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Proposed Revisions to OECD Imports and Exports Rule
Draft Guidance
Proposed Revisions to the Requirements for Transboundary Shipments of Wastes between OECD Countries and to the Requirements for Export Shipments of Spent Lead Acid Batteries; Proposed Rule
EPA is proposing to revise its regulations to ensure that shipping hazardous waste between countries for recovery is done in an environmentally sound and economically efficient manner. This proposal would make the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste transboundary shipment regulations more consistent with those of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Specifically, this rule proposes to:
- Update the existing RCRA regulation regarding the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for recovery among countries belonging to the OECD to incorporate revisions made by the OECD;
- Amend the RCRA regulations for spent lead-acid batteries to add export notification and consent requirements;
- Revise the hazardous waste import requirements to require shipments to carry documentation of EPA’s consent to the import along with the hazardous waste manifest; and
- Provide a new address for export exception report submissions.
EPA has combined these actions because they all relate to the import or export requirements for hazardous waste shipments.
EPA is seeking comment on the proposed rulemaking. Comments may be submitted online through Regulations.gov and must be received no later than 60 days after the publication date for the Federal Register notice (see below).
Federal Register Notice - October 6, 2008
The support materials for this rule and the public comments EPA receives on the proposal are available for public review online, as explained below. Please note that supporting materials will not be available from Regulations.gov until the rule is published in the Federal Register.
To use Regulations.gov:
- Select Docket Search.
- Select "Environmental Protection Agency" from the Agency drop-down menu.
- In the Docket ID box, type in the docket number - EPA-HQ-RCRA-2005-0018 and press the "Submit" button to receive search results. Be patient; loading the documents takes time.
Draft Guidance on EPA Identification of U.S. Pre-Approved Facilities to Receive Hazardous Waste Imports from OECD Member Countries
Separate from the proposed rule, EPA is publishing draft guidance (PDF) (4 pp, 30K, about PDF) on how U.S. recycling facilities may request EPA to identify them as pre-approved facilities to receive hazardous wastes from OECD Member countries. Pre-approved facilities would follow streamlined procedures for hazardous waste imports from OECD countries. EPA is seeking comment on the draft guidance on how U.S. recycling facilities may request pre-approval status from EPA. Comments must be sent to Laura Coughlan by one of the following methods:
- Email comments to Laura Coughlan (Coughlan.Laura@epa.gov)
- Fax comments to 703-308-0514
- Mail comments to Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 5403P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20460
- Hand deliver comments to Environmental Protection Agency, N-5613 (5th Floor), Two Potomac Yard, 2733 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
