Techno Bits/Technical Bulletins

On May 16, 2001, the EPA promulgated a final rule for the long drawn Hazardous Waste Identification Rule (HWIR): Revisions to the Mixture and Derived-From Rules. After having published a proposed rule in November of 1999, the promulgation has now established that August 14, 2001 will be the effective date. A major condition in the rule is that all wastes which are listed solely because they exhibit a characteristic of ignitability, corrosivity, or reactivity (includes mixed-with and derived-from wastes and as generated) are excluded once they no longer exhibit the characteristic. A waste which is listed only because it exhibits a characteristic but does not exhibit the characteristic at the point of generation will also not be subject to Land Disposal Restriction (LDR) requirements. Wastes which are subsequently de-characterized after their point of generation shall be subject to LDR. EPA is also finalizing conditional exemptions for low-level mixed waste, provided these wastes are handled in accordance with 40 CFR 266, Subpart N. On a parallel track, EPA continues to work on Hazardous Waste Identification Rule "exemption levels" utilizing the Multi-media, Multi-pathway and Multi-receptor Risk Assessment (SMRA) Model.

Archived - Jan. 24, 2002