United States            Solid Waste and
                     Environmental Protection      Emergency Response           EPA/530-F-93-004
                     Agency                (OS-305)                  June 1993

                     Office of Solid Waste
&EPA         Environmental
                     Fact  Sheet
                     EPA Revises Test Methods for
                     Evaluating Solid Waste (SW-846)

                  This rule amends the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
               recognized physical and chemical testing methods for identifying and
               managing hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and
               Recovery Act (RCRA). Primarily, this rule authorizes an updated version
               of EPA's main guidance document for RCRA test methods.

        Background
          Subtitle C of RCRA creates a comprehensive program for the safe
        management of solid waste.  Among the elements of this program are
        criteria for identifying and listing hazardous waste, along with
        standards for the storage, treatment, and disposal of those wastes.
          In 1980, EPA published the first edition of the guidance document,
        SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical
        Methods, to support the testing requirements associated with the RCRA
        Hazardous Waste program. The changes in testing technology demand
        that these testing methods be periodically updated. As a result, EPA
        published the Second Edition in 1982, and issued two updates in!984
        and 1985.

          In November, 1986, EPA published the Third Edition of the Test
        Methods Manual, and after reviewing comments and questions on it,
        issued several technical corrections and announced the Agency's intent
        to issue additional analytical test methods. On January 23, 1989, the
        Agency proposed to incorporate the Third Edition, along with its first
        update,  into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). On February 8,
        1990, EPA issued a revised Quality Assurance (QA) Chapter based on
        comments received in the 1989 proposal, and requested additional
        comments. As a result of comments, the Agency has made final
        revisions to the QA Chapter recommending the use of the procedures
        in this Chapter.

          This rule replaces the 1982 Second Edition, including its two
        updates, by incorporating by reference the Third Edition (and its first
        update)  into the RCRA regulations. Concurrently, EPA is issuing a
        proposed second update to the Third Edition.

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Action

   The Third Edition of SW-846 is the appropriate testing methodology
reference for all RCRA testing. This rule officially replaces the Second
Edition of Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical
Methods with an updated Thind Edition that offers new and revised
testing methods and procedures. These changes will provide
laboratories with more complete and effective tools for testing and
characterizing hazardous waste, thereby maximizing the protection of
human health and the environment.
   In states not authorized to administer the RCRA program, this rule
becomes effective immediately. Authorized states must revise their
regulations accordingly.

For More Information

   To order a copy of publication SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating
Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Third Edition, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office at (202) 783-3238. For further information
on the  rule, or to order a copy of the Federal Register notice, please call
the RCRA Hotline Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., EST.


                 RCRA Hotline Phone Numbers

           National Toll-Free:                 (800) 424-9346;
           For the Hearing Impaired (TDD):     (800) 553-7672
           Washington, DC area:              (703) 412-9810;
           TDD:                             (703) 412-3323;

               Please send all written requests to:

               RCRA Information Center (OS-305)
               US Environmental Protection Agency
               401 M Street, SW
                Washington, D.C. 20460

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