Re: HWIR Status

["Ralph E. Cooper, Ph.D." <rec3@po.cwru.edu>]

At 08:50 AM 4/15/97 -0700, Ron Del Mar wrote:
>     Does anybody know the status of the proposed Hazardous Waste 
>     Identification Rule (HWIR) amendement to 40 CFR 261.  Is this ever 
>     going to become law?
>     
>     The reason I ask is that the proposed rule makes several statements 
>     that the proposed "risk-based" hazardous waste listing process is 
>     supposed to "encourage pollution prevention and waste minimization."  
>     I guess it depends on your definition of pollution prevention, but I 
>     fail to see how the HWIR would encourage pollution prevention.  I 
>     don't consider changing the regulatory status of a waste to be 
>     "pollution prevention."  Is there something in here that I am missing? 
>     
>     I am putting together a justification section for a pollution 
>     prevention program as part of an overall project proposal. In addition 
>     to things like potential costs savings, environmental benefits, and 
>     reducing a companies regulatory burden and liability, I am trying to 
>     look at all of the regulatory drivers for having a pollution 
>     prevention program. Somebody suggested I look at the HWIR. I guess I'm 
>     having trouble seeing how the HWIR (if adopted) would provide any 
>     extra regulatory incentive for having a pollution prevention program 
>     that is not already in RCRA (i.e., required certifying statements on 
>     manifests, biannual/annual reports, and TSD permit applications).  Can 
>     anybody shed light on this?
>     
>     Ron Del Mar
>     Fluor Daniel Northwest
>     (509) 376-1967
>     ronald_a_del_mar@rl.gov
>
Within the last week or so, EPA reached an agreement with several groups
that effectively postpones the rule for a couple of years.

Ralph

>FOR RELEASE:   FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1997
>
>NEW DEADLINE FOR THE HAZARDOUS WASTE IDENTIFICATION RULE
>
>EPA, the Environmental Technology Council, the Edison Electric
>Institute and a coalition of industry groups (Chemical Manufacturers
>Association, the American Petroleum Institute, American Forest and
>Paper Products, American Iron and Steel, the Fertilizer Institute and
>the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) have jointly reached agreement on a
>schedule extension for the Hazardous Waste Identification Rule for
>process waste, otherwise known as HWIR-waste.  The proposed rule was
>published in the Federal Register Dec. 21, 1995  (60 FR 66344).  This
>rule proposed to exempt from federal Subtitle C regulation low-risk
>listed hazardous wastes that met regulatory levels for almost 400
>chemicals.  Under the new schedule, which has been submitted to the
>court for approval, EPA will complete a proposal by Oct. 31, 1999, and
>finalize the rule by April 30, 2001.  The primary reason for this
>extension is to allow the Agency time to develop and offer for public
>comment a revised risk assessment that evaluates risk from
>simultaneous exposures to a toxic chemical through multiple pathways
>such as inhalation, ground water ingestion and soil ingestion.  This
>risk assessment evaluates potential harm to human health and the
>environment.  For more information on HWIR-waste, contact the RCRA
>Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 (or 703-412-9810 in the Washington
>metropolitan area) or see EPA's HWIR Web Page at
>http://www.epa/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/hwirwste.
>
>R-56                      #    #    #
>-


Ralph E. Cooper, Ph.D.
3475 Norwood, Suite N
Shaker Heights, OH 44122-4975
e-mail:	rec3@po.cwru.edu
Voice:	216-991-6837 (w/voice mail)
Fax:	216-991-6849