[CPEO-MEF] California Proposes Waste Munitions Regs

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has
unveiled its draft regulations governing the management of waste
munitions. These proposed regulations correspond to U.S. EPA's Military
Munitions Rule, which focus on the treatment, storage, and disposal of
waste munitions. It does not directly deal with range cleanup, the focus
of the Defense Department's un-proposed Range Rule.

DTSC plans two public workshops on the proposed regulations. The first
will be in Sacramento April 23, 2001 (1 to 4 pm, 1001 "I" St.). The
second will be in Los Angeles on April 26 (10 am to 3 pm, 107 S.
Broadway). The 88-page draft, as well as a two-page fact sheet, are
available as PDF files from http://www.dtsc.ca.gov. Click on "What's
New." Or you can call 916/324-0705.

According to the DTSC fact sheet, its proposed regulations are designed
to maintain "certain of California's more stringent waste management
standards." The regulations differ from the Military Munitions Rule in
three principal ways.

1. California would reinstate conditional exemptions for transportation
and storage of waste munitions only through the normally required
application process. The federal rule automatically reinstates the
exemption if the application is not processed within 60 days.

2. DTSC lists criteria, not included in the federal rule, for defining
emergencies that exempt emergency responses from permit requirements. It
also imposes public notice and follow-up paperwork in certain
"emergency" situations.

3. "DTSC has added language to help clarify that a munition that has
been buried or has passed its shelf life without being redesignated for
another type of use is a waste."

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org

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