EPA Strategy

Mary Goetz, EPA Region 724 Apr 2018

Outline• FY18-22 Transformation Strategy• EPA Lean Management Systems Principles• RCRA Haz. Waste Generators, Treatment, Storage,

Disposal• Sustainable Materials Management Strategies• Questions

EPA Lean Management Systems

RCRA

March 2018

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C & D, 534

MSW, 258

Other Industrial Wastes, 214

Haz. Wastes, 34

Sewage Sludge, 7.2

Oil & Gas*, 217

Cement Kiln Dust, 3

Coal Ash, 117

Min. Processing, 106

Mining, 1466Special Waste,

1909

U.S. Waste Generation (million tons)Total: 2.96 billion tons

*(without produced waters)

Hazardous Waste Generators - Iowa

Benefits of the RCRA Program• Every year in the United States, we generate nine tons of waste

per person.• RCRA provides a framework for an efficient, $100 billion dollar

waste management industry directly employing 379,000 people.• We work in partnership with the states to ensure that the more

than 400,000 facilities that manage solid and hazardous wastes have the necessary controls to safeguard communities and the environment and prevent the creation of new Superfund sites.

• The overall RCRA program produces economic benefits of $50B - $58B, while costs are estimated at $13.2B.

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Collaboration

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Collaboration with States and Tribes• EPA HQ, EPA Regions, States,

and Tribes work together to implement the RCRA program.

• In FY17, EPA provided $99 million through RCRA’s State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) to help states and tribes implement Subtitle C of RCRA.

• EPA is responsible for direct implementation of the RCRA HW program in 2 states, Corrective Action in 6 states, and the HW programs in Indian Country for all 573 federally recognized tribes.

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Subtitle C- Hazardous Waste• Ensures the safe, cradle

to grave management of:– 34 million tons of

hazardous waste each year and

– 3-5 million shipments per year by

– 538,000 hazardous waste handlers.

• Information management: RCRAInfo, e-Manifest, Biennial Report, WIETS, & RCRAOnline.

Large Quantity Generator 21,000Small Quantity

Generator 55,000

Very Small Quantity

Generator 460,000

Transporter 500

Permitted Facility1,400

Other 1,900

Total Hazardous Waste Handlers

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Subtitle D: Non-Hazardous Waste• Principles

– Operated via direct implementation by regulated entities.

– Limited federal enforcement authority.– Applies to both municipal and various

industrial wastes.– Operates side by side with state programs.

• Recent examples:– MSWLF – Bioreactors.– Petroleum exploration and production

waste lawsuit.• Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)

– New approach to implementation through state or federal permit program (WIIN Act)

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Critical Issues• 2017 Biennial Reporting• RCRA HW Air Emissions National Enforcement Initiative• CCR: rulemaking, state program approval, etc. • e-Manifest program rollout• Energetics: airbags, lithium batteries• Financial assurance: CERCLA and RCRA• Retail: aerosol cans, pharmaceuticals• State authorization

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RCRA National Enforcement Initiative Hazardous Waste Air Emissions

• 13,000 facilities are potentially subject to RCRA air emissions regulations• 6% of the facilities account for 59% of the waste generation• Looking at 60 inspections across the US annually 2017-2019• Root cause analysis of previous RCRA air emissions and air toxics NEI enforcement:

• Lack of attention and capital investment in facility infrastructure and maintenance. • Poor understanding of regulations by industry:

• Common areas of confusion:• CAA/RCRA permit overlap; • Scope of exclusions and exemptions, and • Complicated engineering calculations.

• Questions: Ed Buckner - 913-551-7621 or Buckner.Edwin@epa.gov

Coal Combustion Residuals Timeline

• By October 17, 2017:• Install groundwater monitoring wells• Determine background levels• Complete sampling for App III constituents• Begin to analyze the samples

• By January 31, 2018:• Post data and, • If triggered, begin Assessment monitoring for all

Appendix III and Appendix IV constituents• By April 17, 2018:

• Completed sampling for all Appendix III and Appendix IV constituents

• By July 2018:• Determine whether there is a statistically significant

increase over the MCL/background• Could also simultaneously use this three month

timeframe to demonstrate that the statistically significant increase was due to another source or sampling and analysis error.

• By January 2019:• Earliest date a leaking SI would have to cease receiving

waste in the unit.

e-Manifest Overview

• The Electronic Hazardous Waste Manifest System (e-Manifest) is a new system with June 2018 implementation that will allow:▫ Industry Hazardous Waste Handlers to submit Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest

Forms, either electronically or on paper, to EPA▫ States/Regions to retrieve the collected manifest data electronically

• E-Enterprise and e-Manifest▫ Will use other systems under e-Enterprise including: Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act Information System (RCRAInfo),Central Data Exchange (CDX) and electronic signatures

▫ Align with Administrator’s “Cooperative Federalism” Vision for effective partnerships with states and tribes.

▫ Support Agency-wide initiative to reduce reporting burden, and provide the agency, states and the public with easier access to environmental data.

Anticipated ResultEPA estimates the national e-Manifest system will ultimately reduce the burden associated with preparing shipping manifests by 300,000 to 700,000 hours and result in cost savings of more than $90 million per year for states and industry.

SMM

March 2018

What is Sustainable Materials Management?

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Sourcing, using and managing natural

resources to promote economic growth,

resiliency and jobs while minimizing negative

environmental impacts.

EPA’s SMM Strategic Plan 2017-2022

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Strategic Priority Areas Additional Emphasis Areas

The Built Environment

Sustainable Food Management

Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable Electronics Management

Lifecycle Assessment&

International Efforts

Measurement

Recent FY18 House Budget Language:

• “…the Committees continue to support the Waste Minimization and Recycling program, and the Agency is encouraged to use funds from within the program to help public entities demonstrate community anaerobic digester applications to municipal solid waste streams and farm needs such as capturing excess phosphorus.”

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Sustainable Materials ManagementTools and Strategies

Tools PartnershipsChallenges Convene

Built Environment Workshop

Electronics

Federal Green

Food Recovery

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Emerging SMM Issue• Impacts of China Import Ban

– Recycling market dependent; low prices=recyclers out of business– Scrap commodities exports = >25% recycling economic activity– Overwhelming domestic infrastructure=stockpiling or >landfilling

• Opportunity– Recycling = Proven job creator and catalyst of domestic investment– Estimated 535,000 US jobs directly employed by recycling industry (ISRI)

– Recycling & US manufacturing (domestic paper, packaging, textiles, construction, equipment, consumer goods) (>350 in SE SERDC)

– Important to consumers 94% support recycling– 10,000 tonnes waste products + materials =

• 1 job if incinerated; 6 jobs if landfilled; 36 jobs if recycled; and up to 296 jobs if refurbished and re-reused (Inst. Local Self-Reliance) 28

Wrap Up and Questions