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PR EPA Streamlines PCB Management and Disposal Program
Release Date: 06/19/98
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1998
EPA Streamlines PCB Management and Disposal Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a final rule that will decrease disposal costs and provide businesses with greater flexibility to safely manage products and wastes that contain polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. The new rule significantly amends the federal government’s 20-year old PCB program and supports EPA’s commitment to reinventing environmental regulations so they provide strong public health and environmental protection without imposing unnecessary costs and regulatory burdens on business.
“This common-sense, cost-effective rule will provide the best protection of public health and the environment while greatly easing the regulatory burden,” said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner.
PCBs are a mixture of chemicals that were widely used as insulating material in electrical transformers and capacitors, in hydraulic and heat transfer fluids, as plasticizers, and in many heat and fire sensitive applications. Although their manufacture was prohibited in 1979, PCBs are still present in electrical and other equipment, and can be generated as a byproduct of various manufacturing processes. When improperly managed or disposed, PCBs are known to pose potential public health risks.
The new rule addresses approximately 80 issues and uses a streamlined approach for ensuring that PCBs are managed safely and effectively. Key changes to EPA’s PCB program included in the rule are:
• A new, common sense, risk-based approach that will broaden the range of disposal options available for large volume PCB wastes, such as remediation wastes, automobile shredder fluff, gaskets and natural gas pipelines; • Self-implementing decontamination procedures that will allow the safe removal and disposal of PCBs from certain products, without the acquisition of a permit;
• A coordinated approval process that will eliminate redundancies in federal permitting requirements; and
• The elimination of regulatory barriers to innovative technology development through a special exception for certain small scale research and development activities undertaken to explore promising new PCB disposal technologies. Although permits are no longer required, notification and record keeping requirements remain in effect.
In combination these and several other provisions included in the final rule will enhance EPA’s ability to administer and strengthen its PCB management and disposal program. Total net cost savings associated with the rule are estimated at a minimum of $178 million annually. The new rule becomes effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
A copy of the rule is available on the Internet at EPA’s website under “Laws and Regulations” at the Federal Register-Environmental Documents entry (https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr) and will be published in the Federal Register the week of June 22.
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