[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 62626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25415]
Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 194 / Monday, October 7, 2002 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 62626]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 268 and 271
[FRL-7390-8; Docket Number: RCRA-2002-0027]
RIN 2050-AE99
Land Disposal Restrictions: National Treatment Variance to
Designate New Treatment Subcategories for Radioactively Contaminated
Cadmium-, Mercury-, and Silver-Containing Batteries
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to take direct final action to grant a
national treatability variance from the Land Disposal Restrictions
(LDR) treatment standards for radioactively contaminated cadmium-,
mercury-, and silver-containing batteries by designating new treatment
subcategories for these wastes in response to a rulemaking petition
from the Department of Energy. The current treatment standards of
thermal recovery for cadmium batteries and of roasting and retorting
for mercury batteries are technically inappropriate because any
recovered metals would likely contain residual radioactive
contamination and not be usable. The current numerical treatment
standard for silver batteries is also inappropriate because of the
potential increase in radiation exposure to workers associated with
manually segregating silver-containing batteries for the purpose of
treatment. Macroencapsulation in accordance with the provisions for
treatment standards for hazardous debris is proposed as the required
treatment prior to land disposal.
In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register,
we are publishing a direct final rule that would designate a new
treatment subcategory for radioactively contaminated cadmium, mercury,
and silver-containing batteries without prior proposal because we view
this action as noncontroversial and we anticipate no significant
adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this approach in the
preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive significant adverse
comment on the direct final rule, however, we will withdraw the direct
final action and the treatment variance will not take effect. We will
not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties
interested in commenting on this proposed variance must do so at this
time.
DATES: To make sure EPA considers your comments or suggested revisions
to this proposal, they must be postmarked on or before November 6,
2002.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand/delivery/courier. You must send an original and two copies
of the comments referencing Docket Number RCRA-2002-0027 to: EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), B102, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460-0002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, call the RCRA
Call Center at 1-800-424-9346 or TDD 1-800-553-7672 (hearing impaired).
Callers within the Washington Metropolitan Area must dial 703-412-9810
or TDD 703-412-3323 (hearing impaired). The RCRA Call Center is open
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. For more
information on specific aspects of this proposed/direct final rule,
contact Mr. John Austin at 703-308-0436, [email protected], or write
him at the Office of Solid Waste, 5302W, U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document concerns Land Disposal
Restrictions: National Treatment Variance to Designate New Treatment
Subcategories for Radioactively Contaminated Cadmium-, Mercury-, and
Silver-Containing Batteries. For further information, please see the
information provided in the direct final action that is located in the
``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.
List of Subjects
40 CFR Part 268
Environmental protection, Hazardous waste, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
40 CFR Part 271
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Confidential business information, Hazardous material transportation,
Hazardous waste, Indians-lands, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution control,
Water supply.
Dated: September 30, 2002.
Christine Todd Whitman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-25415 Filed 10-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P