP6.1, WP8, or ASCII file format. To ensure that EPA can 
read, understand, and, therefore, properly respond to comments, the 
Agency would prefer that commenters cite, where possible, the 
paragraph(s) or sections in the notice or supporting documents to which 
each comment refers. Commentors should use a separate paragraph for 
each issue.
    The record is available for inspection from 9:00am to 4:00pm 
Eastern Standard or Daylight time, Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays at the Water Docket, EB 57, USEPA Headquarters, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to the docket materials, 
please call 202-260-3027 to schedule an appointment.
    For information on the existing rule in 40 CFR Part 503, you may 
obtain a copy of A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids 
Rule on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/owm/bio.htm or request the 
document (EPA publication number EPA/832/R-93/003) from: Municipal 
Technology Branch, Office of Wastewater Management (4204), Office of 
Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, D.C. 20460.

Background

    On December 23, 1999, EPA (64 FR 72045) proposed to amend 
management standards for sewage sludge by adding a numeric 
concentration limit for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (``dioxins'') 
in sewage sludge that is applied to the land, and monitoring, record 
keeping and reporting requirements for dioxins in sewage sludge that is 
land applied. EPA did not propose additional numeric standards or 
management practice requirements for dioxins in sewage sludge that is 
placed in surface disposal units or incinerated in sewage sludge 
incinerators. The proposal was based on the results of risk assessments 
for dioxins in sewage sludge that is applied to the land, placed in 
surface disposal units, or incinerated.
    EPA established a 60-day public comment period which is scheduled 
to close on February 22, 2000. Subsequently, we received requests to 
extend the public comment period. The requests were based on the time 
that it would take to review the technical support documents of the 
proposed rule. We agree that a reopening is warranted to allow adequate 
time for the review of the technical support documents for this 
proposal. Therefore, the public comment period will now close on March 
23, 2000.

    Dated: February 24, 2000.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 00-5044 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P