Thursday
 February 25, 1982
Part  I!
Hazardous Waste Management- Interim
and Proposed Regulations

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8304       Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 38 / Thursday, February 25.1982 / Rules and Regulations
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 122, 264, and 265
[SW-FRL 1999-3a]

Hazardous Waste Management
System Standards for. Owners and
Operators of Hazardous Waste
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal
Facilities and EPA Administered Permit
Programs; Hazardous Waste Permit
Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Interim final amendments to
rule.	

SUMMARY: On May 19,1980, EPA
promulgated regulations applicable to
owners and operators of hazardous
waste treatment, storage, and disposal
facilities which prohibited the landfill
disposal of most containerized liquid
waste or waste containing free liquid on
and after November 19,1981. Further, on
June 29,1981, EPA amended its
hazardous waste management
regulations so as to extend the
compliance date of the restriction on the
landfill disposal of containerized liquid
ignitable wastes to coincide with the
compliance date of the general
restriction on landfill disposal of liquids.
The Agency is today extending the
compliance date on both these
requirements until May  26,1982, and, in
 a separate action,  is proposing
 amendments to these  restrictions. This
 extension of compliance dates is
 provided for the sole purpose of
 allowing time to complete the
 rulemaWng action on  today's proposed
 amendments.
   The Agency is also today exempting
 from the requirements of the hazardous
 waste management regulations, the acts
 of adding absorbent material to
 hazardous waste In containers and
 adding hazardous waste to absorbent
 material in a container, at the time
 waste is first placed in the container, in
 order to reduce the free liquids in a
 container.
 DATES: These amendments are effective
 February 18,1982, Comments are due on
 or before March 29,1982.
 ADDRESS: Comments should be
 addressed to Deneen Shrader, Docket
 Clerk, Office of Solid Waste (WH-562),
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
 Washington, D,C. 20480. Comments
 should identify the regulatory docket as
 follows: "Docket No. 3004, Extension of
 Section 265.314(b)". The official docket
 for this regulation is located hi Room
 2836, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 401M Street, SW., Washington,,
D.C. 20460 and is available for viewing
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru .
Friday, excluding holidays.;
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The RCRA hazardous waste hotline,
Office of Solid Waste (WH-565), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401M
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460,
800/424-9346 (382-3000 in Washington,
'D.C.). For specific information on this
amendment, contact Alfred W. Lindsey,
Office of Solid Waste (WH-565), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401M
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460,
(202)755-9185.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction
  On May 19,1980, EPA promulgated
hazardous waste regulations in 40 CFR
Parts 260-265 (45 FR 33066 et seq.) which
established hi conjunction with earlier
regulations promulgated on February 26,
1980 (45 FR 12721 et seq.), the principal
elements of the hazardous waste
management program under Subtitle C
of the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42
U.S.G. 6921, et seq.}. Part 265 of the May
19 regulations set forth standards
applicable to hazardous waste
treatment, storage, and disposal
facilities which have "interim status"
under Section 3005(e) of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act
 (RCRA). Subpart N (§§ 265.300-265.339)
 of those regulations established interim
 status standards applicable to owners
 and operators of landfills.
   Section 265.314 (b) and (c) of these
 standards provide that containers
 holding liquid waste or waste containing
 free liquids must not be placed in a
 landfill on and after November 19,1981
 unless  the container is designed to hold
 liquids or free liquids fpr a use other  ,
 than storage (such as a battery or
 capacitor), the container is very small
 (such as an ampule), or the container is
 packaged in accordance with § 265.316
 (lab packs, see 46 FR 56592, November
 17,1981). Section 265.312(b) of these
 standards, as amended on June 29,1981
 (46 FR 33502), provides that liquid
 ignitable waste may be placed, hi a
 landfill, if containerized and handled in
 the mariner specified under that section,
 until the compliance date for the ban on
  landfilling liquid waste contained in
  § 265.314. After that date, disposal of
  liquid  ignitable waste in landfills is
  prohibited.
    Subsequent to the promulgation of
  these regulations, the regulated
  community brought to the Agency's
  attention several difficulties they are
  having or would have in complying with
 these requirements. Some of the
 information on these problems was
 brought to the Agency's attention in the
 context of ongoing litigation
 negotiations under the Shell Oil v. EPA
 lawsuit. In addition, a rulemaking
 petition has been filed with the Agency
 pursuant to  40 CFR § 260.20, requesting
 the deletion of §§ 265.312 and 265.314(b).
   EPA believes there are important
 policy and technical issues concerning
 the ban on containerized liquids in
 landfills that need to be resolved. EPA is
 today proposing amendments, in a
 separate action, that address many of
 the concerns raised by the regulated
 community.
   Compliance with the existing
 § 265.314(b) could impose substantial
 capital costs on the regulated
 community for such things as decanting
 equipment.  Some of those costs could
 prove to be unnecessary if EPA finalized
 amendments to the regulations that are
 similar to those being proposed today.
 EPA does not believe it makes sense to
 require the  regulated community to incur
 .those costs while EPA resolves some of
 the key issues concerning § 265.314(b).
   Therefore, EPA is amending
 § 265.314(c) to defer the compliance date
 of § 265.314(b) until May 26,1982 and is
 amending § 265.312(b) to provide a
 compliance date for this section that
 coincides with that of § 265.314(b).
   The preamble to the proposed
 amendments, also published in today's
 Federal Register, contains a further
 discussion  of the problems raised by'the
 regulated community, EPA's reaction to
 these perceived problems, EPA's
 continued concerns regarding
 containerized liquids in landfills, and
 several options the Agency is
 considering to resolve these problems in
 an environmentally protective yet
 practical manner.
. H. Exemption of Addition of Absorbent
 Material
   The Agency is aware that many  •
  persons  are now, or are planning to
  begin, adding absorbent material to
  waste in containers or adding waste to
  drums containing absorbent material, in
  order to solidify or reduce the free liquid
 " content of their containerized wastes.
  There appears to be a great deal of
  confusion  in the regulated community
  regarding whether or not these practices
  constitute  treatment and are subject to
  regulation. These practices are
  "treatment", as that term is defined in
  § 260.10 because they are "methods
  * * * designed to change the physical
  * * * character* *  * of hazardous
  waste so as to render such waste * * *
  less hazardous to *  * * dispose."

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             Federal /Register/ 'VoL'4£ jfo. 38;,/ Ifairsday. February25.19827Elites knd
   Because :of this, ^persons who-employ
   feesepractices.must'either have interim
   status-era permit covering these
   practices andmustcomply wife'-fe'e
   relevant requirements -of the ;interim
   sta'tus standards of 46 CFR Part 265 or
   those standards df'40:CFRPart.264
   incorporated in-their permit,'as    ._••
   appropriate.      "     •   .  ;
     The Agency does not -"believe tha't
   these"treatment practices, when
   employed at the time'hazardous wastes
   have been first placed in containers,
   pose a substantial ^hazard to human
   health or the environment.'EPA has not
   received any" reports Brother
   information indicating that these
   practices pose a hazard. Moreover, "an
   assessment of the .physical-chemical
   reactions :involv.ed in these .practices has
   ledjEpA td:therconclusion.that there'is
   no significant likelihood-.thait they could
   pose a hazard as long as the absorbent
  material is not capable ;Bf^chemically
  reacting wife ithe waste to .produce
  explosion, fire orthe generation of toxic
  gases. Thefabsorbents commpnly.used
  are cement kiln dust, jy.ash, fuller's
  earth, and vermiciilite;'None of these
  materials are known to react in such a
  dangerous manner with any of fee
  hazardous wastes identified in 40 GFR
  Part 261.    . _        - ;   •
    However, the  Agency is not convinced
  that these treatment practices, when
  employed at a time after hazardous
  wastes have been emplaeed in   ,     J
  containers, pose no substantial hazard.
  This is because such-containers mustbe
  opened in order  to employ these      .
  practices. Several menibers of'the
  regulated community have.argued that
  the opening of containers can be
  hazardous because'of accidental    :
  ignition of ignitable wastes, accidental
  reaction of reactive wastes, orrelease. of
  toxic gases. Presumably,'these dangers
  can be, avoided by Bijiployirig
  sophisticated container opening
  facilities and;practices which are
  designed to prevent these Jiazards.
 Without these safeguards, however,
 absence .of potential hazard cannot be
 assumed. Consequently, the Agency
 believes that these practices must be
 regulated under the standards of 40 CFR
 Parts 264 and 265-to assure the
 application of these safeguards.  ,
   Importantly, the potential .hazards
 cited above do not derive from the
 actual addition of absorbents to wastes
-or wastes to absorbents but, instead,,
 derive from the essential ancillary
 operation of opening containers.
  --Althoughit would beypossible
  . the regulation of-the ^container-opening
   •operation without regulating ;the
   absorbent-adding'OpeEatiOn, these  ;
  ';_ operations are so intimately tied
  ' together feat regulation-of fee-combinee!
   operafions-as,a treatment process seems
   justified'in construcfirig regulatory
   requirements.
     Another potential probleminvolvedlri
  ~ these .treatment practices is fee
   •possibility of leakage from the      .
   container, -It isimportant thatihe
   absorbent treatment process take place
   •in a coixtaiijer of solid structural   "
   integrity that'is not susceptible to
   leakage. Therefore the container used
   for this treatment ^operation must be
   designed and managed in accordance
  with those provisions of EPA's Part 265
   interim status standards that are aimed
   at maintaining the physical integrity of
  •the,container itself.           '  '   ;
     Specifically, those taking advantage.'of
  (this exemption must assure compliance
  with §§ 265.171 and 265.172. These
  •provisions are-designed to'assure that:
  the container is compatible wife fee
  --waste;placed in it and feat fee .physical
  integrity of fee container is maintained.
  Hn the case of .mixtures of wastes and
  .absorbent material, -those requirements
  apply to  the waste/absorbent mixture as
  'well as fee waste itself.         :
    In many cases, ifee mixing of wastes
  and absorbent materials will be
  performed by generators in fee
  •contauiers that will actually be used to
  •transport the;waste. Under § 262.30 of
  EPA's hazardous waste'regulations,
  •containers used to teansjport wasteliavB
  So satisfy certain requirements specified
  in Department of Transportation
 ^regulations. EPA believes feat       -•--
 • containers .designedin accord with fee
  DOT regulations referenced in § 262.30
  should satisfy the general requirements
 -of §§ 26B.171 and 265.172.
   Based on fee foregoing analysis, EPA
  is today amending §;265.1'to exempt
  from regulation trader'interim status fee
 ipractice of adding absorbent material to
 'hazardous waste in a container or
 adding hazardous waste to absorbent
 •material in a container. This exemption,
 -however, is subject to three conditions:
   a. The absorbent treatmerit process
 must occur at fee time when waste is
 first placed in  a container;
   b. The treatment'process must assure
 compliance with § 265.17[b);
   c. The containet must comply with
^§265.171811(1265.172.
 ,  The Agencyis-alsQ^maKing to-day  '   ,
   similar-amendments to-§:^64a and
 '1122.21.                      :
 .   The Agency believes that the  effect of
   today's amendment'is to provide    J
 :?generators;wife;a conditionref    '.•   .,
  > exemption;from regulation with  respedt s
  "to absorbent addition practices.'It
 Jurther'believes featifeis-amendment
 "will have three practical effebts for
   generators who employ these practices.
   First, existing generators who'have
   interim status -forgone or-more'hazardous
  waste management activKies.ana'Who
  •did not include;absofbent-adding
 /operations in feeir-paEtA^ermit
  application .willntitihave'to se:ek?and
  obtain an interim -status modification
  under § 122.23(Q). Second,'existing .
 •generators who dp nothave interim
 - status;and new generators wilLnot have
  to apply,for and obtain.a!RCRA .permit
  before employing these,practiceB. Third,
  existing, generators 'having interim, staius
  only for these ^practices will fnot'ha veto
  eventually obtain a 'RGRA permit. . -  .
 Because of feese elfects, many         ,
 generators will be ^pared'the  '. "  .-  -
 administrative .burden of app'Iying for
 and obtaining eifeersan'Mtepim status
 modification or a-JRCRA'perniit for
 -activities feat do not.pose a -substantial
 "'hazard and certainly; do not justify feese
 administrative burdens. (Because of
 •these reducerl-burdens, .EBAibelieves
 ,:'feat generators.wiU'be encouraged!to~. :
 'or, at least, wilLnot be' discouraged
 "from—^employing absnrberit-Mding.
 practices.-This'is of sjgmfiGant  .
 •environmental importance •because it.  •
..leads,to .fee,minimization'df
 -containerized free-liquid-wastes which
 may be landfilled and;ppomotes such
 .minimization byigeneratoES-wrho can .  .
 most economically accon^plishiifeis
 objective.    .  .         '

 HI. Effective Date         ''.-•.:'.

   Section 3010fb). of RORA -prbvides -fea't
 EPA's hazardous waste regulations and
 revisions thereto :take effect six months   .
 after their prOmulgation,:!rhe purpose of
 this StatutoTy requirementas to-allow
 .persons affected 'by 'the TegUlatioiiS
 sufficient lead time to prepare to'comply
 with major neWireguldliojcyTequu'ements.
 Today's amendments, however, do no't
 impose new requirements but rather
 deifer and reduce pre-existing   |
 requirements. Since an effectivefdate six
.months after;promu!gation would defeat ,J.
•the purposes of today's amendments, the
 Agency is malcing them 'effective   •
Immediately.       ; . ;    "   ,

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6306     Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 38 / Thursday. February 25.  1982 / Rules and Regulations
IV. Compliance With Executive Order
12291
  Executive Order 12291 (46 FR13193,'
February 19,1981) requires that EPA
prepare a Regulatory Impact Analysis  .
for each major rule. The Order defines a
"major rule" as any regulation that is  '
likely to result in:
  A major increase in costs or prices for
consumers, individual industries,
Federal. State, or local agencies or
geographic regions; or
   Significant adverse effects on
competition, emplojonent, productivity,
innovation, or on the ability of United
States-based enterprises to compete
with foreign-based enterprises in
domestic or export markets.
   This action is a postponement of the
compliance date of a regulation and an
exemption from a previously imposed
requirement.  As  such, it has none of the
effects noted above. Accordingly, EPA
concludes that this action is not a major
rule under E.0.12291.
   This notice was submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget for
review as required by E.0.12291.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
   Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, 5 U.S.G. 601 et seq., whenever an
agency is required to publish a general
notice of rulemaking for any proposed or
final rule, it must prepare and make
available for public comment a   •
regulatory flexibility analysis which
describes the impact of the rule on small
entities (i.e., small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions). The Administrator may
instead certify, however, that the rule
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
   These amendments should have no
adverse economic impact  on a
substantial number of small entities hi
 that they (1)  defer the compliance date
 of the pre-existing requirements, and (2)
 exempt from regulation a process
 previously subject to regulation under
 RCRA. Accordingly, I hereby certify that
 this interim final regulation will have a
 significant economic impact on a
 substantial number of small entities.
 This regulation therefore does not   •
 require a regulatory flexibility analysis.
   Dated: February 18,1982.
 Anne M. Gorsuch,
 Administrator.
   For the reasons set out in the
 preamble, Title  40 of the Code of Federal
 Regulation is amended as follows:
PART 122—EPA ADMINISTERED
PERMIT PROGRAMS: THE NATIONAL
POLLUTANT DISCHARGE
ELIMINATION SYSTEM; THE
HAZARDOUS WASTE PERMIT
PROGRAM; AND THE UNDERGROUND
INJECTION CONTROL PROGRAM


  1. The authority citation for Part 122.
reads as follows:
  Authority: Resource Conservation
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq., Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.,  '
and the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et
seq.

  2. Section 122.21 is  amended by
adding paragraph,.(d)(2)(viii) to read as
follows:
§ 122.21  Purpose and scope of Subpart B.
*****

  (d) * * *
  (2)***
  (viii) Persons adding absorbent
material to waste hi a container (as
defined in § 260.10 of this chapter) and
persons adding waste to absorbent
material in a container, provided that
these actions occur at the time waste is
first placed in the container; and
§§ 284.17(b), 264.171, and 264,172 of this
Chapter are complied with..
 PART 264—STANDARDS FOR
 OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF  r
 HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT,
 STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL
 FACILITIES

   3. The authority citation for Part 264
 reads as follows;
   Authority: Sees. 1006, 2002(a), and 3004,
 Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the
 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a),
 and 6924).

   4. Section 264.1 is amended by adding
 paragraph (g)(10) to rqad as follows:

 § 264.1  Purpose, scope, and applicability.
 *    *.    *     * '    *

   (8)***
  • (10) The addition of absorbent
 material to waste in a container (as  .
 defined in § 260.10 of this chapter) or the
 addition of waste to absorbent material
 in a container, provided that these
 actions occur at the time waste is first
 placed in the container; and
 §§ 264.17(b), 264.171,  and 264.172 are
 complied with.
PART 265—INTERIM STATUS
STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND
OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND
DISPOSAL FACILITIES
  5. The authority citation for Part 265
reads as follows:
  Authority: Sees. 1006, 2002(a), and 3004,  .
Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976, as araended.(42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a),
and 6924).
  •6. Section 265.1 is amended by adding
paragraph (c)(13) to read as follows:
§ 265.1 Purpose, scope, and applicability.
*****
  (c)***
  (13) The addition of absorbent
material to waste in a container (as
defined in § 260.10 of this chapter) or the
addition of waste to the absorbent
material in a  container provided that
these actions occur at the time waste is
first placed in the containers; and
§§ 265.17(b),  265.171, and 265.172 are
complied with.
   7. In §  265.312, paragraph (b) is
revised to read as follows:
§265.312  Special requirements for
ignitable or reactive waste.
*    *•    *    *•    *
   (b) Until the compliance date for
§ 265.314(b), liquid ignitable wastes in
containers may be landfilled without
meeting the requirement of paragraph
(a) of this section, provided that the
wastes are. disposed in such a way that
they are protected from any material or
conditions which may cause them to
ignite. At a minimum, these liquid
ignitable wastes must be disposed in
non-leaking containers which are
carefully handled and placed so as to
 avoid heat, sparks, rupture, or any other
 condition that might cause ignition of
 the wastes; must be covered daily with
 soil or other  non-combustible material to
 minimize the potential for ignition of the
 wastes; and must not be disposed in
 cells that contain or will contain other
 wastes which may generate heat
 sufficient to cause temperatures  equal to
 or exceeding the flash point of the
 wastes.
  **-,***
   8. In § 265.314, paragraph (c) is revised
  to read as follows:
 § 265.314  Special requirements for liquid
 waste.
  *****
   (c) The date for compliance with
  paragraph (a) of this section is
  November 19,1981. The date for
  compliance with paragraph (b) of this
  section is May 26,1982.
  [FR Doc. 82-4899 Filed 2-24-82; 8:45 am]
  BILLING CODE 6560-30-M

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                                                                            25,1982 •/  Propose! Rides
                                                                          8307.
   ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
   AGENCY

   40 CFR Part 265

   [SW-FRL 1999-3]

   Interim Status Standards for Owners
   and Operators of Hazardous Waste
   Treatment, Storage, and Disposal
   Facilities

   AGENCY: Environmental Protection
   Agency.               ":.  ..
   ACTION: Proposed amendments to rule.

   SUMMARY: On May 19,1980, EPA
   promulgated regulations, applicable to  .
   owners and operators of ^hazardous
   waste treatment 'storage, and disposal
   facilities during interim status, 'which
   prohibited the landfill disposal of most
   containerized liquid waste or waste
   containingiree liquid on and after
  November 19,1981. As :a, result of Issues
  raised by the regulated community with
  respect to tiiis prohibition, the Agency is
  today proposing.an amendment to this
  regulation 'to ;allow some trorttainers
 * holding free liquids to be.disposed.of in
  a landfill, m some circumstances.
    In a separate action, intoday's Federal
  Register, EPA is providing a 90-day
 . extension (from today's date) of the
  compliance date .for the prohibition of
  landfill disposal of containerized liquid •'
  waste and the .restrictions cm ihe landfill
  disposal of liquid ignitable waste to
  allow time to complete -this nilemaking
  action and to avoid immediately
  imposing requirement's that might be
  changed as a.result of,this rulemaking
  action.           ,
  DATES:-Comments are .due on or before
  March 29,1982.              ;'..'"
  ADDRESS:,Gomments should.be
  addressed to Deneen'Sbrader, Docket
  Clerk, Office of^olid Waste (WH-r562},
  U.S. iWironmerital Protection Agency,
  Washington, D.C.,20460, Comments
  should identify :the regulatory.docket as
 follows: "Docket No. 3004, liquids in
 Landfills." The.official.docket:for this
 regulation is .located in Room 2638, U
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8308
Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 38 / Thursday.  February 25,  1982 / Proposed Rules
techniques (e.g., screens, vacuum filters,
filler press, centrifuge, heat drying) or by
chemical/absorbent processes (e.g..
cement kiln dust, fly ash, vermiculite,
fuller's earth, and cementitious
materials). Finally, keeping liquid and
solid wastes separated at the generation
point can achieve liquid-free wastes.
  However, the Agency has found merit
in the comments criticizing the absence
of definition of terms and a test
protocol. This led the Agency into a
thorough discussion and negotiation of
this matter with interested petitioners in
Shell Oil v. EPA. Out of this discussion
and negotiation, EPA came to the
following tentative conclusions.
  The Agency believes that the current
§ 265.314(b) prohibition is too extreme
for real-world application. In its literal
interpretation, landfill disposal of
containerized wastes containing only
"one drop" of free liquid is banned. This
would often require extraordinary, high-
cost management practices to achieve
compliance. For example, a generator
may take reasonable means to deliver
liquid-free containeriKed wastes to a
disposal facility by using screening or
olher dewatering or absorbent-addition
methods on his wastes before placing
them into containers. But frequently the
vibration and settlement occurring in
transit to the landfill will result  in the
separation from the wastes of additional
small amounts of free liquids and result
in the delivery of containers holding
some amount of free liquids at the
disposal facility. Therefore, the  facility
operator, in order to assure compliance
with § 265.314(b). would have to open
and inspect all incoming containers and
perform additional dewatering
(decanting) or absorbent-addition
operations on those containerized
wastes found to contain even the
smallest amounts of liquids. The Agency
concluded that this opening, inspecting,
and additional treatment operation by
the landfill operator, in many cases,
would add unnecessary costs and
operational disruption and could present
unnecessary personnel safety and
 environmental hazards because of the
 ignitability, volatility or toxicity of many
\vastes commonly shipped in containers.
   Even after considering these real-
 world problems, the Agency still
 believes it is appropriate to require in
 the interim status standards a
 minimization of free liquids in
 containerized wastes—minimization
 that could be achieved by reasonably
 simple and available dewatering
 practices and ordinary waste
 management practices. Because of the
 lack of extensive data on the levels of
 free liquids reduction that can be
                          reasonably achieved on the wide variety
                          of hazardous wastes, the Agency was
                          unable to derive a calculated  ,
                          quantification of "minimization" but
                          came to the professional judgment that
                          containerized wastes containing less
                          than ten percent by volume of free
                          liquids could be readily achieved and
                          reasonably implemented. Indeed, one
                          major landfill operator has indicated
                          that such a level can be and is being
                          achieved in his current operations.
                            The Agency concluded that a 10
                          percent maximum objective would
                          produce a decided improvement over
                          past practices in disposing of
                          containerized wastes and,  therefore, is
                          consistent with the regulatory strate'gy
                          of using interim status standards to
                          achieve initial, readily achievable
                          improvements in hazardous waste
                          management practices (see discussion of
                          criteria for interim status standards in
                          45 FR 33159). The Agency also decided
                          that this objective, combined with other
                          interim status standards, would achieve
                          reasonably acceptable environmental
                          protection for interim status landfill
                          operations. Although the Agency
                          recognizes that the containerized free
                          Liquid wastes allowed in landfills often
                          will eventually leak from their
                          containers and migrate out of the
                          landfill and into the environment, it
                          •believes that this leakage will be slow*
                          occurring over an extended period of
                          years, and is likely to be considerably
                          diluted and attenuated (in the
                          environmental). Because the amount of
                          containerized free liquids available for
                          leaching would be minimized, because
                          the interim status closure and post-
                          closure requirements would limit the
                          amount of additional leachate
                          generation from precipitation infiltration
                          available for environmental migration,
                          and because bulk-free disposal would
                          be regulated, the Agency believes that
                          ' any potential adverse environmental
                          consequences will be substantially
                          reduced.
                            At the same time, the Agency has
                          concluded that more rigorous regulation
                          of liquid emplacement in landfills may
                          be  justified for permitted facilities. In
                          particular, it believes that certain
                          persistent, mobile, and highly toxic or
                           carcinogenic liquid wastes might need to
                           be absolutely prohibited from disposal
                           in landfills, in either bulk  or
                           containerized form. Additionally, some
                           hydrogeologic settings might dictate
                           more severe restriction of landfill
                           disposal of containerized  free liquids.
                           The Agency is studying these matters
                           and intends to propose future
                           regulations or amendments  as'might be
                           called for by its findings. At this time,
 however, the Agency believes that
 minimization of landfill disposal of,
 containerized wastes, as discussed
 above, is a reasonable objective for  ,
 interim status standards.
   Having come to this position, the
 Agency discussed with the petitioners in
 Shell Oil Co. v. EPA a simple rule that
 would prohibit the landfill disposal of
 containers that contain more than ten
 percent by volume of free liquids as
 measured by an appropriate test
 protocol. In discussing this approach
 EPA .recognized that this requirement,
 although achievable, would still have
 some of the same practical real-world
 problems in implementation as the
 current rule. Landfill operators might
 still have to open and inspect incoming
 containers to monitor compliance 'and
 correct noncomplying containers by
 decanting free liquids or adding
 absorbent. This opening, inspecting, and
 additional treatment operation, with its
 attendant safety and environmental
 risks, seemed to be a feature to be   .
 avoided if possible. Additionally,
 petitioners claimed that some hazardous
 wastes require extraordinary means of
 dewatering to achieve a content of free
 liquids less than ten percent. They
 argued that such extraordinary means of
 dewatering these wastes could be
 avoided if the regulatory approach taken
 could average the free liquid content of
 these wastes with other wastes to
 achieve the same end result.
", Consideration of these points ultimately
 led to the development of today's
 proposed amendment. As described
 below, this proposed amendment takes
 a different approach than discussed
 above, but the Agency believes that it
 - achieves approximately the same
 results; that is, land disposal of
 containerized free liquids will be
 significantly limited (see discussion in
 III(B) below). The proposed amendment
 avoids the necessity of determining the
 free, liquid fraction of individual
 containers, thereby avoiding the added
 and potentially unsafe operation of
 opening of containers to  determine
 compliance with the regulation. This
 feature also simplifies enforcement of
  the regulation by focusing inspection on
  the number of non-exempted containers
  placed in a landfill rather, than on the
  testing of individual containers for
  compliance with a specific free-liquid
  limit. Finally, the Agency believes that
  today's proposed amendment
  incorporates an economic incentive for
  landfill operators to minimize the
  number of containers holding free
  liquids in order to conserve that portion
  of their landfill which, pursuant to

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               Federal Register  /•' Vol. 47,  No.' 38 / Thursday, February 25,  1982 / Proposed Rules        .8309
 today's proposed rule, may be allocated'
 for containers holding free liquids.
   Based on the rationale just discussed,
 EPA has decided to propose the
 "regulatory approach described below
 rather than an approach that would limit
 the liquid  content in each container to
 10%. EPA  does, however, seek public
 comment on the latter regulatory  § ,  .  .
 approach. EPA is still actively
 considering a regulatory approach based
 on a "10% rule" as an alternative,  oria
 supplement, to the regulatory approach
 being proposed, today,

 III. Proposed Amendment to § 265.314(b)
"A Overview     ...  . '         -.••••;.  ..
   Today's proposed amendment to
 § 265.314(b.) would allow containers.
 holding free liquids  to be placed ma
. landfill provided that: (1) The volume of
 such containers does not exceed a
 formula-determined fraction of the total "
 volume of wastes and reasonable
 intermediate cover to be placed in the
 landfill, (2) the closure and post-closure
 maintenance plans provide  for the post-
 closure maintenance of the final cover to
 accommodate subsidence that may
 arise from the collapse of such
 containers if they rupture and the free
.liquids escape and (3} such containers
 are uniformly placed in the landfill so
 that any subsidence resulting from the  ,,
 collapse of containers w-ill be as uniform
 as possible. Further, today's proposed
 amendment requires that each container
 of waste be assumed to hold free liquids
' and subject to the above requirements
 unless: (1)  The owner or operator
 demonstrates that the container does
.not hold free liquid,  (2) the container is
 very small, such as an ampule', (3)  the
 container only holds such free liquids as
 it was designed to hold in its use other
 than storage (e.g., a battery  or capacitor
•holding free liquids), or (4) the container'
is a "lab pack" as defined m § 265.316."
The last three types  of containers
 exeepted from the requirements of
 today's amendment  already are allowed
to be placed in a landfill without
restriction under the current
requirements of- §  265.314(b) and
 §265;si6. ••.'.::.-.-.'  •.'...     ; .    ./..,:•:

•B. Formula 'forDetermining  the     •
Allowable Volume, of Containers   . -
•Holding Free Liquids That May Be <
Disposed of in a Landfill  i
   The formula contained in  today's -.
amendment for determining the fraction
of the. total volume of waste and
intermediate cover that can  be 'devoted
to containers holding free liquids was
derived from a proposal submitted by
the National Solid Waste Management .
Association (NSWMA) and  the
  Chemical Manufacturers Association
  (CMA) during discussions of this issue .
  with petitioners in Shell Oil v, EPA. The
  formula is:      ...    •".."..      , .
 lH.  " '.  '   •' ;'•'  "••'".'"..'   ;
  V=—for H less, than 25 feet
        apo   •"     '.    ., ,     v  •' ."...
  V=0.3—H for equal to or greater than 25 feet
        soo .'..;    ,  -'.',..  .-,. .,  ;  .     ;
  where V=the allowable volumetric fraction
   - of the total volume of wastes and • j
   .  reasonable intermediate cover in the
     landfill that can be used for disposal of
     containers holding  free liquids
  H=the maximum vertical depth of waste and
  •   reasonable intermediate cover in the
   •  landfill at  closure (aS measured in feet}
   Although this formula was derived to
  limit the subsidence'that will result from
  the degradation of containers
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8310
Federal Register / Vol. 47,  No. 38  / Thursday, February 25,  1:982 / Proposed Rules
Consequently, EPA invites comments on
this issue. In particular, EPA wishes to
know if such situations are likely to
happen and how best Ihey can be
accommodated. If the occurrences are
likely to be frequent and the
environmental consequences serious,
the Agency may have to require
provisions Jn the closure plan and
closure financial responsibility to
accommodate these eventualities.
C. Effect of the Formula on Controlling
Subsidence
  As previously mentioned, 'the formula
used in today's proposed rule was
derived from a formula submitted by
NSWMA and CMA during negotiations
in Shell Oil v. EPA. It is evident that
these petitioners designed the formula to
limit the maximum depth of subsidence
and, perhaps, the maxjmum volume of
subsidence.1 The basis for this limitation
was the professional judgment of the
capable, expert landfill operators, who
advised NSWMA and CMA on this
matter, that a maximum subsidence
depth greater than 11.25 feet should be
avoided, EPA relies on this professional
judgment in tentatively accepting the
formula used in today's proposed
amendment.                __
   Under the approach taken in today's
proposed amendment, EPA is concerned
about the long-term subsidence that may
occur in allowing the landfill disposal-of
containerised liquid wastes, the current
rule docs not necessitate such a concern
because it prohibits the landfill disposal
of containers holding fiee liquids.
Consequently, today's proposal 'includes
not only the formula-derived limitation
of landfill disposal of containers holding
free liquids, but also .requirements for (1)
uniform placementof containers in the
landfill and ,[2] a final cover at Closure
designed to accommodate the expected
subsidence. The first of these .added
provisions is intended to alleviate
differential subsidence .that might be
accentuated by non-uniform placement
of containers holding free liquid wastes.
The second of the additional provisions
is intended to assure that special
consideration is given in closure and
post-closure plans to the added
subsidence that may result from the
   'The formula produces theoretical depths of
 subsidence ranging from zqro,at a fill depth of zero,
 Inocuting to a maximum of 1125 feet at fill depths
 of 7S foot and than decreasing toizero itt fill depths
 of 150 feel. These theoretical subsidence .depths
 assume that the containers will eventually
 completely collapso to a theoretical cotitdiner
 volume of zero and that soil bridging and other soil
 structure effects do not sllffmiate'theithoordUcally
 possible BUbsidence.depth.sta actuality, neither of
 Ihese assumptions will operate perfectly and the
 actual fubsklcnce depth will be less than that
 theoretically predietod'by the formula.
                          landfilling of containerized free liquid
                          wastes. Such special considerations
                          may include: ,(1) Providing greater slopes
                          in the contouring of the final cover at
                          closure to accommodate the loss of
                          elevation of contours when subsidence
                          eventually occurs; (2) the stock-piling of
                          final cover materials at closure for
                          repairing subsidence damage .to the final
                          cover, and (3) a commitment in the post-
                          closure plan to extent the post-closure
                          care period for further-repair and
                          maintenance of ithe final cover if
                          unusual subsidence occurs in the later
                          stage of the  post-closure care period.
                          .  Although  the formula in today's   ,
                          proposed amendment will provide a
                          means of calculating the maximum
                          potential dimensions (depth and
                          volume) of subsidence that may "be
                          caused by landfilling of containerized
                          free liquid "wastes, :the more detailed
                          prediction of and planning for
                          remedying damage caused by such .  '
                          subsidence will depend on a great many
                          factors, including the character (bridging '
                          capacity, density] of the wastes and
                          soils placed above ^and between the
                          buried containers. Because the detailed
                          consideration of these factors is too
                          complex to easily articulate in
                          regulatory form, the Agency intends to
                          develop technical.guidance to assist
                          compliance with.Ms element of today's
                          •proposed amendment.
                            In spite of the fact that today's
                          proposed amendment addresses the
                          subsidence  problem that may attend
                          landfilling of containerized free liquids,
                          the Agency has some concern about the
                          ability of landfill owners and operators
                          to adequately plan and provide for
                          remedying the damage caused.by post-
                          closure subsidence.2 It will be difficult
                          to predict with accuracy, 'and therefore
                          provide in closure andpost-closure
                          plans, the actual timing, location, size,
                          and nature of subsidence and final cover
                          distortion. In addition, it is possible that
                          some amount of the 'subsidence may
                          occur after  the post-closure period. The
                          Agency and .the'regulated-community
                          simply do not have much ^observed
                          experience  ;or data concerning
                          subsidence to those landfills -where
                           containerized wastes -are carefully
                          placed, it'is possible that subsidence
                           due to landfilling of limited numbers of
                           containers holding free-liquid wastes •
                           may noJ be extensive and may not be
                           significantly greater than the subsidence
                           resulting from the landfill disposal of
                           other wastes. If it'can be assumed, as
                             3 Some subsidences may occur during operation
                           of the landfill, particularly in very deep landfills
                           where the weight-of very deep overlying materials
                           may cause some jcollapsing'of containers,
                           particularly those that have been weakened
                           because of some amount'of-deeay.
 previously mentioned, that individual
 containers average 40 percent free .
 liquids, then maximum subsidence
 depths of four .and.a half"feet can be
 expected. These subsidence depths may
 be manageable. Moreover, these
 subsidence depths may not be
 significantly idifferent than those that
 attend the disposal of other wastes and
 which the Agency has not addressed
 with any special requirements in the
 Part 265 regulations.
   Another concern that the Agency has
 with the subsidence -that might result!
 from landfilling of containerized free
 liquid wastes is the significant and,  .
 perhaps, irreparable damage that it may
 have on the integrity of-multi-layered -
 final covers. The state of the art in
 designing, and constructing final covers
 calls for two or three layers -of different ,
 materials, where each layer has a
 specific function to serve; e.g., a bottom
 layer of material of very low
 permeability to inhibit infiltration of
 precipitation into the landfill, "a second  .
 layer of very highly permeable material
 to promote drainage from the landfill of
 the precipitation intercepted by the first
 layer and a top layer of soil for   •
 maintaining vegetation cover. .
 Subsidence could disrupt a carefully
 constructed final cover of'this or similar
 type, and repair would need to be more
 extensive than merely filling in the
 depressions created,by subsidence with
 a single type of .material stockpiled for
 this purpose.
   Because of these concerns about the
 possible additional subsidence from the
 landfill dispo'sarof containers holding
 free liquid wastes, EPA specifically
 invites comments on this matter and on
 the subsidence control requirements
 included in today's proposed
 amendment.
 D. LinerfLenchtite Collection -System or
 Absorbent Material
   The proposedTegulation does not
 include a requirement for either (1) a
 liner andileadhate collection  and
 removal system, or (2) placement of
 absorbent materials around or under the
 containers holding free-liquid wa'Stes,.
 This requirement was included in the
. NSWMA/CMA proposal but is not
 reflected'in today!s proposed
 amendment.                      '
   EPA believes a "liner and leacha'te
 collection and removal system is not
 likely to result in the removal :of  _
 appreciable 'quantities of free liquids
 that eventually may leak from        •  •
 containers placed in a landfill, 'and
 therefore will not provide .significant '
 additional -protection Hgainst migration
 of these liquids into the environment.

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               Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. ,3j[/_Jhursday, February 25, 1982  / Proposed Rules'         8311;
 EPA believes that most containers
 which hold free liquids will fail at some
 distant future time and then release
 liquids over a long period of time. These
 releases could occur after the post-
 closure care period, when the leachate
 collection arid removal system is no  ,  ...
 longer operated by the facility operator.
 Although a very lengthy or indefinite
 post-closure care period could
 accommodate this problem, it would not.
 resolve a second problem discussed
 below.-
   A second problem arises because,  in
 most cases, leaking containers will
 release liquids slowly over time/This
 typically means that leachate within the
 facility will "rain" down on the facility
 liner at a relatively low rate. Where the
 liner is constructed of relatively ...
 permeable material [e.g., clay), this low
 rate of leachate impingement will mean
 that a significant percentage of the      '.
 leakage will exfiltrate through the liner
 rather than flow along the top of the •
 liner to points where it can be collected
 and removed.
   EPA also does not believe that.
 placement of absorbent material around
 or under containers holding free liquids
 can be relied upon to significantly
 absorb liquids that leak from buried  '
 containers and thereby prevent
 migration of these liquids into the
 environment. The reasons for this belief,:
 were diseussed in the preamble to the
 :May 19,1980 regulation (at 45 FR 33214);
 namely, difficulty in predicting
 absorbent capacity or performance in a
 landfill (e.g., the effects of decay,
 pressure, displacement, capacity taken
 up by precipitation, and channelized
.flow).       •'•:'                   .   •,'
   In accordance .with § 265.314(a), bulk
 liquids may be placed in a landfill if the
 landfill has a liner, which is chemically
. and physically resistant to these liquids,
 and a leachate collection and removal
 system. The agency believes that a liner
 and leachate collection system is
 capable of intercepting and removing
 most of the leachate derived from bulk
 liquid disposal and, therefore,
 •minimizing the migration of this  leachate
 into the environment. Bulk liquids, as
 opposed to liquids in drums, are
 immediately free-to migrate through a
 landfill and should do so relatively
 quickly. Therefore, such free liquids can
 be collected and removed via the.
 leachate collection system during the
 facility's operating and postclosure care\
 periods. Secondly, unlike containerized - •.
 liquids which'are released gradually and
 in small quantities, bu}k liquids will tend
 to flow, rather than trickle, down
 through the landfill onto the liner and
 thus .are much more amenable to
collection and removal via a leachate
collection and removal system. Thus,
bulk liquids are more .likely to flow in
the collection system .while liquids -  -
released from containers are more-likely
to seep through a liner if the liner is
porous (e.g., clay).      ":'=••
  The Agency specifically solicits
comments on its assessment of the non-
necessity of requiring a liner and
leachate collection system or the
placement of absorbent material in
landfills in which containerized free '•
liquids are disposed of.             .

E. Test Protocol for Free Liquids       ,
  Today's amendment provides that all
containers are to be presumed to.hold  .-
free liquids'and landfilled in accordance
with the requirements discussed above
unless they are demonstrated not to
contain free liquids (or unless they are
small containers such as ampules;
containers such as batteries, designed to
hold free-liquids for use other than
storage; or lab'packs). To provide  a
means of demonstrating that a container
does not hold free liquids, today's
proposed amendment- contains a test
protocol for free liquids.    "        •
 • EPA has considered and tested a wide
variety of test methods which could be
used to define the measure free liquids.
Gravity tests, as well as tests which :
simulate earth pressures at various
depths, have been investigated. The'
literature on over 70 test proce_dures has
been examined. Several of the most
promising test procedures examined
have been evaluated in the laboratory
using samples of typical semisolid
waste. The test procedures examined
were those employing: A press, a -
filtration unit similar to the one used in
the EP Toxicity Test Procedure (45 FR
33127), a laboratory centrifuge, screens
of various mesh sizes, the inclined plane
described in the preamble to the May 19,
1980 regulation (at 45 FR 33214) and the
paint filter included in today's proposed
amendment.         .     /
  The test protocol EPA is'proposing
today is a gravity test which is intended.
to determine, in a simple way, whether a
representative sample from a container
of,waste holds free liquid. EPA believes
that this .protocol can be used to
determine the presence of free liquids in
sliidges, semi-solids, slurries and other
wastes that commonly are received in
containers by landfill operators for
landfill disposal.   .   .
  The proposed test protocol calls for a
100 ml representative sample of the •    ''
waste from a container to be placed in a
400 micron, conical paint filter for five  •
minutes. The filter specified is a   •
standard paint filter which is commonly
available at hardware and paint stores
  at low cost. The filter is to be supported •  •
  by a funnel on a ring stand with a
  beaker or cylinder below the funnel to
  capture any free liquid that passes
•  through the filter.  If any amount of free
  liquid passes through the filter, the  .
  waste is to be considered to hold free
  liquid and subject to  the requirements of
  § 265.314(b) of today's proposed rule.
    Preliminary tests on five different
  wastes indicate that the five minute test
  period is adequate to determine whether
  a waste contains any free liquids, i.e., it
•- provides an adequate' "pass/fail" test.
  However,- if the Agency were to adopt a
  rule requiring the measurement of the
  percentage of free liquid in the waste in
  individual containers (see discussion in.'
  Ifl(B) above), a longer .test period   •
  probably would be necessary to achieve
  an accurate measurement. The Agency's
  preliminary tests indicate that the five     ,
  minute test period significantly
  underestimates the amount of free
  liquids in samples of some types of
  wastes andjhat a 15, 30, or even 45-
  minute test period may be necessary to
  accurately measure the free liquid
  content of such wastes. The Agency
  solicits cojnments on whether a longer
  test period (e.g.,'15 to 45 minutes)
  presents an undue operational burden
  on landfill operators.
    The Agency recognizes that there,may
  be other test protocols that are capable   :
  of determining whether or not a.waste
 - sample contains free liquids. Indeed, the
  Agency solicits comments on any such
  protocols. In addition, whatever protocol
  is finally adopted, persons will always
  have the opportunity to petition EPA
  under §§ 260.20 and 260.21 for use of an
  equivalent test protocol.     '
    Today's proposed rule does not.
  require a landfill owner or operator to
  test containers of  wastes for their free
  liquid content. Rather, it enables that   "
  person to .demonstrate that a container
  does not hold free liquid to avoid having
  to meet the requirements of § 265.314(b)
 . for landfill disposal of the container. A
  landfill owner or operator may choose
  to consMer all containers of waste as
  holding free liquids and dispose of them
  in accordance with § 265.314(b}. Where
  he chooses to exercise the option of
  demonstration, he. may use the test;
  protocol or he may choose to make the    ;
  demonstration in another manner,
  certifying that' his  knowledge about the
  containerized waste substantiates its
  absence of free liquids.       '
    The Agency .believes that this latter
  demonstration may be possible'in some
  instances (e.g., where the landfill owner
  or operator receives, on a constant
  basis, containerized wastes from a
  certain generator and knows by prior

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8312
Federal Register ;/ Vol. 47. No. ,38 / Thursday,' February 25, 1982 .,•/ Proposed Rules
observation that those 'containerized
wastes do not vary .and do not-contain
free-liquids). It should be recognized,
however, that EPA would be .using -the
tost protocol specified in the regulations
for enforcement purposes unless -an
equivalent test protocol had been
established for the waste under
§§200.20 and 260.21.
  Where the landfill owner or operator
chooses to test containerized wastes to
make the above-discussed
demonstration, EPA would expect him
to lest a representative sample—
representative of the waste in the
container sampled. Guidance on
obtaining representative samples from
containers is provided in Test Methods
for the Evaluation of Solid Waste,
Physical/Chemical Methods, SW-846,
an EPA publication.  In those cases
whore a demonstration is being made on
a batch (e.g., Iruckload) of similar
containerized wastes^ the representaGve
sample must be representative both
among the containers in the batch and
of the waste in the individual containers
actually sampled.
  Today's proposed amendment does
not prohibit the co-disposal of
"exempted" containers with containers
holding free liquids. It does, however,
implicitly require careful recordkeeping
of those containers exempted and-their
placement in  the landfill so that EPA
can properly monitor compliance.
IV. Proposed  Amendment to § 265.312
  Section 205.312, Special requirements
for ignf table or reactive waste, as
amended on June 29,1981, states that
ignitable waste may .not lie placed in a  ,
landfill unless it is treated, rendered, or
mixed before or immediately after
placement in  a landfill so that it no
longer meets the definition of ignitable
waste or unless it is  containerized and
handled according to the specific
handling requirements. However,, after
the compliance date for § 265.314, liquid
ignilablc waste 'in containers are banned
from landfills in accordance with
§ 205.312(b).
  Today's proposed amendment to
§ 205.312 deletes any distinction
between liquid and solid ignitable
waste, and provides that containerized
ignitable waste (liquid or solidj may be
placed in a landfill subject to the
specified handling requirements. With
this proposed change, restrictions on the
amount of liquid ignitable waste which
can be placed in a landfill would be
defined by § 265.314(b). Containers
holding liquid ignitable waste would be
counted in tho total number of
containers holding liquid waste allowed
in the landfill pursuant to the proposed
amendment to § 265.314[b). In addition,
                         liquid ignitable waste «in-containers
                         would still have to be handled in
                         accordance with She special "handling
                         requirements specified in § .265.312.
                         Under the proposed amendment, solid
                         ingnitable waste in containers would
                         still be allowed to be disposed of in
                         landfills, provided that it is handled in
                         accordance with the specified "handling
                         requirements.
                           The test for determining which wastes
                         are liquids or contain free liquids,
                         specified in the proposed § 265.314,.
                         would be used for determining if an
                         ignitable waste is a liquid or contains
                         free liquid. Thus, liquid ignitable waste
                         will be treated Consistently with other
                         containerized waste.
                           The Agency received 16 written
                         comments on its June 29,1981
                         amendment to § 265.312. Some
                         commenters stated that incineration-of
                         ignitable wastes-can be •accomplished
                         and therefore reasoned -that -the ban on
                         disposal of liquid ignitable waste ;in
                         landfills should'go into effect as
                         scheduled. One commentor has
                         developed a procedure aimed at
                         solidifying semi-solid ignitable waste
                         and raising the flash point of the waste
                         to above 140°F. The majority of the
                         commenters supported the approach
                         used in § 265.312 (b) and,(c) as it applied
                         to both liquid and solid containerized
                         ignitable wastes ;(i.e., allowing
                         landfilling of these wastes under special
                         management conditions.); however, the
                         commenters did not believe that the
                         extension until November 19,1981 for
                         liquid ignitable waste was of sufficient
                         duration. They stated that there
                         continued to be no viable alternative to
                         the landfill disposal of some ignitable
                         wastes.
                           The .Agency continues to :believe 'that
                         most liquid ignitable wastes can.be
                         treated, recycled, or'disposed of by
                         means other than landfilling (see
                         preamble discussion to June 29,1981,
                         amendment (46 FR 33502)). However, the
                         proposed amendments to §§ 265.312 and
                         265.314 will allow the landfill disposal of
                         some liquid ignitable waste. These
                         amendments should, therefore,
                         accommodate those ignitable wastes not
                         amenable to incineration, deep well
                         injection, solvent recovery, use as fuel,
                         or other treatment, recycling, or disposal
                         options.
                         V. Regulatory Analysis
                           Section 3(b) of Executive Order 12291
                         (46 FR 13193, February 19,1981) requires
                         EPA to initially determine whether a
                         rule that it intends to propose or issue is '
                         a major rule and to prepare a regulatory
                         impact analysis for all major rules.
                           EPA has determined that :both
                         amendments being proposed today are
 not major rules. Accordingly, a
 Regulatory Impact Analysis is not being
 prepared for either-of these proposed
 amendments.   .,         .,
   Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5
 U.S.C. 601 et seg,, EPA is required to
 •determine whether .a. regulation will
 have ,a significant impact on -a
 substantial number of small entities so
 as to require a regulatory analysis. In
 that the p'roposed amendments should
 reduce the burden of compliance with
 the hazardous waste management,
 regulations for .small entities, the
 Agency had determined that this action
 is not subject to the Regulatory
 Flexibility Adt.
   This proposal was submitted to the
 •Office-of Management-and Budget for
 review as required'by E.Q.12991.
  •Da'ted: February 18,1982.         "  ,
 Anne M. Gorsuch,
 Administrator.
      • . /
 PART 265-.INTERIM STATUS
 STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND
 OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
 TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND
 DISPOSAL FACILITIES
   For the reasons set out in the
 preamble, 40 CFR Part 265 is proposed
 to be amended as follows:
-  1. The authority citation for Part 265
 reads as follows;
   Authority: Sees. 100B, 20Q2(a'), and 3004-of
 the Solid Waste.Disposal Act, as,amended by
 the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
 •of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(8),
 6924).               •  •    .
   2. Section 265.312  is revised to read as
 follows:

 •§> 265.312   Special requirements for
 ignitable or reactive waste.
   (a) Except as provided in paragraph
 (b) of this (section, ignitable or .reactive
 waste must n&t "be ..placed'in a landfill,
 unless the waste is treated, rendered, or
-mixed before of immediately after
 placement in a landfill so that:
   (1) The resulting mixture or
 dissolution of material no longer meets
 the definition of ignitable or reactive
 waste under §§ 261.21 or 261.23 of this
 chapter, and
   (2) Section 265.17(b) is complied with.
   (b) Ignitable wastes in containers may
 be landfilled without meeting the
 requirement of paragraph (a) of this
 section,-provided that the wastes are
 disposed in :such a way that they  are
 protected from any material or
 conditions which may cause them to
 ignite. At a minimum, ignitable wastes
 must be disposed.in non-leaking
 containers which -are .carefully handled
 and placed so as to avoid heat, .sparks,

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               Federal Register / Vol.47, No. 38  /Thursday,-February 25,  1982 /  Proposed Rules         8313
rupture, or any other condition that
might cause ignition of the wastes; must
be covered daily with soilor other non-
combustible material to minimize the
potential for ignition of the wastes, and •
must not be disposed in cells that
contain or will, contain other wastes
which may generate heat sufficient to
cause ignition of the waate.
  3. Section 265.314 is amended by
revising paragraph (b), revising
paragraph (c) and redesignating it as
paragraph {f), and  adding new     .
paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) to read as
follows:      :.....''•    . ...: ": . .',

§265.314  Special requirements for liquid
waste.
*    ' *     *     *    *          ...
  (b) Containers holding free liquids
must not be placed in a landfill unless:
  (1) The volume fraction (V) of the total
landfill volume devoted to waste and
reasonable intermediate cover that is
occupied by containers holding free
liquids is no greater than that described
by the formula:
V=H for H -less than 25 feet
V=0.3— H for H equal to or greater than
      500        :                "
25feet
 where: H=,the average depth of wastes.and ,
     reasonable intermediate coyfir in the .
     landfill; and   •"  . . '    . ,

   (2) The closure/and post-closure plans
 required in § §265.112 and 265.117
 provide for the design and maintenance"
 of the final cover, including the final
 contour and slope of the final cover,
 sufficient to accommodate the
 subsidence and distortion of the final
: cover that may result from the  \  .
 deterioration of the containers,placed in
.the  landfill. The closure plan must
 provide for the stockpiling or other on-'
 site availability of materials to repair
 subsidence damage to- the final cover
 that might occur during the post-closure-
 period; and          .       ..-'-.".•
   (3) The containers holding free liquids
 are  placed in a uniform and compact
 manner in the landfill.     ,    -    '.'-'-
   (c) For the purposes of paragraph (b)
 of this section, all containers are
 presumed to be containers holdingjree
 liquids unless:
   (1) The container is very small, such
 as an ampule; or       ;
   (2) The container is designed to hold  ,
 free liquids for use other than storage,
 such as'a-battery or capacitor; or
    (3) The container is a lab pack as
  defined in § 265-.316, and is disposed of
 ' in accordance with § 265.316; or
    (4) The owner or operator can
  demonstrate that a representative
  sample of the waste in the container
  does not contain any free liquids.
,   . (dj The demonstration requirement of
  paragraph (c)(4) of this Section.can be
,  met if a 100 ml representative sample of
•  the waste from a container can be      •
  completely retained  in a standard 400 u
  conical paint filter for five minutes
  without loss of any portion of the waste
  from the bottom of the filter (or an
  equivalent test  approved by the
^Administrator under the procedures set
  forth in §§260.20 and 260.21 indicates
  no liquids or free, liquids in the waste).   _
   (e) Where containers holding free
  liquids are disposed  in only ?i portion of
  a landfill, the formula of paragraph
  (b)(l) of this Section must apply only to
  that portion of, the landfill.
   (f) The date for compliance with
 paragraph (a) of this .Section is
 November 19,1981. The date for
 compliance with paragraphs (b) through
  (e) of this section is March 29,1982.
 [FR Doc, 82-4900 Filed 2-24-82; 8:45 am]        .
 BILLING CODE 6560-30-M          -

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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Official Business
Penalty for Private .Use
$300
Third-Class Mail
'Postage and-fees Paid
ERA
Permit No. G-35
Washington'DC 20460

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