Alternate PCB Extraction Methods and Amendments to PCB Cleanup and Disposal Regulations; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule entitled “Alternate PCB Extraction Methods and Amendments to PCB Cleanup and Disposal Regulations.” EPA published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 22, 2021, and the public comment period was scheduled to end on December 21, 2021. However, EPA has received at least one request for additional time to develop and submit comments on the proposal. In response to the request for additional time, EPA is extending the comment period for an additional 30 days, through January 20, 2022.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before January 20, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

• Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, OLEM Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.

• Hand Delivery or Courier (by scheduled appointment only): EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center's hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays).

Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov/,, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the “Public Participation” heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. Out of an abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room are open to the public by appointment only to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff also continues to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. Hand deliveries and couriers may be received by scheduled appointment only. For further information on EPA Docket Center services and the current status, please visit us online at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information on this document, contact Jennifer McLeod, Program Implementation and Information Division, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, (202) 566-0384; email address: mcleod.jennifer@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary

On October 22, 2021 (86 FR 58730), EPA published in the Federal Register a proposal to expand the available options for extraction and determinative methods used to characterize and verify the cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations (also referred to as the PCB regulations). These proposed changes are expected to greatly reduce the amount of solvent used in PCB extraction processes, thereby conserving resources and reducing waste. In addition, the proposed changes are expected to result in quicker, more efficient, and less costly cleanups, due to greater flexibility in the cleanup and disposal of PCB waste, while still being equally protective of human health and the environment. The proposal also included several other amendments to the PCB regulations, such as: The amendment of performance-based disposal option for PCB remediation waste; the removal of the provision allowing PCB bulk product waste to be disposed as roadbed material; the addition of more flexible provisions for cleanup and disposal of waste generated by spills that occur during emergency situations ( e.g., hurricanes or floods); the harmonization of the general disposal requirements for PCB remediation waste; and other amendments to improve the implementation of the regulations, clarify ambiguity and correct technical errors.

The comment period for the proposed rule was scheduled to end on December 21, 2021. Since publication, EPA has received at least one request to extend that comment period to allow for additional time to develop comments on the proposed rule. After considering this request for additional time, EPA has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 30 days, through January 20, 2022.

II. Public Participation

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission ( i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

Due to public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room are open to the public by appointment only. Our Docket Center staff also continues to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. Hand deliveries or couriers will be received by scheduled appointment only. For further information and updates on EPA Docket Center services, please visit us online at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

The EPA continues to carefully and continuously monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local area health departments, and our Federal partners so that we can respond rapidly as conditions change regarding COVID-19.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 761

• Environmental protection
• Hazardous substances
• Incorporation by reference
• Labeling
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements