Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.: Industrial waste management; voluntary guide,

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Federal Register: October 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 195)NoticesPage 54889-54890From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr08oc99-93

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

FRL-6454-3Peer Reviews Associated With the Guide for Industrial Waste Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: On June 11, 1999, the EPA released for public comment a draft guidance document entitled ``Guide for Industrial Waste Management.'' The purpose of the draft voluntary Guide is to assist facility managers, State and Tribal environmental managers, and the public in evaluating and choosing protective practices regarding the management of non-hazardous industrial wastes. The Guide is available on a CD-ROM format. The CD-ROM also contains user-friendly ground-water and air models. The ground-water model is called the Industrial Waste Evaluation model, while the air model is called the Industrial Waste Air Model. When the draft Guide, CD-ROM, and models were noticed for comment in June, the EPA stated that both models would undergo peer review by independent experts. These peer reviews have been completed and the EPA is making the comments developed by the peer reviewers publicly available by this notice. Persons wishing to comment on the models may wish to review the independent peer review comments.

DATES: Public comments on the draft ``Guide for Industrial Waste Management'', the CD-ROM, and the models are due on or before December 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Any public comments received to date on the draft Guide, the CD-ROM, or the models and these peer review comments are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. To review docket materials (docket number F-1999- IDWA-FFFFF), it is recommended that the public make an appointment by calling 703-603-9230. The public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. Additional copies cost $0.15 per page. The index and some supporting material are available electronically.

These peer review comments are also available on the Internet. Follow these instructions to access the information electronically.

WWW: http://www.epa.gov/industrialwaste FTP: ftp.epa.gov Login: anonymous Password: your Internet address Files are located in pub/epaoswer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information and copies of the Ground-Water peer review comments or the Air peer review comments, contact the RCRA Hotline at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672 (hearing impaired). In the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, call 703-412-9810 or TDD 703-412-3323. A limited number of paper copies of the peer review comments are available for distribution. These are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

Questions regarding any aspect of the Ground-Water peer review comments may be directed to Virginia Colten-Bradley (703-308-8613) while questions regarding the Air peer review comments should be directed to Charlotte Bertrand (703-308-9053). Questions for these individuals can also be e-mailed to their e-mail address:

colten-bradley.virginia@epamail.epa.gov bertrand.charlotte@epamail.epa.gov

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Customer Service

How can I influence the development of the final ground-water and air models that will be developed for the final Guide for Industrial Waste Management? You can influence the development of the final ground-water and air models by reviewing the peer review comments and the draft models and providing your written comments regarding these models to EPA. Your comments will be most effective if you follow the suggestions below:

Explain your views as clearly as possible and why you feel that way; Provide solid technical data to support your views; Tell us which parts you support, as well as those you disagree with; Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns; and Offer specific alternatives.

Background and Overview

The EPA, with assistance from State representatives, who serve as members of a Task Force from the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), industry, and public interest stakeholders, has developed a draft voluntary ``Guide for Industrial Waste Management.'' The Guide recommends best management practices and key factors to take into account in siting, operating, designing, monitoring, and performing corrective action and closure and post closure care. The Guide is available in both paper copy and CD- ROM. The CD-ROM also incorporates both the ground-water and air models that can be used to evaluate potential risks and choose appropriate facility designs.

The air model, called the Industrial Waste Air Model (IWAIR), contains three modeling components. The first is an emissions model that estimates emissions of specific constituents from the unit into the atmosphere. The second component of the model estimates atmospheric dispersion of constituents and ambient air concentrations at a specific receptor point. The third component combines constituent concentrations at the specified receptor point with receptor exposure factors and toxicity benchmarks to estimate risk. IWAIR can be used two ways. Forward calculation uses known constituent concentrations in a waste to calculate risk to receptors at specified locations. Backward calculation starts with a target risk level at a specified receptor location. The model then calculates the concentration levels in a waste that can be protectively managed in a unit without exceeding a pre- selected target risk level.

The ground-water model, called the Industrial Waste Evaluation Model, identifies a benchmark concentration (Maximum Contaminant Level or Health-Based Number) for each constituent in a receptor well associated with a waste management unit. The goal is not to exceed the benchmark concentrations in the receptor well (defined as a monitoring well). The model starts from this benchmark concentration in the receptor well and uses the effects of dilution and attenuation and leakage rate from a unit to determine the maximum concentration for constituents that can be protectively managed in a particular unit design. In a similar fashion, the model determines the maximum leachate concentration for constituents that can be considered for land application.

The IWAIR model and the IWEM have both undergone independent peer reviews. The peer review summaries contain a summary of the actual peer review comments and identification of the peer reviewers and their qualifications. The individual peer reviews are included as attachments to the peer review summaries. The EPA believes that these peer review summaries are useful documents for people to review as they formulate their own comments on the models. The EPA believes that announcing these peer review summaries now provides adequate time for the general public to review the summaries and formulate their own comments on the models; therefore, the December 13, 1999 deadline for receipt of comments on the draft Guide, CD-ROM, and models is not being extended. After the December deadline, the EPA will again begin to work with State, industry, and environmental representatives in assessing the comments and determining the best course of action. This work will continue through the next calendar year; therefore, if it is not possible to submit your comments or concerns regarding the draft Guide, CD-ROM, or models on time, you are still encouraged to submit comments/ concerns as soon after the deadline as possible. The EPA will make all reasonable efforts to consider late comments.

Dated: September 29, 1999. Elizabeth Cotsworth, Director, Office of Solid Waste.

FR Doc. 99-26334Filed10-7-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6560-50-P

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