United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA/530-SW-90-083
Agency (OS-305) July 1991
Office of Solid Waste
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
COKE WASTES PROPOSED
AS HAZARDOUS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to list as
hazardous seven wastes from the coke by-products industry. If recycled
back into the system, however, as is commonly practiced in the industry,
the wastes would be exempt from regulations. EPA is requesting public
comment on the proposed rule.
Background
Coke is a material used in the production of steel. It is derived
by heating, or "carbonizing," coal in special coke ovens. This carboni-
zation or coking process also produces crude coal tars and light oils,
which are refined into many other commercial products, such as
creosote for wood preserving. The wastes generated in both the coking
and the tar refining processes are similar to the raw materials, and
facilities typically reinsert the wastes into the coke ovens or mix them
with coal tar. While these wastes contain hazardous constituents,
they do not add to the toxicity of the final product or alter its quality
when the wastes are recycled into the manufacturing process.
In 1980 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified
and listed three wastes generated by the coke by-products industry as
hazardous. The 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
(HSWA) require EPA to make a ruling on whether to list as hazardous
additional wastes from the coke by-products industry.
Action
EPA is proposing to list as hazardous seven categories of wastes
(K141-145, K147, and K148) generated in the manufacture of coke and
coke by-products. The listing would subject these wastes to regulation
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urider the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However,
the wastes would be excluded from the definition of "solid waste" when
they are recyled into the manufacturing process. Thus, the
management of the wastes would be regulated only until they are
placed back in the coke oven or mixed with coal tar. This exclusion
from the definition of "solid waste" is consistent with other EPA
rulemakings and would help to promote recycling and reuse of
hazardous wastes in an environmentally responsible manner as an
alternative to disposal.
Process wastewaters are not being proposed for listing as a
hazardous waste. Wastewater discharge is already regulated under the
effluent guidelines of the Clean Water Act.
Public Comment
EPA is requesting public comment on this proposed rule. Com-
ments should be submitted to EPA within 60 days of the publication of
the Federal Register notice announcing this action. For instuctions
on submitting written comments, please see the Federal Register
notice. It is available at no charge by calling the RCRA Hotline or by
going to EPAs RCRA. Information Center in Washington, D.C.
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. The national toll-free number is (800) 424-9346; for
the hearing impaired, it is (TDD) (800) 553-7672. In Washington, D.C.,
the number is (703) 920-9810 or TDD (703) 486-3323. Or write to:
RCRA Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (OS-305), U.S. EPA,
401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
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