|
|
September 20, 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.
|
|
On August 29, 2023, EPA finalized regulatory changes that address several key issues in the Polychlorinated Biphenyls Cleanup and Disposal program under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This final rule expands the available options for extraction and determinative methods used to characterize and verify the cleanup of PCB waste, which would greatly reduce the amount of solvent used in PCB extraction processes. EPA also finalized more flexible provisions to facilitate cleanup of waste during emergencies (e.g., hurricanes or floods), strengthened protections for the performance-based disposal option for PCB remediation waste, and made other updates to the regulations. EPA’s revisions are based on the emergence of new science and information about PCBs, the advancement of analytical methods and technology, and requests from the regulated community to address concerns and improve the clarity of the regulations.
|
|
|
Extends the Comment Period for the Request for Information About Used Drum Management and Reconditioning
On August 11, 2023, EPA issued the Used Drum Management and Reconditioning Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address concerns about used industrial containers that held hazardous chemicals or hazardous waste. EPA seeks information to better understand the issues with these containers and potential solutions that would ensure proper management, such as non-regulatory approaches like best management practices or revisions to our waste regulations.
|
|
Webpage for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Model Permit
On September 12, 2023, EPA published the first module in the RCRA Model Permit. The Model Permit is a new guide to help permit writers draft and review permit conditions for incorporation into a RCRA hazardous waste permit. Using language that is based on best example language from actual permits that has been vetted by subject matter experts, including legal and enforcement experts, should reduce the time to issue permits, promote national consistency, and result in clearer, more readily implementable, enforceable permit conditions. The Permit Cover Page is now available. Model Permit modules will be added as they are updated or developed. Access the model permit.
|
|
EPA announced more than $100 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. This represents EPA’s largest recycling investment in 30 years.
The agency selected 25 communities to receive grants totaling more than $73 million under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available approximately $32 million for states and territories to improve solid waste management planning, data collection and implementation of plans. Read about these selections.
|
|
|
|
|
