United States Office of Solid Waste
Environmental Protection and Emergency Response EPA/530-SW-89-007
Agency Washington DC 20460 August 1989
Off ice of Solid Waste '
f/EPA
Environmental
DELAY OF CLOSURE PERIOD FOR
HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES
BACKGROUND
Prior to May 2. 1986. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
required hazardous waste facilities to close after receiving their final
shipment of waste. On May 2, 1986. EPA amended this requirement to
require facilities to close after final receipt of hazardous waste. EPA
has now promulgated a regulation that would allow some units to
continue to receive non-hazardous waste after the final receipt of
hazardous waste to be managed in a manner that would protect
human health and the environment.
ACTION
Permitted and interim-status landfills, surface impoundments, and
land treatment units that are in compliance with applicable
requirements may be eligible to delay closure in order to receive non-
hazardous wastes after their final receipt of hazardous waste.
o Owners and operators of units that have already received
their final volume of hazardous waste before the
promulgation of this rule may delay closure if they request
a permit modification within 90 days of the publication of
this final rule in the Federal Register.
o Owners and operators of permitted facilities who wish to
delay closure must request a permit modification at least
120 days before their final receipt of hazardous waste.
o Owners and operators of interim-status facilities must
submit an amended Part B application (or a Part B
application if they have not submitted one already) at least
180 days before their final receipt of hazardous waste.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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The permit modifications or amended Part B application must include:
o Demonstrations that the unit has the existing design capacity
to manage non-hazardous waste and that the non-hazardous
waste is not incompatible with any waste remaining in the unit.
o Updated facility information accounting for receipt of
non-hazardous waste only. This information Includes the waste
analysis plan, ground-water monitoring plan, closure and post
closure plans and cost estimates, financial assurance
demonstrations, and a human exposure assessment.
Owners and operators remaining open must also continue to comply with
all applicable Subtitle C permit requirements or interim-status require-
ments. When they close, they must do so in accordance with the ap-
proved closure plan and the regulations applicable to hazardous waste
management units.
Additional Requirements for Surface Impoundments
For surface Impoundments that (1) do not satisfy the double liner and
leachate and collection system requirements specified under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or (2) have not received a
waiver from those requirements but wish to delay closure to receive non-
hazardous waste, the owners and operators must:
o Prepare and submit a contingent corrective measures plan with
their request to modify their permit or Part B application; and
o Remove all hazardous liquids and sludges from the impoundment
before receiving non-hazardous wastes.
CONTACT
For further information, 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. Tlie national toll-free number is (800) 424-9346; in
Washington, D.C.. the number is (202) 382-3000.
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