UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 MW 21 BŪ FCM3RANDUM OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE ANO EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUBJECT: RCRA/Superfund Hotline States Report - April 1985 FROM: Carolyn Barley, Project Officer Office of Solid tfeste (382-2217) Barbara Hostage, Project Officer Office of Bnergency and Remedial Response (382-2198} TO: See addressees I. ACTIVITIES A. Ihe Hotline responded to 4,565 questions and requests for documents in April* B. Cn April 12, Gordon Davidson and Ttm Gainer attended an OGW meeting regarding the latest developments in implementing ground-water monitoring systems. C. Cn April 12, members of the Hotline staff attended an 06W meeting on the Hazardous and Solid Waste Anenckients. D. Bill Rasin attended an OSW meeting on April 19 concerning the Subtitle D program. E. Matt Straus briefed the Hotline several times on complex solid waste issues. II. SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS AND RESOLVED ISSUES A. RCRA Groundwater Statistical Analysis 1. Ihe groundwater monitoring requirements in Subpart F of 40 CFR Part 264 and Part 265 require statistical comparisons between the initial upgradient (background) concentrations and dewngradient concentrations of indicator parameters and/or hazardous taste constituents. For permitted facilities, 5264.97(h) requires that such statistical analysis be done using a 0.05 level of significance, while 5265.93(b) requires that interim status facilities perforin such statistical analysis using a 0.01 level of signifi- cance. Vtiy is the level of significance used in the Student's t-test (statistical analysis of ground-water data) in Subpart F of Part 265 different from that used in Part 264? ------- -2- The Agency changed the interim status Student's t-test level of significance fran 0.05 to 0.01 in response to public carments received when the rule was first proposed. This level of significance and its effect on the required groundwater monitoring statistical analysis is discussed on pages 33195 - 33196 in the May 19, 1980, Federal Register (47 ra 32274) and on pages 32302 - 32304 in the July 26, 1982, Federal Register (47 FR 32274). The change to a 0.01 level of significance made the interim status Student's t-test more lenient which decreased the probability of "false positives." A false positive indicates a statistically significant increase in an indicator parameter when there is none. If am owner/operator does detect a statistically significant increase, he must determine whether it is false positive by obtaining more samples for analysis (§265.93(c)(2)). The Part 264 statistical analysis permit standards, which are more stringent due to the higher level of significance (0.05), also have a double-check resample procedure to determine if a false positive occurred (§264.97(h)(1)(i) and (ii)). Source: Theo Zeizig (202) 382-4496 Hazardous waste Determination 2. Methylene chloride is used as a reaction medium in a manufacturing process. During the process, this median is contaminated. After removing the spent medium from the process line, it is placed in containers for less than 90 days prior to being reclaimed. After distillation, the reclaimed methylene chloride is returned to the production unit. (A) Is methylene chloride that is used as a reaction mediun also considered to be used as a solvent, thus making the spent medium F002? (B) How is this methylene chloride regulated? (A) Methylene chloride used as a reaction mediun is considered to be used as a solvent. Thus, in this scenario, methylene chloride is considered the listed spent solvent F002. Subsequently, this F002 waste is subject to RCRA hazardous waste regulations when it exits the production process unit. (B) Currently, listed hazardous wastes in §§261.31 or 261.32 and "sludges" exhibiting a Subpart C characteristic are subject to §261.6(b) vrtrich puts forth generator, transporter, and facility storage regulations prior to re- cycling. The actual recycling activity is not regulated. Pursuant to the new definition of solid waste (50 FR 614), listed hazardous wastes and characteristic hazardous spent materials are considered solid and hazardous wastes when reclaimed. The recycling activity is still not regulated under the new definition of solid waste. In EPA regulated states, (i.e., non- authorized states,) beginning July 5, 1985, spent solvents destined for recla- mation are subject to §261.6(b) for generators and transporter standards and §261.6(c) for facility storage standards. In states with authorized RCRA prograns, the new solid waste definition and respective recycling regulations will be applicable when the states incorp- orate these changes into their programs in accordance with 40 CFR 271.21. Source: Matt Straus (202) 475-8551 ------- -3- Lab Sanple 3. A generator sends a sanple of waste to a laboratory to determine whether the waste is hazardous under RCRA. One of the tests requires that the laboratory add solvent to the sample. Does this action cause the laboratory to become a generator of a listed solvent waste (due to the solvent they added), and how should the laboratory send this contaminated sample back to the original generator? S261.4(d) excludes lab samples 3010 notification under Section 3010 of RCRA, Parts 262 through 267, Part 270, and Part 124 as long as certain storage and transportation standards are net. The addition of hazardous chemicals (e.g., solvents) to the sample by the laboratory which are standard test procedures is allowable and does not affect this exclusion. Hence, the lab is not regu- lated as a generator of spent solvent. The laboratory may send the sample back without manifest if other applicable transportation standards are followed per S261.4(d) (i.e., DOT, USPS). Source: Matt Straus (202) 475-8551 Land Disposal Ban Section 201(d) of the RCRA amendments prohibits the land disposal of specified wastes, including the "California Wastes," unless the Administrator determines that the prohibition of one or more methods of land disposal of such wastes would not be required to protect human health and the environment. This prohi- bition goes into effect July 8, 1987. The latter part of this same section states that it is up to interested persons to demonstrate to the Adninistrator that land disposal of particular banned wastes would not pose a hazard. What procedures must these interested parties follow in making such a determination? The Agency is currently developing procedures for the submission of the petitions to the Agency to demonstrate that land disposal of a waste is pro- tective of human health and the envirorment. These procedures are scheduled to be proposed in the Federal Register in Ncvanber of this year. EPA is evaluating whether individuals may petition now for exemptions to the ban or whether petitions will only be evaluated after the ban goes into effect. The demonstration required in the petition must meet the standard specified in in Section 201 of the RCRA onendnents, that is, "...to a reasonable degree of certainty, that there will be no migration of hazardous constituents from the disposal unit or injection zone for as long as the wastes remain hazardous." In addition to proposing procedures for petitioning in November, EPA will propose its methodology for developing treatment standards for wastes subject to the land disposal ban. Uhder §201 (m), wastes treated in accordance with these standards may be land disposed. Source: Susan Brcran and Jim Bachnaier (202) 382-4804 and (202) 382-4679 ------- -4- Groundwater Sample Analysis 5. 5264.97(h) describes the procedure required to determine whether concentration limits have exceeded background levels during groundwater detection monitorirq and compliance monitoring prograns. In this instance, the owner/operator (o/o) is in a detection monitoring program and must canpare the levels of constituents at the compliance point to the background values. These background values have been determined to have sample coefficient of variations less than 1.00. The o/o compares the constituent levels at the compliance point to the background levels, as described in S264.97(h)(1)(i), and finds there is a significant difference in the values for certain constituents. In order to statistically substantiate these results, the o/o must repeat the same sampling and analysis procedure with a new sample. Must this second analysis cover all the constituents, or may the o/o limit the analysis to only those constituents which showed a significant difference over background in the first sampling? Since the objective of the second analysis is to confirm the first, the second analysis need only cover those constituents which showed a significant difference over background. Source: Burnell Vincent (202) 382-4658 B. CERCIA Department of Defense Sites 1. A February news magazine stated that approximately 450 Department of Defense (DOD) installations have been identified as having unregulated hazardous waste disposal sites. (A) How many DOD installations have been identified? (B) Who conducted the study? (C) Will any action be taken under CERCLA in order to conduct cleanup at any of these installations? (A) The Department of Defense prepares a semi-annual report as part of its Installation Restoration Program. The last report prepared in December 1984, stated that 473 DOD installations had been recognized as having potential locations for cleanup activity because of the past disposal of hazardous wastes. A sunmary report can be obtained frcm Ccrmander Jack Dempsey, an environmental policy officer for DOD, at (202) 695-7820; the report is titled "Department of Defense, Installation Restoration Program Status Report." (B) DOD conducted the inventory identifying the 473 sites. (C) Presently, 39 sites on DOD land are proposed to be added to the NPL. All these installations will be more extensively evaluated to determine what type of hazardous waste cleanup activity, if any, need be conducted in the future. Presently, Commander Jack Dempsey estimates that 50 additional sites at DOD installations may be proposed for the NPL. Nate that under Section 111(e)(3) of CEFCLA, Superfund money cannot be used for remedial action at federally owned facilities. The DOD/CERCLA budget for FY85 is approximately $300 million. ------- 5- As for non-Department of Defense federal facilities, the inventory is still being conducted to determine the sites potentially needing cleanup. Approxi- mately 340 potential sites are currently under evaluation. Source: LBe Herwig (202) 382-5908 Hazard Ranking System 2. Appendix A of the National Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 300) contains the "Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site Ranking System; A Users Manual." This guidance manual is to be used in evaluating the relative potential of uncontrolled hazard- ous waste sites to cause health, safety, or environmental problems. Appendix a is divided into many sections, each providing detailed instructions and guidance for rating a site. Specifically, Section 4.0 provides guidance for evaluating contamination frcm a site via surface water. Within this section, Part 4.4 provides guidance for scoring based on the population served by surface water with water intake within three miles downstream frcm the site. (A) What does the term "intake" refer to? (B) If the surface water is only used for recrea- tional activities (i.e., fishing), what score would be given for Fart 4.4? (A) The term "intake" refers to water taken in through a pipe or a functionally similar device. (B) If the surface water is used only for recreational activities, no water "intake" is involved. Therefore, the population served by surface water with water intake within three miles downstrean frcm the site would receive a score of 0.0 per part 4.4. Part 4.5, however, addresses recreational activi- ties including fishing. Thus, Part 4.5 would receive a score of 2.0. Source: Steve Caldwell (202) 382-4604 ------- -6- IV. ANALYSES OF QUESTIONS The Hotline responded to 4,565 questions and requests for documents in April. Of the questions asked, the percentage of callers was: Generators 24.8% State Agencies 8.3% Transporters 1.5% Consultants 29.9% TSDF' s 12.8% Press <1% EPA HQ's 2.2% Trade Associations 2.0% EPA Regions 5.0% Citizens 4.5%^ Federal Agencies 4.4% Others 3.0% Local Agencies 1.2% More calls were received by Region 3 than frcm any other Region. Breakdown by Region: 1 ' 6.5% 3 24.6% 5 17.1% 7 4.2% 9 7.8% 2 14.7% 4 10 .6% 6 7.9% 8 4.4% 10 1.9% Canada <1% RCRA TSDF General Information 210 A-Scope/Applicabi1i ty 104 Notification (3010) 139 B-General Facility Standards 20 Definitions (260.10) 54 C-Preparedness/Prevention 4 Petitions/Delisting (260.22) 25 D-Contingency Plans 7 Definitions (261.2 & 3) 128 E-Manifest/Recordkeepinq/Reporting 8 Exclusions (261.4) 113 F-Groundwater Monitoring 44 Shall Quantity Generator (261.5)155 G-Closure/Post-Closure 91 Recycle/Reclaim (261.6) 165 H-Financial Requirements 46 Container Residues (261.7) 32 I-Containers 37 Waste ID (261 C&D) 497 J-Tanks 54 262 Generator Manifest Info 88 K-Surface Impoundments L-Waste Piles 63 16 Pre-1 rein sport 16 M-Land Treatment 10 Accumulation 41 N-Landfills 48 Recordkeeping & Reporting 11 O-Incinerators 29 International Shipments 6 P-Thermal Treatment 3 263 Transporter 40 O-Chemical, Physical, Biological Treat. 8 270 B - Permit Application 58 R-Underground Injection 1 D - Changes to Permits 18 X-Misc. Facility 0 F - Special Permits 5 Y-Exper imenta1 0 G - Interim Status 46 266/267 115 271 State Programs 70 124 Decision Making 20 CERCLA General 172 Liability/Enforcement 57 Hazardous Substances/RQ Hazardous Site/NPL/104 207 107 Other/Referrals 263 NCP 61 Document Requests 1050 Tax/IRS 4 RCRA Reauthorization 1301 ------- -7- IV. PUBLICATIONS RCRA "Report on the Incineration of Liquid Hazardous Wastes" by the Environmental Effects, Transport and Fate Ccrmittee, Science Advisory Board. April 1985. The contact for this publication is Cheryl Bently at (202) 382-2552. "National Shall Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator Survey," February 1985. This document is new available through NTIS at (703) 487-4650; the order number is PB-85-180 438 ($16.00). "RCRA Implementation Pi an," April 1985. This document is available from Denise Hawkins, (202) 382-2231. "Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure, Organic and Inorganic Carpounds." Available fran Agnes Ortez at (202) 382-4770. "Revised National Permits Strategy," April 9, 1985. The Hotline will take requests. "Underground Injection Report to Congress." The Hotline will take requests. "Delisting Guidance Document." This document is available fran NTIS, (703) 487-4650. The order number is PB 85-194 488 ($19.00). "Enforcement Guidance For a Constrained Insurance Market." The Hotline will take requests. "Cements on the Statutory Interpretive Guidance - Treatment of Bulk Hazardous Wastes." The Hotline will take requests. "Highlights of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, The New RCRA Requirements," April 1985, EPA/530-SW-008. The Hotline will take requests. "Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, The New RCRA Requirements," April 1985, 530/SW-85-009. The Hotline will take requests. "Corposition and Management of Used Oil Generated in the U.S." This document is now available frcm NTIS, (703) 487-4650. The order number is FB-85-180- 297 ($16.00). CERCIA "CERCLAs Getting Into the Act," Contracting and Subcontracting Opportunities in the Superfund Program. The document is available fran Camille Lee (202) 382-7906. "Preparation of Decision Documents for Approving Fund-Financed and Potentially Responsible Party Remedial Actions Under CERCLA." Copies of this document are available fran the CERCIA Docket. Contact Denise Sines at (202) 382-3046. ------- -8- V. Federal Register Notices Open Comment Period: March 19* 1985: 50 FR A proposed rule to amend a closure and 11068 (proposed closure, post-closure care (40 CFR 264 and 265 p.c., financial amendments) Subpart G) and financial responsibility (40 CFR 264 and 265 Subpart H) requirements applicable to o/o of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Garments are due by May 20, 1985. April Federal Register Notices; April 3, 1985: 50 TO 13253 (comment period extension for phase I location stand- ards) April 4, 1985: 50 ra 13456 (final rule on Reportable Quantities) April 4, 1985: 50 FR 13514 (proposed changes to Reportable Quantity adjust- ments) April 9, 1985: 50 FR 14076 (proposed guidelines for paper procurement) The public comment period for the "Permit Writer's Guidance Manual for Location of Hazardous Waste land Storage and Disposal Facilities - Phase I, Criteria for Loca- tion Acceptability and Existing Applicable Regulations," is extended to June 7, 1985. A final rule on Reportable Quantity adjust- , ments for hazardous substances under S102 of CERCLA. The effective date is July 3, 1985. A proposed rule to adjust additional Reportable! Quantities, with the intention of reducing the burdens of reporting on the regulated caimunity and to allow EPA to focus its resources and protect public health and welfare and the environment more effectively. Carments are due by June 3, 1985. Proposed guidelines for federal procurement of paper and paper products containing recovered materials. Carments are due by June 9, 1985. April 10, 1985: 50 FR 14115 In Update #3, 26 sites are proposed to be added (Update #3 to the NPL) to the NPL. The Landsdown Radiation site is the first to be proposed on the basis of a Health Advisory. Cements on this site are due by May 10, 1985. All other comments are due by June 10, 1985. April 11, 1985: 50 EĢ 14216 (technical corrections to the definition of Solid Waste) Technical corrections to the January 4, 1985 final definition of Solid Waste. These correc- tions clarify compliance dates, notification requirements, and permit application require- ments. The effective date is April 11, 1985. ------- -9- April 16, 1985: 50 FR 14986 (extension of ccnment period for the Interim CERCLA Settle- ment Policy) April 16, 1985: 50 FR 14945 (correction of an error made in the notice on the final authori- zation of Arizona) April 23, 1985: 50 FR 16044 (final rule on interim status regulations for surface ira- poundnents, land treatment units, and landfills.) April 25, 1985: 50 FR 16432 (proposal to list two wastes generated during the Induction of methyl branide) April 30, 1985: 50 FR 18370 (final rule requiring the use of the paint filter test for free liquids) April 30, 1985: 50 FR 18378 (proposal to redefine the universe of solvents con- sidered hazardous waste) The cement period for the Interim CERCLA Settlement Policy is extended by 30 days making the due date Nay 8, 1985. The notice for the tentative determination on Arizona's application for final authori- zation is corrected to show public hearings in Phoenix on April 8 and in Tucson on April 19, 1985. The due date for carments is also changed to April 19. A final rule amending interim status regulations for hazardous waste surface impoundments, land treatment units, and landfills (40 CFR Part 265, Subparts K, M, 6 N, respectively) to provide consistency with the requiranents in 40 CFR Part 264. A proposal to list wastewater from the reactor and acid drier frcm the production of methyl branide and spent adsorbent and wastewater separator solids frcm the production of methyl branide as K131 and K132 respectively; caranents are due by June 10, 1985. A final rule which requires that the paint filter test be used to determine the absence or presence of free liquids in either containerized or bulk waste. The effective date is June 14, 1985. A proposal to intend the list of solvents in S261.31 by deleting F002 through F005 and to include all solvents formerly listed (includ- ing mixtures of these solvents) as F001. Comments are due by May 30, 1985. ------- -10- Joyce Baker, Region III Library Cora Beebe, WH-562A Frank Biros, WH-527 George Bonina, WH-563 John Bosky, EPA - Kansas City, KS Eileen Qaussen, WH-562 Henry Van Cleave, DOD/DLA Pat Cohn, WH-548D Mike Cook, WH-562 Peter Cook, WH-527 Alan Corson, WH-565 Elizabeth Ootsvrorth, WH-563 Hans Crimp, WH-548 Truett DeGeare, WH-563 Steve Dorrler, EPA - Etfison, NJ Barbara Elkus, WH-527 Tim Fields, WH-548 Elaine Fitzback, WH-527 Lisa Friedman, LE-132S George Garland, WH-562 John Gilbert, EPA - Cincinnati, OH Iantha Gilmore, WH-562 Peter Guerrero, WH-563 Penny Hansen, WH-565 Bill Hanson, WH-548E Betti Harris, EPA-Region VII William Hedeman, WH-548 Lee Herwig, A-104 Rick Horner, WH-548B Hotline Staff Phil Jalbert, WH-548D Alvin K. Joe, Jr., Geo/Resource Marc Jones, PM-220 Jim Jowett, WH-548B Thad Juszczak, WH-562A Robert Knox, WH-562 Jack Kooyocmjian, WH-548B Mike Rosakowski, WH-527 Jerry Kotas, WH-527 Walter Kovalick, WH548 Donald Kraft, WH-548D Tapio Kuusinen, FM-223 Robert Landers, EMSL/LV Carol Lawson, A-107 John Lehman, WH-565 Steve Levy, WH-563 Fred Lindsey, WH-565 Gene Lucero, WH-527 James Makris, WH-548A Susan Mann, WH-563 Diane McCreary, Region III Library Jack McGraw, WH-562A Tbny Montrone, WH-527 Sue fforeland (ASTSWMO) Sam Napolitano, PM-220 Christina Parker, WH-562 John Riley, WH-548B Clem Rastatter, WH-563 Dale Ruhter, WH-565 William Sanjour, WH-563 Mike Shannon, WH-563 Ken Shuster, WH-565 John Skinner, WH-562 Elaine Stanley, WH-548 Jack Stanton, WH-527 Bruce Weddle, WH-563 Russ Wyer, WH-548E Hazardous Waste Division Directors, Regions I-X Hazardous Waste Management Branch Chiefs, Regions I-X Regional Counsel, Regions I-X ------- |