Interpretive Guidance

About the Guidance - The Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Site Revitalization Guidance (the guidance) provides information on characterizing, cleaning up, containing, and disposing of PCB waste (for example, soil and other debris generated as a result of any PCB spill cleanup). The guidance has been developed to assist individuals engaging in PCB remediation efforts to comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PCB regulations, the "Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce and Use Prohibitions," found at 40 CFR Part 761. The document may be useful to Brownfields grant recipients or others revitalizing old properties that involve PCB cleanups under TSCA.

The guidance discusses the factors that must be taken into consideration when determining appropriate cleanup levels (for example, the type of PCB waste or the intended use of the brownfields site). Also discussed are the requirements for verifying that the cleanup standard has been met and for establishing deed restrictions (where necessary), and the options available for disposing of PCB wastes. In addition, other relevant TSCA PCB requirements are mentioned, such as covering/capping PCB-contaminated areas, waste storage, waste container marking, manifesting and recordkeeping requirements.

This guidance does not replace or supplant the requirements of the TSCA PCB regulations, nor does it establish a presumption against enforcement should any violations of PCB cleanup and disposal regulations be discovered. For specific regulatory and legal requirements, please refer to the PCB regulations at 40 CFR Part 761 (PDF, 129 p, 6.74 MB). You can also contact the appropriate EPA Regional PCB Coordinator if you have more questions concerning acceptable remediation practices.

Federal Register Notice for PCB Site Revitalization Guide

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PCB Question and Answer Manuals -

PCB Question and Answer Manual (PDF) (135 pp, 309K) (As of September 2001)
About the PCB Question and Answer Manual: The PCB Q and A manual is a living document and is periodically revised and updated. It is recommended that our customers periodically check this web page for updates instead of relying solely on a single hard copy. Each update or revision will be denoted with an "As of..." date which will not change until the next revision is made.

TSCA Disposal Requirements for Fluorescent Light Ballasts (PDF) (1 pg, 4K)

Sampling Guidance for 40 CFR 761 Subparts M, O, P and R (PDF) (28 pp, 201K)

2004 Supplemental Response to Comments Document on the Proposed Rule - Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PDF) (12 PP, 52K)

1998 Response to Comments Document (PDF) (234 pp, 632K)

1994 Question and Answer Document (PDF) (221 pp, 437K)

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PCB Spill Cleanup Policy Guidance Manuals -

These two documents are part of the PCB Spill Cleanup Policy and are referenced in 40 CFR 761.130(e)). Even though the PCB Spill Cleanup Policy is found in the Code of Federal Regulations, it is an enforcement policy and not a regulation. In addition to other applicability limitations found in 40 CFR 761.120, this policy only applies to spills less than 72 hours old. The use of the methods in these documents is an option, not a requirement. If the reader has any questions as to the interpretation or applicability of the Policy, including the use of these documents or any variations or waivers provided for in the Policy, the reader should contact the Regional PCB Coordinator in the EPA Region where the spill occurred.

The applicability for the use of the methods and procedures in this paragraph are not extended to any other part, subpart, section or paragraph of 40 CFR 761 without prior written approval from EPA.

These documents have been scanned in and as result the files are large and may take a few moments to open or download.

Verification of PCB Spill Cleanup by Sampling and Analysis (PDF) (74 pp, 63.4MB) (EPA-560/5-85-026, August, 1985)

Field Manual for Grid Sampling of PCB Spill Sites to Verify Cleanup (PDF) (55 pp, 38.4MB) (EPA-560/5-86-017, May 1986)

Wipe Sampling and Double Wash/Rinse Cleanup as Recommended By the Environmental Protection Agency PCB Spill Cleanup Policy - April 1991 (PDF) (31 pp, 119K)

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Historical Information on the Natural Gas Pipeline Compliance Monitoring Program -

Introduction to the Natural Gas Pipeline Compliance Monitoring Program

The documents listed below provide the history of the Compliance Monitoring Program (CMP) and and list the participating companies.

1996 Revision to the 1981 CMP (PDF) (7 pp, 36K)
Approval of 9 Revised CMP Plans (12/96) (PDF) (8 pp, 43K)
Approval of Enron/Transwestern Revised Natural Gas Pipeline PCB Compliance Monitoring Program (CMP) Plan (12/96) (PDF) (6 pp, 32K)

For more information on PCBs and Natural Gas Pipelines, contact - Sara McGurk (mcgurk.sara@epa.gov) at 202-566-0480

For more information on this particular compliance program, contact -
Mike Calhoun (calhoun.michael@epa.gov) at 202-564-6031

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Policy Statements and Letters -

EPA's Interpretive Statement on Change in Ownership of Real Property (PDF) (5 pp, 118K)

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Interpretive Guidance

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