EPA Proposes Revisions to Trans-Border Hazwaste Shipping Regs
EPA is proposing revisions to certain regulatory requirements for hazardous waste shipments between countries to ensure that recovery is done in an environmentally sound and economically efficient manner. The proposed changes are designed make the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act's (RCRA) hazardous waste transboundary shipment regulations more consistent with those of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the agency says.
An extensive set of regulations under RCRA govern the shipment of hazardous waste within the United States, but hazwaste often is shipped between countries for recovery, and the United States participates in a number of bilateral waste agreements between countries and in the multilateral waste agreement controlling the shipment of hazardous waste for recovery between OECD Member countries, EPA notes. Therefore, this rule specifically proposes to revise:
- The existing RCRA regulation regarding the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for recovery among countries belonging to the OECD to conform to legally required revisions made by the OECD;
- The RCRA regulations for spent lead-acid batteries to add export notification and consent requirements;
- The hazardous waste import requirements; and
- The address to which export exception reports are to be sent.
Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register, which is expected within two weeks. More information is available at www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/international/oecd-slab-rule.htm.