software & list to prioritize chemicals by persistence, bioac...1 of 2

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

  [FRL-5845-8]
  
  
  Notice of Availability of Waste Minimization Software and
  Documents
  
  AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment of a draft software
  package and other draft documents pertaining to priorities for waste
  minimization.
  
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  SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the
  availability of a beta-test version of a software package which will
  prioritize chemicals according to their persistence, bioaccumulation,
  toxicity, and quantity; a draft list of chemicals derived from the
  software and ranked according to persistence, bioaccumulation, and
  toxicity; and a crosswalk identifying which RCRA waste codes are likely
  to contain these chemicals. These materials have been prepared in order
  to assist hazardous waste generators, government agencies, technical
  assistance centers, and others involved in waste minimization in making
  progress towards the goals of EPA's 1994 Waste Minimization National
  Plan, which calls for a fifty percent reduction in the presence of the
  most persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals in hazardous
  wastes by the year 2005.
  
  DATES: Written comments will be received by August 7, 1997 to the
  addresses below.
  
  ADDRESSES: Please send an original and two copies of comments,
  referencing docket number F-97-MPCA-FFFFF, to: RCRA Docket Information
  Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
  Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the Arlington, VA,
  address listed below. Comments may also be submitted electronically by
  sending electronic mail through the Internet to: rcra-
  docket@epamail.epa.gov. Comments in electronic format should also be
  identified by the docket number F-97-MPCA-FFFFF. All electronic
  comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
  characters and any form of encryption.
      Commenters should not submit electronically any confidential
  business information (CBI). An original and two copies of CBI must be
  submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer,
  Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington,
  DC 20460.
      Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing
  in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I,
  First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is
  open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal
  holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public
  make an appointment by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a
  maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge.
  Additional copies cost $0.15/page.
      Copies of the software package and the documents cited in this
  notice can be obtained by calling the RCRA/Superfund/CERCLA Hotline at
  (800) 424-9346, TDD (800) 553-7672 (hearing impaired), or (703) 412-
  9810 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
  Eastern time.
      The software package and documents are also available in electronic
  format on the Internet, and can be obtained by accessing:
  
  WWW: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/minimize.
  FTP: ftp.epa/gov
  Login: anonymous
  Password: your Internet address
  
      Files are located in /pub/gopher/OSWRCRA.
  
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions pertaining to
  waste minimization, specific aspects of this notice, or information on
  public meetings to discuss comments, contact the RCRA/Superfund/EPCRA
  Hotline at the telephone numbers cited above, or U.S. Environmental
  Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste, Waste Minimization Branch,
  401 M Street, SW., (5302W), Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (703) 308-
  8402, fax: (703) 308-8433.
  
  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
  
  I. Background
  
      In November 1994, EPA released the Waste Minimization National Plan