[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 74 (Friday, April 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20617-20620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8675]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket No. RCRA-2003-0014; FRL-7648-6]


Announcement of a Public Stakeholder Meeting Concerning the 
Hazardous Waste Generator Regulatory Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a public stakeholder meeting.

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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Solid Waste is holding a series of public 
meetings in May 2004 to obtain input from its many stakeholders on the 
effectiveness of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act's (RCRA's) 
hazardous waste generator regulatory program. Concurrent with this 
effort, the Agency intends to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comment on a series of questions related to 
the RCRA hazardous waste generator regulatory program. With the 
information collected from these two efforts, we will evaluate and 
determine whether changes to the hazardous waste generator program are 
appropriate and, if so, develop and implement a program strategy with 
the goals of fostering: improved program effectiveness; a pollution 
prevention stewardship philosophy; and decrease compliance cost where 
practicable.
    The following topics are planned for discussion:
    1. What areas of the generator program are working well?
    2. How can we improve the program through the use of innovative 
solutions and improved technical assistance?
    3. How can we improve the program through better performance 
measurements, burden reductions and pollution prevention/recycling?
    Additional detail can be found under Tentative Agenda. A tentative 
agenda is on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/gener/init/index.htm.

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    Interested parties may choose to attend the meeting, submit written 
comment, or both. Oral comments will be limited to two minutes each.

DATES: The stakeholder meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. local 
time:
    May 4, 2004, Boston, MA; May 13, 2004, Washington, DC; May 17, 
2004, Chicago, IL; May 24, 2004, Seattle, WA. Submit written comments 
on or before June 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Boston, MA, Tip O'Neil Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street, 
Boston, MA 02222, May 4, 2004;
    Washington DC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--East Building, 
Room 1153, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW., May 13, 2004;
    Chicago, IL, Metcalfe Federal Building, Morrison Conference Room 
331, 77 W. Jackson, May 17, 2004;
    Seattle, WA, Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport, 17001 Pacific Highway 
South, May 24, 2004.
    Written comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or 
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as 
provided in section I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be found at: 
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/gener/init/index.htm. If you do 
not have access to the Web, contact the RCRA Call Center 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. You may also 
contact Jim O'Leary, Office of Solid Waste (5304W), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703) 308-8827; fax number: (703) 308-0514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does This Meeting Apply to Me?

    While the meeting is open to the public in general, the identified 
topics may be of particular interest to persons who are hazardous waste 
generators or associations that represent hazardous waste generators or 
persons who are concerned about the implementation of the Resource 
Conservation and
    Recovery Act's (RCRA) hazardous waste generator program. 
Potentially interested parties may include but are not limited to: 
hazardous waste generators, trade associations representing hazardous 
waste generators, federal or state officials involved with implementing 
the hazardous waste generator regulatory program, concerned citizens, 
and environmental organizations. If you have any questions regarding 
the applicability of this meeting to a particular entity, consult the 
information listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Electronic Access to This Document and Other Related 
Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0014. The official public docket 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any 
public comments received, and other information related to this action. 
Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not 
include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Documents in the official 
public docket are listed in the index list in EPA's electronic public 
docket and comment system, EDOCKET. Documents may be available either 
electronically or in hard copy. Electronic documents may be viewed 
through EDOCKET. Hard copy documents may be viewed at the EPA Docket 
Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1742, 
and the telephone number for the EPA Docket Center is (202) 566-0270.
    2. Electronic Access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the `` Federal Registe---
'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. You may also go to the 
federal-wide eRulemaking site at http://www.regulations.gov.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EDOCKET. You may use 
EDOCKET at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket identification number. Certain types 
of information will not be placed in EDOCKET.
    Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure 
is restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be 
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in 
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent 
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in 
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the 
index list in EDOCKET, the system will identify whether the document is 
available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. Publicly 
available docket materials that are not available electronically may be 
viewed at the docket facility identified in section I.B.
    For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is 
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
    Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public 
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will 
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where 
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph 
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand 
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the 
appropriate docket identification number in the subject line on the 
first page of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are 
submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after 
the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not 
required to consider these late comments. However, late comments may be 
considered if time permits.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as 
prescribed below, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing 
address,

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and an e-mail address or other contact information in the body of your 
comment. Also include this contact information on the outside of any 
disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter accompanying the 
disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be identified as the 
submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA 
cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further 
information on the substance of your comment. EPA's policy is that EPA 
will not edit your comment, and any identifying or contact information 
provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made 
available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EDOCKET at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. To 
access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet Home Page, 
select ``Information Sources,'' ``Dockets,'' and ``EDOCKET.'' Once in 
the system, select ``search,'' and then key in Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-
0014. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA 
will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected], Attention Docket ID No. RCRA 2003-0014. In 
contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's email system is not 
an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly 
to the docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, 
EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail 
addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public 
docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM 
that you mail to the mailing address identified in section 1.C.2. These 
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file 
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. Mail. Send your comments to: OSWER Docket, EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-
0014.
    3. By Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: OSWER 
Docket, EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., EPA West 
Building, Room B-102, Washington, DC 20004, Attention Docket ID No. 
RCRA-2003-0014. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's 
normal hours of operation as identified in section I.B.1.

II. Background

    In 1980, the Agency promulgated regulations applicable to 
generators of hazardous waste. EPA amended the regulations in 1986 to 
address small quantity generators and again in the late 1980's and 
early 1990's to address land disposal restrictions and air emission 
control requirements for generators, respectively. These regulations 
are found at 40 CFR 261.5 and 40 CFR part 262. The regulations 
establish procedures and requirements for the management of hazardous 
waste on-site and off-site for both large and small quantity generators 
(LQGs and SQGs), as well as conditionally exempt small quantity 
generators (CESQGs).
    The implementation of the generator regulations has played a major 
role in ensuring that hazardous waste has been properly managed. 
However, during the twenty years since their promulgation, generators 
and s have developed a great deal of experience with this program. 
These experiences have been both positive and challenging. On the 
positive side, thousands of generators instituted programs that 
successfully prevent spills and accidents and ensure the safe 
management of hazardous waste. EPA and the s developed effective 
training, compliance and technical assistance programs that support 
hazardous waste generators.
    These successes, however, have not come without challenges. 
Stakeholders tell us that they find the RCRA hazardous waste generator 
regulatory program to be very complex. Some generators believe the 
regulations are confusing. This may be particularly true for small 
businesses who often do not have the in-house capabilities or resources 
to devote to understanding and complying with the hazardous waste 
regulations. In other cases, EPA has heard that some hazardous waste 
generator regulations duplicate other federal regulations. Some 
stakeholders, conversely, are concerned that gaps may exist in the 
current regulations that could impede the safe management of hazardous 
waste.
    With these challenges as background, the objective of the public 
meetings is collect pertinent information from key stakeholders that 
will allow EPA to evaluate the effectiveness of the hazardous waste 
generator regulatory program and to determine if changes to the program 
are necessary. If so, EPA will develop and implement a hazardous waste 
generator program strategy with the goals of fostering improved program 
effectiveness, fostering a pollution prevention stewardship philosophy, 
and reducing compliance cost, where practicable.


    (Note:
    This effort focuses only on the generator regulations in 40 CFR 
261.5 and 40 CFR part 262, and the management requirements in 40 CFR 
part 265 referenced in the generator regulations. We are not 
addressing issues associated with the definition of solid waste, 
hazardous waste identification regulations associated with listings 
and characteristics, or export provisions.)


III. Tentative Agenda

    Copies of the tentative agenda for this meeting are available on 
the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/gener/init/index.htm, 
via mail, fax, or email. If you would like a copy, please go to the 
website or use the contact information listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

IV. How Can I Participate in This Meeting?

    You may attend this meeting in person or submit a written comment. 
Attendance will be limited by the capacity of the meeting rooms as 
follows: Boston, MA--250 people; Washington, DC--136 people; Chicago, 
IL--300 people; and Seattle, WA--250 people. Members of the public 
wishing to have access to the meeting rooms on the day of the meeting 
should register no later than one week before the date of the meeting 
you wish to attend. You may register on the Web at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/gener/init/index.htm. If you do not have access to 
the web you may contact the RCRA Call Center 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. For meetings held in federal or 
public facilities, visitors will be asked to show photo identification, 
will be screened through security equipment, and will be escorted to 
the meeting room from the security check-in. Please leave sufficient 
time to check with security when you arrive at the meeting location.
    Any person needing special accessibility accommodations for this

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meeting should so indicate on the registration form on the web or 
contact the Call Center identified above at least five business days 
prior to the meeting you wish to attend so we can make the appropriate 
arrangements. Any person who wishes to file a written statement may do 
so by June 30, 2004. EPA has established an official public docket for 
this action under Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0014. Please see section I.C. 
for instructions on how to submit written comments.

V. On What Topics and Questions Will EPA Be Soliciting Input?

    1. What areas of the generator program are working well?
    A. Is the existing hazardous waste generator program meeting its 
goals of protecting human health and the environment?
    B. What parts of the program work effectively and why?
    2. How can we improve the program through the use of innovative 
solutions and improved technical assistance?
    A. What parts of the program can be improved? What are some 
workable solutions? What benefits would be derived from these potential 
solutions?
    B. Are there any new management techniques; e.g., environmental 
management systems, or technologies; e.g., better use of information 
management systems, that lend themselves to improving the existing 
regulatory framework? What would be the benefits to the program if 
adopted?
    C. What, if any, state hazardous waste regulations, interpretations 
or implementation programs should EPA review and evaluate in order to 
improve or clarify the federal regulations?
    D. How can EPA and the states improve their compliance and 
technical assistance activities to hazardous waste generators?
    3. How can we improve the program through better performance 
measurements, burden reductions and pollution prevention/recycling?
    A. What measures should the program use to most effectively capture 
the environmental benefits of the hazardous waste generator regulatory 
program?
    B. Are there areas where we can achieve further reporting/paperwork 
burden reduction while allowing EPA to measure environmental results?
    C. How can EPA encourage generators to practice pollution 
prevention and recycling?
    A tentative agenda is available. If you would like a copy, please 
go to the Web site or use the contact information listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Be advised that there may be slight 
changes to the agenda either in content or duration, so please check 
the Web site before attending the meeting for the latest information.

James R. Berlow.
Acting Office Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 04-8675 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P