United suues            CcmmunicatiQns, Education,
             Environmental Protection      And Public Affairs
             Agency	^	(1703)	^^^^

             Note to Correspondents
     FOR RELEASE:  TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1994
     EPA today proposed expanding opportunities for the public to

participate in the permitting .of all hazardous waste facilities,

including incinerators and other hazardous waste burners.  At the

same time, the agency released and is seeking public comment on

two draft documents — the first its basic waste minimization

blueprint for reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated

and the second, a technical analysis that ultimately will lead to

more stringent emissions controls on dioxins and particulate

matter.

     Under the proposed rule  on public involvement, the public
would be given earlier and more effective opportunities for
involvement in the permitting and operation of a facility in
their community.  For example, the facility owner/operator would
be reguired to hold a meeting with the affected community prior
to submitting a permit application.  In addition, the EPA or the
state would notify the public when the permitting agency receives
a permit application for such a facility and again of its intent
to approve a trial burn plan. The proposal would build on a
number of- public participation requirements currently in place
once a permit application has been submitted.

      EPA's draft waste minimization plan is a framework for
maximizing the reduction and  recycling of hazardous waste, in the
short and long-term.  In the  long-term, EPA says it will pursue
source reduction and recycling for all hazardous wastes, building
on efforts that the states have already begun.  It also states
that EPA intends to set a numerical goal for reducing highly
toxic and persistent combustible hazardous wastes as well as
eventually for all hazardous  wastes.  The short-term component


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spacifically addresses information on pollution prevention
opportunities from metal-bearing and halogenated combustible
hazardous wastes.

     The second document contains a preliminary technical
analysis of best operating practices for existing hazardous waste
burners.  In this document, EPA identifies maximum achievable
emission control levels, based on currently available technology,
for dioxins and particulate matter.  The particulata matter
standard also controls metals.  In its analysis, EPA identified a
technology-based maximum achievable control level for dioxins and
furans of 0.1-0.2 TEQ ng/dscm (toxlcity equivalent, nanograms per
dry standard cubic meter), and a particulate matter level of
0.005 gr/dscf (grains per dry standard cubic foot).   EPA will
consider the results of this analysis when it upgrades its
technical standards for hazardous waste burners next fall, to be
proposed jointly under the Clean Air Act and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act.

     EPA is also releasing a policy memo to EPA's regional
offices which clarifies that combustion of certain specified
inorganic, metal-bearing hazardous wastes may violate the
dilution prohibition under the Land Disposal Restrictions program
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

     EPA is providing a 60-day comment period for the public
participation rule.  Comments should be addressed to:  Victoria
Van Roden, Permits & State Programs Division (5303W), U.S. EPA,
Washington, D. C. 20460.

   '  EPA will accept comments on the technical analysis through
June 30 and on the waste minimization plan through August 31 at
the following address:  Director, Waste Management Division
 (5302W), n.s. EPA, Washington, D. c. 20460.

     For further information, reporters can call Robin Woods in
the EPA Press Office, at 202-260-4377.  Members of the public can
call EPA's waste hotline at 1-800-424-9346.


                              John Kasper, Director
R-124     .                -   Press Services Division

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