Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Identification, Listing and Rulemaking Petitions Information Collection Request - June 10, 2004
Highlights
This notice announces that EPA is planning to submit a continuing Information
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This is a request to renew an existing approved collection for Identification,
Listing, and Rulemaking Petitions (ICR Number 1189.09). In addition, EPA
is incorporating the burden associated with the recently published zinc
fertilizer rulemaking.
Supporting materials and public comments for this notice are available
through Regulations.gov, the
federal government's electronic public docket and comment system. To use
Regulations.gov:
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
- 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-2004-0007 and press the "Submit" button to receive search results. Be patient; loading the documents takes time.
Federal Register Notice (PDF) (2 pp, 58K) || Federal Register Notice
Zinc Fertilizers Made From Secondary Hazardous Materials; Final Rule - July 24, 2002
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is today finalizing regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that apply to recycling of hazardous secondary materials to make zinc fertilizer products. This final rule establishes a more consistent regulatory framework for this practice, and establishes conditions for excluding hazardous secondary materials that are used to make zinc fertilizers from the regulatory definition of solid waste. The rule also establishes new product specifications for contaminants in zinc fertilizers made from those secondary materials.
Federal Register Notice (PDF) (23 pp, 143K) || Federal Register Notice
Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 22K) || Text
Supporting materials and public comments for this notice are available through Regulations.gov, the federal government's electronic public docket and comment system. 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-2004-0054 and press the "Submit" button to receive search results. Be patient; loading the documents takes time.
Waste-Derived Fertilizers; Notice of Public Hearing on EPA's Proposed Regulations for Zinc Fertilizers Made From Recycled Hazardous Waste.
The EPA held a public hearing on its proposed regulations for zinc fertilizers made from recycled hazardous wastes. The hearing was held on November 29, 2001, at the Town Hall, 1119 8th Avenue (corner of 8th and Seneca Street), Seattle, WA. Two sessions were held -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The proposed regulations, which were published by EPA Headquarters on November 28, 2000, would establish a new set of regulations for recycling hazardous wastes to manufacture zinc micro-nutrient fertilizers. EPA received more than 600 comments on the proposal, including a request for a public hearing made by the Washington Toxics Coalition. This hearing was held in Seattle in response to that request. The hearing was an opportunity for anyone interested to make additional formal comments on the proposed regulations. The proposal was explained by EPA officials, followed by questions and answers.
If you have questions about the hearing, please e-mail Jeanne O'Dell (odell.jeanne@epa.gov) in EPA's Region 10 office or phone her at 206-553-6919
Proposed Regulations - November 28, 2000
EPA has continually encouraged the beneficial reuse and recycling of industrial wastes, including hazardous wastes, when such wastes can be used as safe and effective substitutes for virgin, raw materials. The majority of fertilizers made from recycled hazardous wastes are zinc micronutrient fertilizers, which are applied sparingly to farmlands (typically, a few pounds per acre a year), and are used to fertilize crops such as corn, potatoes, and fruit trees.Currently, EPA proposes to modify existing regulations for zinc fertilizers made from recycled industrial wastes. These modifications will conserve natural resources, prevent pollution, and save money. The revised provisions are expected to improve and increase legitimate zinc recycling, and reduce contaminant levels in these types of fertilizers. While ensuring that recycled zinc fertilizers are good, clean fertilizers, regulatory restrictions on this industry will be streamlined-saving this industry around seven million dollars.
The Agency is proposing to make zinc-bearing industrial waste recycling simpler and more consistent by using a common-sense regulatory approach. In summary, this proposal will:
- Make current regulations stronger and more consistent by making all hazardous waste-derived fertilizers meet stringent contaminant standards (including fertilizers made from electric-arc furnace dust, or K061, which are now exempt from the standards).
- Limit hazardous metals in recycled zinc fertilizers by setting standards based on demonstrated good manufacturing practices, and by setting a standard for dioxins based on "background" levels in soils. The overall result will be to reduce the volumes of contaminants-particularly heavy metals-that are applied to the nation's farmlands from hazardous waste-derived zinc fertilizers.
- Impose more appropriate management controls on waste materials used in zinc fertilizer recycling. The proposal will better define "legitimate recycling" for zinc fertilizers, and will streamline and strengthen existing regulatory controls over the management of hazardous wastes used as feedstocks in zinc fertilizer manufacturing.
Federal Register Notice: Waste-Derived Fertilizers (PDF) - November 28, 2000 (23 pp, 330K) || Federal Register Notice
Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 19K) || Text
Background Report on Fertilizer Use, Contaminants and Regulations,
[EPA 747-R-98-003], January 1999 (PDF)
(395 pp, 2.9MB)
Related Material
Environmental Fact Sheet: Waste-Derived Fertilizers - December 1997 (PDF) (3 pp, 12K) || Text
Estimating Risk From Contaminants Contained in Agricultural Fertilizers - September 1, 1999