Latest Developments…

The Environmental Protection Agency Oct. 27 published its revised risk assessment for a proposed rule that would allow certain solvent-contaminated industrial wipes to avoid regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The proposal, originally published in November 2003 (68 FR 65586, 11/20/03), would conditionally exclude from RCRA's definition of solid waste solvent-contaminated reusable industrial rags and shop towels sent for dry cleaning or laundering. It also would have conditionally excluded from the definition of hazardous waste disposable industrial wipes contaminated with hazardous solvents sent for disposal. The revised risk assessment determined that eight of 20 solvents studied could pose a potential health risk if discarded in municipal solid waste landfills, according to the updated risk analysis. The revised risk analysis also indicates that tetrachloroethylene, one of the 20 solvents evaluated, has a potential health risk if wipes or laundry sludge are disposed of in a composite-lined landfill.

RCRA specifically exempts various substances from the definition of solid or hazardous waste.