[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 13 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2685-2686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-835]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8271-3]


Draft Guidance for Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard 
Assessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

[[Page 2686]]


ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Draft Guidance 
for Munitions and Explosive of Concern Hazard Assessment (Guidance) for 
public comment. The Guidance was jointly developed by the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Defense, Department of the 
Interior, and Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste 
Management Officials. The Guidance is available to support a 
recommended method for evaluating explosive safety hazards at military 
munitions response sites. It also presents approaches to support the 
evaluation of the effects of removal and remedial actions under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Restoration, Compensation, and Liability 
Act (CERCLA) regarding explosive hazards at munitions response sites. 
EPA is providing the public an opportunity to review and comment on the 
draft Guidance. The Guidance, comment form, and related materials can 
be found on EPA's Web site at  http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/hazard_assess_wrkgrp.htm.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to EPA using the comment form and 
instructions on our Web site at http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/hazard_assess_wrkgrp.htm .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
draft Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment, please 
contact Kevin Oates at [email protected], or 334-270-3427, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 5106P, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Once the draft Guidance is finalized, paper 
copies will be available from the National Service Center for 
Environmental Publications (NSCEP), EPA's publications distribution 
warehouse. You may request copies from NSCEP by calling 1-800-490-9198; 
writing to U.S. EPA/NSCEP, Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419; or 
faxing your request to NSCEP at 513-489-8695.

Background

    In May 2004, EPA convened a technical working group (TWG) with 
personnel from the Department of Defense, the Department of the 
Interior, the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste 
Management Officials, and the Tribal Association for Solid Waste and 
Emergency Response. The TWG was tasked with developing a recommended 
methodology to evaluate explosive safety hazards at munitions response 
sites. When finalized the methodology developed by the TWG and the work 
group organizations will be available to evaluate baseline explosive 
hazards at munitions response sites, and to evaluate the effects of 
removal or remedial actions under CERCLA, including changes to land use 
and land use activities. As part of this effort, the TWG developed 
additional information that can be found on the EPA Web site listed 
above.
    EPA is requesting public comment on the draft Guidance. An 
electronic comment form is posted on the same link as the draft 
Guidance. To be considered, all comments must be provided on this 
comment form and submitted to the email address provided on the form.
    After considering the comments, EPA, the Department of Defense, and 
the Department of the Interior will make available a final Munitions 
and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment document issued as joint 
guidance.

    Dated: January 11, 2007.
Gail A. Cooper,
Acting Director, Federal Facilities Restoration & Reuse Office.
 [FR Doc. E7-835 Filed 1-19-07; 8:45 am]
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