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October 20, 2022
This e-newsletter delivers announcements on rulemakings, guidance documents, reports, research, upcoming webinars, and more.
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EPA Updates “10-Step Blueprint for Managing Pharmaceutical Waste”
EPA is pleased to announce the publication of the 2022 edition of “A 10-Step Blueprint for Managing Pharmaceutical Waste in U.S. Healthcare Facilities.” This practical guide helps healthcare facilities, including hospitals, surgery centers, and urgent care facilities, understand the applicable regulations so they can develop compliant, holistic, and cost-effective pharmaceutical waste management programs. The primary focus is to help healthcare facilities understand EPA’s hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as they apply to hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, but other regulations are also discussed.
We last updated the document in 2008. Since then, the 2019 Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule, as well as several other applicable policy and regulatory changes have gone into effect, rendering much of the 2008 version out of date.
We hope this update allows the “10-Step Blueprint” to continue to be a valuable compliance assistance tool that can be used by both the regulated community and co-regulators in the states and regions.
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EPA Announces Billions in Economic Benefits from Cleanups at Hazardous Waste Facilities Across the Nation
On September 28, EPA announced the results of a study that estimates the economic benefits of cleaning up facilities under the RCRA Corrective Action program. EPA’s analysis of 79 cleanups revealed that these facilities support 1,028 on-site businesses, which provide economic benefits including: $39 billion in annual sales revenue; over 82,000 jobs; and $7.9 billion in estimated annual employment income. Since this analysis is from a small subset of the nearly 4,000 facilities being cleaned up, the benefits associated with all RCRA Corrective Action cleanups are likely much greater.
EPA also developed brief profiles for more than 40 facilities to showcase the economic benefits that can be fostered through these cleanups. Learn more on our Redevelopment Economics webpage.
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EPA Seeks Comments on a New Proposed Coal Combustion Residuals Determination until Nov. 18th
On October 5, 2022, EPA proposed a determination on the deadline extension request for an unlined coal combustion residuals surface impoundment to stop receiving waste submitted for A.B. Brown Station in Mount Vernon, Ind. EPA is proposing to conditionally approve the request, which requires the facility to fix groundwater monitoring and corrective action issues before EPA would approve the request. EPA will accept comments on this proposal until November 18, 2022 through the docket for this facility in Regulations.gov.
To learn more about this proposal, visit our Part A webpage.
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EPA Publishes a Drum Reconditioner Damage Case Report
On September 8, 2022, EPA published a Drum Reconditioner Damage Case Report which examines instances where incidents at drum reconditioning facilities are causing significant, lasting damage to human health and the environment. We also analyze the regulatory and waste issues surrounding drum reconditioning facilities and hope to engage interested parties to address and mitigate these issues.
To learn more, check out our webpage.
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National Academies Committee Announces a Public Meeting for Their Study on Electric Arc Furnace Slag on Oct. 27th
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) Committee will hold an information-gathering session on October 27, 2022 at 1:00 pm Eastern Time for their study on Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Slag: Understanding Human Health Risks from Unencapsulated Uses.
The session will include a presentation on a leaching assessment of EPA Region 8 EAF slag that is marketed as residential ground cover. The National Academies will offer an opportunity for members of the public to comment on the committee’s task. If you want to comment during the session, you must sign up in advance. The session will be live streamed. Find out more on the National Academies website.
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