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February 16, 2023

This e-newsletter delivers announcements from EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery on rulemakings, guidance documents, reports, research, upcoming webinars, and more.

Register for the February 21^st Tribal Waste Management Webinar

On February 21, Carolyn Hoskinson, the EPA ORCR Director, will host an interactive webinar: Let’s Talk About It: New Year's Resolutions for Tribal Waste Management. Carolyn will lead the discussion on how to set goals, track progress, and stay motivated to reach your waste management goals in 2023. Additionally, Mark Junker and Rebecca Stevens of the Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee (TWAR SC) will join us to share the goals and priorities of the TWAR SC for the next year. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas on methods and resources to meet the needs of your waste management programs. We hope you’ll join us for this engaging and informative discussion! Register for this webinar.

NEW! Questions and Answers document for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia

Do you have questions about EPA’s SWIFR Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia Request for Applications (RFA)?

Check out EPA’s Questions and Answers document now posted on our website. This document answers many of the questions potential applicants may have about this funding opportunity.

If your question is not answered in the Request for Applications or Questions and Answers document, please send us an email at SWIFRTribal@epa.gov.

EPA Revamped the Inspection Checklist for Facilities Generating and Recycling Hazardous Secondary Materials

In January 2023, EPA significantly revised a series of checklists designed to assist EPA and state implementing agencies with monitoring compliance at facilities that are generating and recycling hazardous secondary materials under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. The checklists describe and summarize statutory provisions, regulatory requirements, and policies for recycling hazardous secondary materials under all the recycling exclusions and exemptions and regulated recycling under RCRA. Check out the updated checklists.

EPA Requests Comment by March 30^th on Proposed Variances for HVF Metals Recovery Facility in Arizona

On February 13, 2023, EPA proposed to grant a petition for partial reclamation variances from classification as solid waste for two precious metals-bearing materials. HVF Precious Metals, LLC produces these materials from electroplating wastes at its facility in Tucson, Arizona. EPA’s preliminary determination is that both materials are commodity-like and are legitimately recycled, so they qualify for variances from classification as solid wastes. The effect of this kind of variance is that it exempts the material from the hazardous waste regulations, including the hazardous waste manifest requirements.

EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 45 days through Regulations.gov. Learn more on our website.

EPA Announces Six Proposed Denials in Continued Effort to Protect Groundwater and Communities from Coal Ash Contamination, Seeking Public Comment by March 10^th

On January 25, 2023, EPA announced the latest proposed decisions in its continued efforts to protect communities and hold facilities accountable for controlling and cleaning up the contamination created by decades of coal ash disposal. EPA is proposing to deny the alternate liner demonstration applications for continued use of surface impoundments at the following facilities:

• Belle River Power Plant, China Township, Michigan.
• Coal Creek Station, Underwood, North Dakota.
• Conemaugh Generating Station, New Florence, Pennsylvania.
• Coronado Generating Station, St. Johns, Arizona.
• Martin Lake Steam Electric Station, Tatum, Texas.
• Monroe Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan.

EPA is collecting public comments on these proposals through dockets in Regulations.gov. For more information, read through our press release.

EPA Posted Information about the National RCRA Permitting Priorities

On January 31, 2023, EPA published the national RCRA Permitting Priorities, which are high‐level issues that are national in scope and impact RCRA permits or permitting programs implemented by EPA, states, and territories. The national RCRA Permitting Priorities are selected through a periodic process where headquarters collaborates with EPA regions and state and territorial regulatory partners. You can find more information about how the priorities were selected, what the current priorities are, and which national priorities are complete on this new webpage.

EPA Requests Public Comment of American Public Power Association (APPA) Approvals by March 8^th

On February 6, 2023, EPA announced a public comment period for the renewal of APPA Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) disposal approvals. These approvals allow the disposal of less than 50 parts per million (ppm) PCB Remediation Waste under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in certain non-TSCA approved disposal facilities, such as municipal solid waste landfills, non-hazardous waste landfills, and hazardous waste landfills.

EPA is accepting written comments on the draft renewal approvals until March 8, 2023. Send written comments or questions to ORCRPCBs@epa.gov. If you are unable to submit electronically or need other assistance, please contact Luke Weber at weber.luke@epa.gov or 202-564-6576.

For more information visit our website.

Reminder: Registration is Open for February 28-March 2nd Advisory Board Meeting “Meeting the Needs of the User Community: e-Manifest Program Priorities and User Fees for FY 2024 and 2025”

EPA will convene the Hazardous Waste Electronic System (“e-Manifest”) Advisory Board for a virtual public meeting from February 28 – March 2, 2023, from approximately 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily Eastern Time.

The meeting background materials are available in the public docket under the number: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0973. These materials include: 

• The U.S. EPA e-Manifest Advisory Board Meeting White Paper.
• e-Manifest Fee Workbook FY2024-2025.
• e-Manifest Advisory Board Charge Questions.
• Official transmittal memo for these materials.

To learn more about this opportunity and how to participate, visit our website. 

Please register in advance to provide oral comments. 

Learn about Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grants Program through Webinars Next Week

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) are excited to announce their collaboration on a new series of webinars highlighting transformative new program resources coming online in the next few months through the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This first series of the webinars will focus on the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grants Program (BIL Section 40209), a $750,000,000 DOE program to provide small- and medium- sized manufacturers with financial assistance to build, expand, and re-equip facilities in energy communities to manufacture or recycle property for secure, resilient domestic clean energy supply chains. DOE anticipates making the first $350,000,000 in funding under this program available in the first quarter of 2023. DOE and EDA are inviting small- and medium-sized manufacturers, universities, place-based organizations, regional, state, and local economic and community development entities, and all other interested parties to join the webinar to learn more about the program and the potential for maximizing DOE’s place-based investments for wide-ranging community and regional impact in these energy communities. While webinars will seek to bring together organizations from specific geographies each session, we invite participants from outside of those areas to join as well. In addition, a recording of a webinar will be uploaded onto the program website for accessing later. Webinars will be held on the following dates and times (all on Eastern Time), and prospective applicants will have the opportunity to engage with place-based entities whose organizations serve the corresponding focus areas: Tuesday, February 21, 11:00am – Focus on Illinois Basin Region (including Interagency Working Group (IWG) Priority Communities in Illinois, Indiana, and Western Kentucky). Register here. Tuesday, February 21, 4:00pm – Focus on the Intermountain West Region (including IWG Priority Communities in the Northern Rocky Mountain and Four Corners regions). Register here. Wednesday February 22, 11:00am – Focus on Appalachia (including IWG Priority Communities in this region). Register here. Each webinar will also walk participants through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Community Benefits Plan Requirements. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grants Program – Fact Sheet. Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grants Program – Notice of Intent. DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. QUESTIONS? Contact 40209program@hq.doe.gov.

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide interested parties with updates about the federal solid and hazardous waste programs, such as information about rulemakings, upcoming webinars, guidance documents, open comment periods, and other related communications.