oEPA
             Unittd State*
             Environmental Protection
             Agency
          Off ice of
          Solid Waste and
          Emergency Response
DIRECTIVE NUMBER  944114(85)
TITLE*  Clarification of Mining Waste Exclusion

APPROVAL DATE   5-16-85
EFFECTIVE DATE   5-16-85
ORIGINATING OFFICE  Office of Solid Waste
m FINAL
D DRAFT
 LEVEL OF DRAFT
   D A —^Signed by AA or DAA
   D B — Signed by Office Director
   UC — Review & Comment
REFERENCE (other documents)-
  OSWER      OSWER      OSWER
VE   DIRECTIVE    DIRECTIVE   Dl

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261  SUBPART A - GENERAL
                                                              DOC:  9441.14(85)
Key Words:    Leachate, Mining Waste, Exclusion

Regulations:  40 CFR 261.4(b)(7)

Subject:      Clarification of Mining Waste Exclusion

              Harry Seraydarian, Chief, Toxics and Waste Management Division

              John H. Skinner, Director, Office of Solid Waste

              #9441.14(85)

              5-16-85
Addressee:

Originator:

Source Doc:

Date:

Summary:
     The memo states that leachate derived from slag and clinker wastes falls
under the mining waste exclusion because it is not subject to further processing,
If, however, a listed or characteristic waste resulted from slag or clinker
used as -a raw material for some extractive process, it would be regulated under
Subtitle C.

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                                                                 9441 14 (85)
                                MAY 1 6 1985


     HEMORAHDUM
                               /        -    - ,

     SUBJECT i  Clarification of Mining Waate Kxeioaioal

     FRO* i     Joha •« Skinner, Director,
               Office of Solid Waete

     TO i       Barry Seraydarlan,  Chief
               Toxics and Waste Management Diviaion  '
               •eg ion t
tn
oo
^^                                     -          -*"***•• i.- ..   r ~* -
\         Zn your stemorandua of April  4,  IMS, and a telephone call
•£    fro* Bill  Wilson on April IS, IMS,  you  have anted vtetaor
     laachata darivad fr«t aval tar «aatar ia thia eaao pyritio eindara
     and fragaantad alag*  ia aubjoat to rogtilatiaa undar tho
     vast* axelaaion in ICSA sactioa 1001(b)O)(A(ii) and W CFR
     Saction 2«l(b>(7).                             -  .
                                                        -
          Tha laachata ia  undar tha axelaaion baeaaaa- it ia darivad
^ **  frosi slag and clinkar vastas,  i»a*f  axeladad vaataa, and
S *  through taa groundvatar into tfca iayoaadaioata*  Zt has not boon
e<2  aubjact to furthar processing  «n4f tbarafora, ia atill a vaata
oe o  from 'procaaaing of oraa and minarala**         -r       •
>•«       Tha situation would ba diffarant if tM alag or aUafcar wars
- •  uaad aa a raw natarial for aoBO sxtraotitr* aroeaaa and a I is tad or
u c  characteristic waata raaultad*   Oadar thia acanario« th* haxardoas
£ 2,  wast* would fall outs ids tha niniag waata axelttaloa* ovaa) as it
u •  is now broadly applied, and could ba regulated under Subtitle C,
M S  because it ia derived from processing alag or cliakerr not an
gg  ore or Mineral*               ,.      -
~o                                     '-
3^       The wining waata exclusion haa« ainea tfeveaber li» 1***,

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volume, relatively inert, and generally non-hasardous waste.
The pyritic clinkers* which are produced In the roaster used to
prepare ore for smelting* also would remain exempt.  Leachates
from the clinkers and slag would remain excluded after the
reintarpretation.

     Slag, and other large volume primary ore processing wastesf
will be addressed in a Report to Congress, to be submitted as a
sequel to Report to Congress on mining and bonofioiation scheduled
for submission December 31, IMS.  Zn the fteport to Congreee on
ore processing wastes* problems such as the on* described in yonr
memorandum will be addressed and appropriate recommendation* will
be made*

     Heanwhlle* the facility should manogo the disposal of sludges
from the impoundment in a prudent fashion* preferably sending
them to a RCHA secure landfill*

     Zf you have further questions, please call Dexter Hinemley
at 382-3388.

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