99-21941. Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Proposed Exclusion  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 24, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 46166-46178]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-21941]
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 261
    
    [SW-FRL-6426-6]
    
    
    Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of 
    Hazardous Waste; Proposed Exclusion
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule and request for comment.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to grant a petition submitted by 
    Chaparral Steel Midlothian, L.P. (Chaparral) to exclude (or delist) 
    certain solid wastes generated by its Midlothian, Texas, facility from 
    the lists of hazardous wastes.
        Any person may petition the Administrator to modify or revoke any 
    provision of the solid waste regulations. Generators are specifically 
    provided the opportunity to petition the Administrator to exclude a 
    waste on a ``generator specific'' basis from the hazardous waste lists.
        The Agency bases its proposed decision to grant the petition on an 
    evaluation of waste-specific information provided by the petitioner. 
    This proposed decision, if finalized, would conditionally exclude the 
    petitioned waste from the requirements of hazardous waste regulations 
    under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
        If finalized, we would conclude that Chaparral's petitioned waste 
    is nonhazardous with respect to the original listing criteria and that 
    the waste process Chaparral uses will substantially reduce the 
    likelihood of migration of hazardous constituents from this waste. We 
    would also conclude that their process minimizes short-term and long-
    term threats from the petitioned waste to human health and the 
    environment.
    
    DATES: We will accept comments until October 8, 1999. We will stamp 
    comments postmarked after the close of the comment period as ``late.'' 
    These ``late'' comments may not be considered in formulating a final 
    decision.
    
    ADDRESSES: Please send three copies of your comments. Two copies should 
    be sent to William Gallagher, Delisting Section, Multimedia Planning 
    and Permitting Division (6PD-O), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 
    Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202. A third copy should be sent to the 
    Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), P.O. Box 
    13087, Austin, Texas, 78711-3087. Identify your comments at the top 
    with this regulatory docket number: ``F-99-TXDEL-CHAPARRAL.''
        You should address requests for a hearing to the Acting Director, 
    Robert Hannesschlager, Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division 
    (6PD), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 
    75202.
        Your requests for a hearing must reach EPA by September 8, 1999. 
    The request must contain the information prescribed in section 
    260.20(d).
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Gallagher at (214) 665-6775.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        The information in this section is organized as follows:
    I. Overview Information
        A. What action is EPA proposing?
        B. Why is EPA proposing to approve this delisting?
        C. How will Chaparral manage the waste if it is delisted?
        D. When would the proposed exclusion be finalized?
        E. How would this action affect states?
    II. Background
        A. What is the history of the delisting program?
        B. What is a delisting petition, and what does it require of a 
    petitioner?
        C. What factors must EPA consider in deciding whether to grant a 
    delisting petition?
    III. EPA's Evaluation of the Waste Information and Data
        A. What wastes did Chaparral petition EPA to delist?
        B. What information and analysis did Chaparral submit to support 
    this petition?
        C. Who is Chaparral and what process do they use to generate the 
    petition waste?
        D. How did Chaparral sample and analyze the data in this 
    petition?
        E. What were the results of Chaparral's analysis?
        F. How did EPA evaluate the risk of delisting this waste?
        G. What did EPA conclude about Chaparral's analysis?
        H. What other factors did EPA consider in its evaluation?
        I. What is EPA's final evaluation of this delisting petition?
    IV. Next Steps
        A. With what conditions must the petitioner comply?
        B. What happens if Chaparral violates the terms and conditions?
    V. Public Comments
        A. How may I as an interested party submit comments?
        B. How may I review the docket or obtain copies of the proposed 
    exclusions?
    
    I. Overview Information
    
    A. What Action is EPA Proposing?
    
        The EPA is proposing:
        (1) To grant Chaparral's petition to have their Landfill No. 3 
    leachate, baghouse storm water, and other
    
    [[Page 46167]]
    
    wastewater that may have been in contact with the K061 waste excluded, 
    or delisted, from the definition of a hazardous waste; and
        (2) To use a fate and transport model to evaluate the potential 
    impact of the petitioned waste on human health and the environment. The 
    Agency uses this model to predict the concentration of hazardous 
    constituents released from the petitioned waste once it is disposed.
    
    B. Why is EPA Proposing to Approve This Delisting?
    
        Chaparral petitioned the Agency to exclude, or delist, the landfill 
    leachate, baghouse storm water, and other wastewaters that may have 
    potentially come in contact with K061 waste because they do not believe 
    that the petitioned waste meets the criteria for which EPA listed it. 
    Chaparral also believes no additional constituents or factors could 
    cause the wastes to be hazardous.
        Based on our review, described below, EPA has determined that the 
    waste is nonhazardous with respect to the original listing criteria. 
    (If our review had found that the waste remained hazardous based on the 
    factors for which EPA listed the waste, we would have proposed to deny 
    the petition.)
        In reviewing this petition, we considered the original listing 
    criteria and the additional factors required by RCRA section 3001(f), 
    42 U.S.C. 6921(f), and 40 CFR 260.22(d)(2)-(4). We evaluated the 
    petitioned waste against the listing criteria and factors cited in 
    Secs. 261.11(a)(2) and (a)(3).
        We also evaluated the waste for other factors or criteria to assess 
    whether these additional factors could cause the waste to be hazardous. 
    These factors included: (1) whether the waste is considered acutely 
    toxic, (2) the toxicity of the constituents, (3) the concentration of 
    the constituents in the waste, (4) the waste constituent's tendency to 
    migrate and to bioaccumulate, (5) its persistence in the environment 
    once released from the waste, (6) plausible and specific types of 
    management of the petitioned waste, (7) the quantity of waste produced, 
    and (8) waste variability.
        The EPA believes that the petitioned waste does not meet the 
    criteria for which it listed the waste and does meet the criteria for 
    delisting. The EPA's proposed decision to delist waste from Chaparral's 
    facility is based on the description of the proposed treatment system 
    and analytical data from the Midlothian facility submitted to support 
    today's rule.
    
    C. How Will Chaparral Manage the Waste if it is Delisted?
    
        The facility would like to manage the waste in their onsite cooling 
    system of which cooling ponds are a part. The wastewater would be 
    substituted for some of the well water presently used for cooling 
    purposes which would help conserve that natural resource. In this case, 
    the requested change in waste management is subject to delisting by EPA 
    and subsequent waste management practices in accordance with TNRCC 
    rules and regulations.
    
    D. When Would the Proposed Delisting Exclusion be Finalized?
    
        The Hazardous and Solid Waste Act specifically requires EPA to 
    provide notice and an opportunity for comment before granting or 
    denying a final exclusion. Thus, EPA will not grant the exclusion until 
    it addresses all timely public comments (including those at public 
    hearings, if any) on today's proposal.
        This rule, if finalized, will become effective immediately upon 
    final publication. Section 3010(b) at 42 United States Code Annotated 
    6930(b) of RCRA allows rules to become effective in less than six 
    months when the regulated community does not need the six-month period 
    to come into compliance. That is the case here, because this rule, if 
    finalized, would reduce the existing requirements for persons 
    generating hazardous wastes.
        The EPA believes that this exclusion should be effective 
    immediately upon final publication because a six-month deadline is not 
    necessary to achieve the purpose of section 3010(b), and a later 
    effective date would impose unnecessary hardship and expense on this 
    petitioner. These reasons also provide good cause for making this rule 
    effective immediately, upon final publication, under the Administrative 
    Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
    
    E. How would this action affect states?
    
        Because EPA is issuing today's exclusion under the Federal RCRA 
    delisting program, only States subject to Federal RCRA delisting 
    provisions would be affected. This would exclude two categories of 
    States: States having a dual system that includes Federal RCRA 
    requirements and their own requirements, and States who have received 
    authorization from EPA to make their own delisting decisions.
        Here are the details: We allow states to impose their own non-RCRA 
    regulatory requirements that are more stringent than EPA's, under 
    section 3009 of RCRA. These more stringent requirements may include a 
    provision that prohibits a federally issued exclusion from taking 
    effect in the State. Because a dual system (that is, both Federal 
    (RCRA) and State (non-RCRA) programs) may regulate a petitioner's 
    waste, we urge petitioners to contact the State regulatory authority to 
    establish the status of their wastes under the State law.
        The EPA has also authorized some States (for example, Louisiana, 
    Georgia, Illinois) to administer a RCRA delisting program in place of 
    the Federal program, that is, to make State delisting decisions. 
    Therefore, this exclusion does not apply in those authorized States. If 
    Chaparral transports the petitioned waste to or manages the waste in 
    any State with delisting authorization, Chaparral must obtain delisting 
    authorization from that State before they can manage the waste as 
    nonhazardous in the State.
    
    II. Background
    
    A. What is the history of the delisting program?
    
        The EPA published an amended list of hazardous wastes from 
    nonspecific and specific sources on January 16, 1981, as part of its 
    final and interim final regulations implementing section 3001 of RCRA. 
    The EPA has amended this list several times and published it in 
    Secs. 261.31 and 261.32.
        We list these wastes as hazardous because: (1) they typically and 
    frequently exhibit one or more of the characteristics of hazardous 
    wastes identified in subpart C of part 261 (that is, ignitability, 
    corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity) or (2) they meet the criteria 
    for listing contained in Secs. 261.11(a)(2) or (a)(3).
        Individual waste streams may vary, however, depending on raw 
    materials, industrial processes, and other factors. Thus, while a waste 
    described in these regulations generally is hazardous, a specific waste 
    from an individual facility meeting the listing description may not be 
    hazardous.
        For this reason, sections 260.20 and 260.22 provide an exclusion 
    procedure, called delisting, which allows persons to prove that EPA 
    should not regulate a specific waste from a particular generating 
    facility as a hazardous waste.
    
    B. What is a delisting petition, and what does it require of a 
    petitioner?
    
        A delisting petition is a request from a facility to EPA or an 
    authorized State to exclude wastes from the list of hazardous wastes. 
    The facility petitions the Agency because they do not consider the 
    wastes hazardous under RCRA regulations.
    
    [[Page 46168]]
    
        In a delisting petition, the petitioner must show that wastes 
    generated at a particular facility do not meet any of the criteria for 
    the listed wastes. The criteria for which EPA lists a waste are in part 
    261 and in the background documents for the listed wastes.
        In addition, under section 260.22, a petitioner must prove that the 
    waste does not exhibit any of the hazardous waste characteristics (that 
    is, ignitability, reactivity, corrosivity, and toxicity) and present 
    sufficient information for EPA to decide whether factors other than 
    those for which the waste was listed warrant retaining it as a 
    hazardous waste. See part 261 and the background documents for the 
    listed wastes.
        Generators remain obligated under RCRA to confirm whether their 
    waste remains nonhazardous based on the hazardous waste characteristics 
    even if EPA has ``delisted'' the wastes.
    
    C. What factors must EPA consider in deciding whether to grant a 
    delisting petition?
    
        Besides considering the criteria in section 260.22(a), in 42 U.S.C. 
    6921(f), and in the background documents for the listed wastes, EPA 
    must consider any factors (including additional constituents) other 
    than those for which we listed the waste if a reasonable basis exists 
    that these additional factors could cause the waste to be hazardous. 
    See 3010(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
        The EPA must also consider as hazardous wastes mixtures containing 
    listed hazardous wastes and wastes derived from treating, storing, or 
    disposing of listed hazardous waste. See Secs. 261.3(a)(2)(iii and iv) 
    and (c)(2)(i), called the ``mixture'' and ``derived-from'' rules, 
    respectively. These wastes are also eligible for exclusion and remain 
    hazardous wastes until excluded.
        The ``mixture'' and ``derived-from'' rules are now final, after 
    having been vacated, remanded, and reinstated. On December 6, 1991, the 
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the 
    ``mixture/derived from'' rules and remanded them to EPA on procedural 
    grounds. See Shell Oil Co. v. EPA., 950 F.2d 741 (D.C. Cir. 1991). On 
    March 3, 1992, EPA reinstated the mixture and derived-from rules, and 
    solicited comments on other ways to regulate waste mixtures and 
    residues. See (57 FR 7628) These rules became final on October 30, 
    1992. See (57 FR 49278) Consult these references for more information 
    about mixtures derived from wastes.
    
    III. EPA's Evaluation of the Waste Information and Data
    
    A. What wastes did Chaparral petition EPA to delist?
    
        On February 23, 1999, Chaparral Steel petitioned EPA for a 
    conditional exclusion for 500,000 gallons (about 2,500 cubic yards) per 
    year of leachate from its Landfill No. 3 single RCRA landfill unit 
    containing electric arc furnace dust. The furnace dust is captured in 
    the baghouse during the steelmaking process and is a listed hazardous 
    waste classified as K061. The petitioned wastes are largely leachate 
    generated in the landfill's leachate collection system and minor 
    amounts of K061 wastewater from various plant operations including 
    storm water from the baghouse floor areas and the pelletizer sump. 
    These liquid wastes are presently pumped to an onsite storage tank. The 
    resulting waste is also listed under Sec. 261.3(c)(2)(i) (the ``derived 
    from'' rule), as EPA Hazardous Waste No. K061. The listed constituents 
    of concern for this waste code are hexavalent chromium, lead, and 
    cadmium.
    
    B. What information and analysis did Chaparral submit to support this 
    petition?
    
        To support its petition, Chaparral submitted:
        (1) historical analytical data for the Electric Arc Furnace Dust 
    (K061), and leachate analytical data from their Landfill No. 3 
    containing the Electric Arc Furnace Dust, and analytical data for the 
    liquid from the K061 waste water storage tank;
        (2) analytical results of the total constituent list for 40 CFR 
    part 264, appendix IX volatiles, semivolatiles, metals (including 
    hexavalent chromium), pesticides, herbicides, polychlorinated 
    biphenyls, furans, and dioxins;
        (3) analytical results of the constituent list derived from 
    appendix IX for identified constituents;
        (4) analytical results for reactive sulfide;
        (5) analytical results for reactive cyanide;
        (6) test results for corrosivity by pH;
        (7) analytical results of samples from bench tests of treated 
    leachate/K061 wastewater; and
        (8) test results for oil and grease.
    
    C. Who is Chaparral and what process do they use to generate the 
    petitioned waste?
    
        Chaparral Steel operates a steel plant which manufactures primary 
    steel from scrap steel utilizing an electric arc furnace process with 
    continuous casting of billets, and then rolling to finished goods. 
    Electric arc furnace dust, which is captured in the baghouse during the 
    steelmaking process, is a listed hazardous waste (K061). In the past, 
    K061 was landfilled on-site. The on-site landfills have been closed. 
    The baghouse K061 wastes are currently shipped off-site for metals 
    recovery or are reused on site by reintroduction to the electric arc 
    furnace.
        Leachate from Landfill No. 3 which also bears the K061 waste 
    classification, is collected from the landfill's leachate collection 
    system and stored in an on-site tank. Small amounts of water from 
    various locations within the facility including storm water from the 
    palletizer sump and storm water from the baghouse floor (which is 
    potentially mixed with electric arc furnace dust and therefore would 
    also be designated as K061) is also placed in the tank occasionally. 
    Also minor amounts of water that has potentially contacted K061 is 
    occasionally added to the tank. However, the amounts of storm water and 
    other potentially contaminated wastewaters are very minor as compared 
    to the leachate. The contents of the leachate tank are presently 
    transported to an offsite injection facility for disposal.
    
    D. How did Chaparral sample and analyze the data in this petition?
    
        Chaparral developed a list of constituents of concern from prior 
    analytical data and by analyzing the first sample for the entire 
    appendix IX list of hazardous constituents found in 40 CFR part 264. 
    More specifically, Chaparral analyzed one treated and one raw leachate 
    composite sample for the total concentrations (i.e., mass of a 
    particular constituent per mass of waste) of the volatiles and 
    semivolatiles, metals, herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, and furans from 
    appendix IX. These two samples were analyzed for the comprehensive list 
    in order to confirm that there were no other constituents of concern in 
    the petitioned waste.
        Chaparral collected four composite samples from the storage tank 
    over a twenty-five week period. They collected these samples in this 
    manner to ensure that the samples represented the potential time and 
    space variability of the petitioned waste. All samples were analyzed 
    for constituents of concern and were also analyzed to determine whether 
    the waste exhibited ignitable, corrosive, or reactive properties as 
    defined under 40 CFR 261.21, 261.22, and 261.23, including analysis for 
    reactive constituent concentrations of cyanide and sulfide. These 
    samples were not analyzed for TCLP
    
    [[Page 46169]]
    
    concentrations (i.e., mass of a particular constituent per unit volume 
    of extract) since the leachate is a liquid and the total analysis 
    concentration is considered to be the TCLP concentration.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Chaparral used these methods                  To quantify
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SW-846 Method 8260, and 8270..............  The total constituent
                                                 concentrations of 40 CFR,
                                                 part Sec.  264 Appendix IX
                                                 Volatiles and Appendix IX
                                                 Semivolatiles including
                                                 PCBs, Pesticides, and
                                                 Herbicides.
    SW-846 Methods 6010, 7041, and 7740, and    Appendix IX Metals.
     7196.
    SW-846 Methods 7470.......................  Mercury.
    9071......................................  Total oil and grease.
    9045......................................  pH
    9030......................................  Reactive Sulfide.
    9010......................................  Reactive Cyanide.
    1010......................................  Ignitability.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    E. What were the results of Chaparral's analysis?
    
        Tables 1 and 2 present the maximum total constituent leachate 
    concentrations for the raw waste and for the treated waste samples from 
    bench test studies. The bench test study simulated a typical wastewater 
    treatment process. If the raw (untreated) waste does not meet delisting 
    criteria, then Chaparral intends to treat the waste in a wastewater 
    treatment plant to meet the delisting criteria.
        The wastewater treatment process would add a coagulant such as 
    ferric chloride to precipitate the metal constituents and then add a 
    cationic polymer to flocculate the metal constituents. A filter unit 
    would remove the precipitated metal constituents which would yield a 
    wastewater with concentrations of constituents of concern well below 
    the delisting criteria concentrations.
        Chaparral calculated, based on historical information and the worst 
    case scenario, the maximum petitioned waste to be excluded on a yearly 
    basis will be 500,000 gallons (or about 2500 cubic yards) of petitioned 
    waste. The sworn affidavit submitted with this petition binds the 
    petitioner to present truthful and accurate results. The EPA reviews a 
    petitioner's estimates and, on occasion, has requested a petitioner to 
    reevaluate the estimated waste volume. The EPA accepted Chaparrals' 
    certified estimates. The EPA does not generally verify submitted test 
    data before proposing delisting decisions. The EPA, however, has 
    maintained a spot-check sampling and analysis program to verify the 
    representative nature of the data for some percentage of the submitted 
    petitions. A spot-check visit to a selected facility may be initiated 
    before finalizing a delisting petition or after granting an exclusion.
    
      Table 1.--Maximum Organic Total Constituent Concentrations 1 For Raw
     Leachate/K061 Wastewater and Treated Leachate/K061 Wastewater from the
                                  Storage Tank
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Total
                                                 Total         Constituent
                                              Constituent      Analyses for
                 Constituents                 Analyses for       Treated
                                             Raw Leachate 1  Leachate 1  (mg/
                                                 (mg/l)             l)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1,2-Dichloroethane....................            0.004           <0.005 2-butanone............................="" 0.003="" 0.005="" 4-methyl-2-pentanone..................="" 0.008="" 0.005="" acetone...............................="" 0.08="" 0.1="" carbon="" disulfide......................="" 0.003="" 0.005="" chloromethane.........................=""><0.01 0.001="" ethylbenzene..........................="" 0.004=""><0.005 methyl="" iodide.........................=""><0.01 0.002="" methylene="" chloride....................="" 0.001=""><0.005 toluene...............................="" 0.001="" 0.004="" xylene................................="" 0.03="" 0.006="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="">< denotes="" that="" the="" constituent="" was="" not="" detected="" at="" the="" detection="" limit="" specified="" in="" the="" table.="" \1\="" these="" levels="" represent="" the="" highest="" concentration="" of="" each="" constituent="" found="" in="" any="" one="" sample.="" these="" levels="" do="" not="" necessarily="" represent="" the="" specific="" levels="" found="" in="" one="" sample.="" f.="" how="" did="" epa="" evaluate="" the="" risk="" of="" delisting="" this="" waste?="" chaparral="" steel's="" petition="" requests="" a="" conditional="" delisting="" for="" listed="" hazardous="" wastes.="" in="" making="" the="" initial="" delisting="" determination,="" epa="" evaluated="" the="" petitioned="" wastes="" against="" the="" listing="" criteria="" and="" factors="" cited="" in="" secs.="" 261.11(a)(1),="" 261.11(a)(2)="" and="" 261.11(a)(3).="" based="" on="" this="" review,="" epa="" has="" determined="" that="" the="" waste="" is="" nonhazardous="" with="" respect="" to="" the="" original="" listing="" criteria.="" (if="" epa="" had="" found,="" based="" on="" this="" review,="" that="" the="" wastes="" remained="" hazardous="" based="" on="" the="" factors="" for="" which="" the="" wastes="" were="" originally="" listed,="" epa="" would="" have="" proposed="" to="" deny="" the="" petition.)="" the="" epa="" then="" evaluated="" the="" wastes="" with="" respect="" to="" other="" factors="" or="" criteria="" to="" assess="" whether="" there="" is="" a="" reasonable="" basis="" to="" believe="" that="" such="" additional="" factors="" could="" cause="" the="" wastes="" to="" be="" hazardous.="" the="" epa="" considered="" whether="" the="" wastes="" are="" acutely="" toxic,="" the="" toxicity="" of="" the="" constituents,="" the="" concentration="" of="" the="" constituents="" in="" the="" wastes,="" their="" tendency="" to="" migrate="" and="" to="" bioaccumulate,="" their="" persistence="" in="" the="" environment="" once="" released="" from="" the="" wastes,="" plausible="" and="" specific="" types="" of="" management="" of="" the="" petitioned="" wastes,="" the="" quantities="" of="" wastes="" generated,="" and="" waste="" variability.="" for="" this="" delisting="" determination,="" epa="" used="" such="" information="" gathered="" to="" identify="" plausible="" exposure="" routes="" (i.e.,="" ground="" water,="" surface="" water="" and="" air)="" for="" hazardous="" constituents="" present="" in="" the="" petitioned="" wastes.="" the="" epa="" determined="" that="" disposal="" in="" a="" surface="" impoundment="" is="" the="" most="" reasonable,="" worst-case="" disposal="" scenario="" for="" chaparral's="" petitioned="" wastes,="" and="" that="" the="" major="" exposure="" route="" of="" concern="" would="" be="" ingestion="" of="" contaminated="" ground="" water.="" therefore,="" epa="" used="" a="" particular="" fate="" and="" transport="" model,="" epa="" composite="" model="" for="" landfills="" (epacml),="" to="" predict="" the="" maximum="" allowable="" concentrations="" of="" hazardous="" [[page="" 46170]]="" constituents="" that="" may="" be="" released="" from="" the="" petitioned="" wastes="" after="" disposal="" and="" to="" determine="" the="" potential="" impact="" of="" the="" disposal="" of="" chaparral's="" petitioned="" wastes="" on="" human="" health="" and="" the="" environment.="" you="" can="" find="" a="" detailed="" description="" of="" the="" epacml="" model,="" the="" disposal="" assumptions,="" and="" the="" modifications="" made="" for="" delisting="" in="" 56="" fr="" 32993="" (july="" 18,="" 1991),="" 56="" fr="" 67197="" (december="" 30,="" 1991)="" and="" the="" rcra="" public="" docket.="" this="" model="" includes="" both="" unsaturated="" and="" saturated="" zone="" transport="" modules.="" it="" uses="" the="" reasonable="" worse-case="" contaminant="" levels="" in="" ground="" water="" at="" a="" compliance="" point="" (that="" is,="" a="" receptor="" well="" serving="" as="" a="" drinking-water="" supply.)="" specifically,="" epa="" used="" the="" maximum="" estimated="" waste="" volumes="" and="" the="" maximum="" reported="" concentrations="" as="" inputs="" to="" estimate="" the="" constituent="" concentrations="" in="" the="" ground="" water="" at="" a="" hypothetical="" receptor="" well="" downgradient="" from="" a="" theoretical="" disposal="" site.="" the="" calculated="" receptor="" well="" concentrations="" (referred="" to="" as="" compliance-point="" concentrations)="" were="" then="" compared="" directly="" to="" the="" current="" maximum="" contaminant="" levels="" (mcls)="" promulgated="" under="" the="" safe="" drinking="" water="" act="" or="" health-based="" levels="" derived="" from="" verified="" reference="" doses.="" the="" values="" used="" for="" lead="" and="" copper="" are="" action="" levels="" for="" treatment="" of="" a="" water="" supply="" in="" lieu="" of="" an="" mcl="" (40="" cfr="" 141.80).="" the="" epa="" believes="" that="" this="" fate="" and="" transport="" model="" represents="" a="" reasonable="" worst-case="" scenario="" for="" disposal="" of="" the="" petitioned="" wastes="" in="" a="" surface="" impoundment,="" and="" that="" a="" reasonable="" worst-case="" scenario="" is="" appropriate="" when="" evaluating="" whether="" a="" waste="" should="" be="" relieved="" of="" the="" protective="" management="" constraints="" of="" rcra="" subtitle="" c.="" the="" use="" of="" a="" reasonable="" worst-case="" scenario="" results="" in="" conservative="" values="" for="" the="" compliance-point="" concentrations="" and="" gives="" a="" high="" degree="" of="" confidence="" that="" the="" waste,="" once="" removed="" from="" hazardous="" waste="" regulation,="" will="" not="" pose="" a="" threat="" to="" human="" health="" or="" the="" environment.="" in="" most="" cases,="" because="" a="" delisted="" waste="" is="" no="" longer="" subject="" to="" hazardous="" waste="" control="" (unless="" conditionally="" delisted),="" epa="" is="" generally="" unable="" to="" predict,="" and="" does="" not="" presently="" control,="" how="" a="" waste="" will="" be="" managed="" after="" delisting.="" therefore,="" epa="" normally="" believes="" that="" it="" is="" inappropriate="" to="" consider="" extensive="" site-specific="" factors="" when="" applying="" the="" fate="" and="" transport="" model.="" if="" however,="" conditions="" contained="" in="" a="" delisting="" indicate="" that="" it="" is="" necessary="" to="" consider="" site="" specific="" factors="" or="" otherwise="" indicate="" that="" the="" model="" is="" inappropriate,="" epa="" may="" consider="" these="" factors="" in="" applying="" the="" model.="" the="" epa="" also="" considers="" the="" applicability="" of="" ground="" water="" monitoring="" data="" during="" the="" evaluation="" of="" delisting="" petitions.="" the="" evaluation="" of="" the="" information="" submitted="" indicated="" that="" the="" waste="" is="" managed="" in="" a="" tank="" with="" secondary="" containment.="" therefore="" ground="" water="" data="" is="" not="" applicable="" to="" this="" petition.="" from="" the="" evaluation="" of="" chaparral's="" delisting="" petition,="" one="" of="" the="" constituents="" evaluated,="" lead,="" is="" being="" proposed="" as="" a="" verification="" testing="" condition.="" proposed="" maximum="" allowable="" leachable="" concentrations="" for="" this="" constituent="" was="" derived="" by="" back-calculating="" from="" the="" delisting="" health-based="" levels="" through="" the="" proposed="" fate="" and="" transport="" model="" for="" a="" surface="" impoundment="" management="" scenario="" and="" by="" comparing="" results="" with="" the="" land="" disposal="" restrictions="" (ldrs)="" maximum="" allowable="" concentration.="" the="" lowest="" of="" these="" two="" concentrations="" (i.e.,="" delisting="" levels)="" are="" part="" of="" the="" verification="" testing="" conditions="" of="" the="" proposed="" exclusion.="" therefore,="" delisting="" levels="" are="" less="" than="" ldr="" concentrations="" and="" thus="" the="" ldrs="" are="" met.="" details="" of="" the="" evaluation="" of="" lead="" and="" other="" constituents="" of="" concern="" is="" explained="" in="" more="" detail="" later="" in="" this="" section.="" chaparral's="" exclusion="" (if="" granted)="" would="" be="" contingent="" upon="" the="" facility="" conducting="" sampling="" and="" analysis="" of="" the="" waste="" to="" insure="" that="" the="" delisting="" conditions="" are="" met="" (i.e.,="" wastes="" meet="" epa's="" verification="" testing="" conditions).="" the="" epa's="" proposed="" decision="" is="" based="" on="" the="" information="" submitted="" in="" support="" of="" today's="" rule,="" i.e.,="" historical="" data="" from="" the="" landfill="" no.="" 3="" leachate,="" analytical="" data="" from="" recent="" samples="" from="" the="" leachate="" storage="" tank="" containing="" leachate="" and="" k061="" wastewaters,="" and="" analytical="" data="" from="" bench="" tests="" of="" the="" leachate/k061="" wastewaters="" after="" treatment="" in="" a="" simulated="" wastewater="" treatment="" system.="" finally,="" rcra="" (7004(b)(1))="" specifically="" requires="" epa="" to="" provide="" notice="" and="" an="" opportunity="" for="" comment="" before="" granting="" or="" denying="" a="" final="" exclusion.="" thus,="" a="" final="" decision="" will="" not="" be="" made="" until="" all="" timely="" public="" comments="" (including="" those="" at="" public="" hearings,="" if="" any)="" on="" today's="" proposal="" are="" addressed.="" the="" epa's="" evaluation="" of="" the="" raw="" leachate="" using="" a="" dilution="" attenuation="" factor="" of="" 68,="" a="" maximum="" waste="" volume="" annually="" of="" 2500="" cubic="" yards="" (or="" 500,000="" gallons="" per="" calender="" year),="" and="" the="" maximum="" reported="" constituent="" concentrations="" (see="" tables="" 1="" and="" 2),="" yielded="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" (see="" tables="" 3="" and="" 4)="" that="" are="" below="" the="" current="" health-based="" levels="" except="" for="" the="" constituent="" lead="" which="" is="" discussed="" below.="" in="" table="" 3,="" the="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" derived="" from="" the="" maximum="" reported="" leachate="" concentrations="" (see="" table="" 1)="" of="" the="" organic="" constituents="" detected="" in="" the="" waste="" are="" compared="" with="" the="" levels="" of="" concern.="" the="" organic="" constituents="" are="" believed="" to="" be="" artifacts="" from="" sampling="" or="" analysis="" errors="" because:="" (1)="" the="" arc="" furnace="" process="" should="" have="" destroyed="" the="" organic="" chemicals,="" (2)="" the="" organic="" constituents="" are="" not="" detected="" consistently,="" (3)="" most="" detections="" are="" near="" the="" detection="" limits,="" and="" (4)="" several="" of="" the="" compounds="" are="" common="" laboratory="" contaminants.="" however,="" in="" spite="" of="" this="" reasoning,="" epa="" completed="" the="" evaluation="" conservatively="" using="" the="" highest="" concentration="" found="" for="" each="" organic="" constituent="" in="" the="" petitioned="" waste.="" as="" shown="" in="" table="" 3,="" the="" maximum="" reported="" leachate="" concentrations="" of="" 1,2-dichloroethane,="" 2-="" butanone,="" 4-methyl-2-pentanone,="" acetone,="" carbon="" disulfide,="" ethylbenzene,="" methylene="" chloride,="" toluene,="" and="" xylene="" yielded="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" below="" the="" health-based="" levels="" used="" in="" delisting="" decision-making.="" it="" should="" also="" be="" noted="" that="" the="" concentrations="" of="" the="" organic="" constituents="" found="" in="" the="" raw="" leachate="" are="" below="" ldr="" concentration="" values="" and="" therefore="" the="" ldrs="" are="" met.="" see="" table="" 1.="" the="" epa="" also="" evaluated="" the="" mobility="" of="" the="" two="" remaining="" organic="" constituents="" cloromethane="" and="" methyl="" iodide="" which="" were="" not="" detected="" in="" the="" leachate="" but="" were="" found="" in="" the="" treated="" leachate="" at="" concentrations="" of="" 0.001="" and="" 0.002="" mg/l="" yielding="" compliance="" concentrations="" of="" 0.00001="" and="" 0.00003="" mg/l,="" in="" respective="" order.="" these="" concentrations="" are="" well="" below="" the="" levels="" of="" concern="" of="" 0.007="" and="" 0.03="" mg/l,="" respectively.="" the="" 0.001="" and="" 0.002="" mg/l="" values="" are="" below="" the="" ldr="" concentration="" values="" and="" therefore="" the="" ldrs="" are="" met.="" in="" table="" 4,="" the="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" derived="" from="" the="" maximum="" reported="" leachate/k061="" wastewater="" concentrations="" of="" the="" inorganic="" constituents="" (see="" table="" 2)="" detected="" in="" the="" petitioned="" raw="" waste="" are="" compared="" with="" the="" levels="" of="" regulatory="" concern.="" the="" maximum="" reported="" or="" calculated="" concentrations="" of="" arsenic,="" barium,="" cadmium,="" total="" chromium,="" copper,="" mercury,="" nickel,="" vanadium,="" and="" zinc="" yielded="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" below="" levels="" of="" concern.="" the="" epa="" did="" not="" evaluate="" the="" mobility="" of="" the="" constituents="" beryllium,="" hexavalent="" chromium,="" cobalt,="" selenium,="" silver,="" thallium="" and="" cyanide="" from="" chaparral's="" petitioned="" waste="" because="" [[page="" 46171]]="" these="" constituents="" were="" not="" detected="" in="" the="" leachate="" using="" the="" appropriate="" analytical="" test="" methods.="" see="" table="" 2.="" the="" epa="" believes="" that="" it="" is="" inappropriate="" to="" evaluate="" nondetectable="" concentrations="" of="" a="" constituent="" of="" concern="" in="" its="" delisting="" modeling="" efforts="" if="" the="" nondetectable="" value="" was="" obtained="" using="" the="" appropriate="" analytical="" method.="" if="" a="" constituent="" cannot="" be="" detected="" (when="" using="" the="" appropriate="" analytical="" method="" with="" an="" adequate="" detection="" limit),="" epa,="" for="" delisting="" purposes,="" assumes="" that="" the="" constituent="" is="" not="" present="" and="" therefore="" does="" not="" present="" a="" threat="" to="" human="" health="" or="" the="" environment.="" in="" the="" delisting="" program="" epa="" believes="" it="" is="" inappropriate="" to="" evaluate="" constituents="" undetected="" in="" the="" waste="" samples.="" the="" maximum="" reported="" raw="" leachate="" concentration="" for="" a="" single="" sample="" of="" lead="" (2.0="" mg/l)="" yielded="" a="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" concentration="" (0.029="" mg/l)="" slightly="" above="" the="" health-based="" level="" (0.015="" mg/l)="" used="" in="" the="" delisting="" decision-making="" process.="" the="" lead="" value="" (0.029="" mg/l)="" represents="" the="" calculated="" leachate="" concentrations="" of="" lead="" at="" a="" theoretical="" downgradient="" ground="" water="" monitoring="" well="" using="" the="" epacml="" model="" and="" a="" concentration="" value="" of="" 2.0="" mg/l="" from="" one="" raw="" waste="" sample.="" this="" value="" was="" the="" highest="" concentration="" identified="" for="" the="" four="" analysis="" completed="" for="" lead.="" the="" four="" concentration="" values="" for="" lead="" as="" identified="" in="" the="" raw="" waste="" were="" 2.0,="" 1.3,="" 0.5="" and="" 0.55="" mg/l="" and="" the="" values="" for="" the="" treated="" waste="" were="" 0.081,="" 0.06,="" 0.026,="" and=""><0.0011 mg/l.="" two="" of="" the="" raw="" waste="" lead="" values="" (0.5="" and="" 0.55="" mg/l)="" and="" all="" of="" the="" treated="" samples="" yield="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" below="" the="" concentration="" of="" concern.="" for="" this="" reason,="" verification="" testing="" for="" one="" waste="" constituent,="" lead,="" will="" be="" a="" condition="" of="" the="" delisting.="" lead="" was="" the="" only="" constituent="" that="" did="" not="" consistently="" have="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" below="" the="" concentrations="" of="" concern.="" as="" shown="" in="" tables="" 3="" and="" 4,="" all="" other="" constituents="" were="" always="" below="" the="" concentrations="" of="" concern="" at="" the="" calculated="" compliance="" point.="" it="" should="" also="" be="" noted="" that="" the="" concentration="" values="" as="" measured="" in="" the="" raw="" waste="" for="" all="" other="" constituents="" of="" concern="" were="" below="" the="" ldr="" concentration="" values.="" therefore,="" with="" the="" exception="" of="" the="" constituent="" lead,="" the="" petitioned="" waste="" meets="" ldr="" concentration="" values="" even="" before="" the="" compliance="" point="" concentrations="" are="" calculated.="" seven="" years="" of="" historical="" leachate="" data="" also="" supported="" the="" decision="" that="" lead="" was="" the="" only="" constituent="" of="" concern="" which="" should="" require="" verification="" testing.="" table="" 2.--maximum="" inorganic="" total="" constituent="" concentrations="" for="" raw="" leachate/k061="" wastewater="" and="" treated="" leachate/k061="" wastewater="" from="" the="" k061="" storage="" tank="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" total="" total="" constituent="" constituent="" analyses="" for="" constituents="" analyses="" for="" treated="" raw="" leachate="" leachate="" \1\="" \1\="" (mg/l)="" (mg/l)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" antimony..............................=""><0.0066 0.008="" arsenic...............................="" 0.081="" 0.068="" barium...............................="" 0.26="" 0.007="" beryllium.............................=""><0.0017><0.0017 cadmium...............................="" 0.019="" 0.0020="" chromium="" (total)......................="" 0.17="" 0.013="" chromium="" (hexavalent).................=""><0.1><0.02 cobalt................................=""><0.0016><0.0016 copper................................="" 0.096="" 0.029="" lead..................................="" 2="" 0.081="" mercury...............................="" 0.00031="" 0.00016="" nickel................................="" 0.019="" 0.014="" selenium..............................=""><0.01 0.044="" silver................................=""><0.0012><0.0012 thallium..............................=""><0.0096><0.0096 tin...................................="" 0.025="" 0.017="" vanadium..............................="" 0.042="" 0.038="" zinc..................................="" 5.6="" 0.08="" sulfide="" (total).......................="" 1.3=""><1.0 cyanide="" (total).......................=""><0.0018><0.0018 ------------------------------------------------------------------------="">< denotes="" that="" the="" constituent="" was="" not="" detected="" at="" the="" noted="" detection="" limit.="" \1\="" these="" levels="" represent="" the="" highest="" concentration="" of="" each="" constituent="" found="" in="" any="" one="" sample.="" these="" levels="" do="" not="" necessarily="" represent="" the="" specific="" levels="" found="" in="" one="" sample.="" table="" 3.--epacml:="" calculated="" compliance="" point="" organic="" concentrations="" for="" raw="" leachate="" and="" k061="" wastewater="" from="" the="" k061="" storage="" tank.="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" compliance="" point="" levels="" of="" organic="" constituents="" concentrations="" concern="" \2\="" (mg/="" \1\="" (mg/l)="" l)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 1,2-dichloroethane..................="" 0.00006="" 0.005="" 2-butanone..........................="" 0.00004="" 20.="" 4-methyl-2-pentanone................="" 0.0001="" 2.="" acetone.............................="" 0.001="" 4.="" carbon="" disulfide....................="" 0.00004="" 4.="" ethylbenzene........................="" 0.00006="" 70.="" methylene="" chloride..................="" 0.00001="" 0.005="" toluene.............................="" 0.00001="" 1.="" [[page="" 46172]]="" xylene..............................="" 0.0004="" 10.="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="">

Document Information

Published:
08/24/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule and request for comment.
Document Number:
99-21941
Dates:
We will accept comments until October 8, 1999. We will stamp comments postmarked after the close of the comment period as ``late.'' These ``late'' comments may not be considered in formulating a final decision.
Pages:
46166-46178 (13 pages)
Docket Numbers:
SW-FRL-6426-6
PDF File:
99-21941.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 261