{"abstract":"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is finalizing an expanded set of extraction and determinative methods that can be used to characterize and verify the cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) waste under implementing regulations for PCB-related authority in the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (also referred to as the PCB regulations). These changes are expected to greatly reduce the amount of solvent used in PCB extraction processes, thereby conserving resources and reducing waste. In addition, the changes are expected to result in quicker, more efficient, and less costly cleanups, due to greater flexibility in the cleanup and disposal of PCB waste, while still being equally protective of human health and the environment. EPA is also finalizing several other amendments to the PCB regulations, including the amendment of the performance-based disposal option for PCB remediation waste; the removal of the provision allowing PCB bulk product waste to be disposed of as roadbed material; the addition of more flexible provisions for cleanup and disposal of waste generated by spills that occur during emergency situations (e.g., hurricanes or floods); harmonization of the general disposal requirements for PCB remediation waste; and other amendments to improve the implementation of the regulations, clarify ambiguity, and correct technical errors.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY","name":"Environmental Protection Agency","id":145,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/145","parent_id":null,"slug":"environmental-protection-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2023/08/29/2023-17708.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"761","title":40}],"citation":"88 FR 59662","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective February 26, 2024. The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 26, 2024. The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of January 18, 2012.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556","FRL-7122-03-OLEM"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Red Line Version of Proposed Revisions to 40 CFR 761","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0047"},{"title":"PCB Annual Report Form 3-11-20","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0044"},{"title":"Consolidated Petition on Behalf of USWAG Members to Use Automated Soxhlet Extraction (Method 3541) in Connection with June 10, 2014 Risk-Based Approvals to Dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Remediation Waste","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0043"},{"title":"Hurricane Michael PCB Disaster Waste Cleanup Guidance","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0042"},{"title":"R4 Hurricane Irma Disaster Debris Guidance","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0040"},{"title":"Form 7710-53 Notification of PCB Activity 3-11-20","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0039"},{"title":"Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Polyethylene (PE) Gas Distribution Piping","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0038"},{"title":"PCB Annual Report Form 6.7.19","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0037"},{"title":"Extraction of Organic Pollutants from Solid Samples Using Microwave Energy","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0033"},{"title":"Single Laboratory Method Validation Report - Extraction of Organophosphorus Pesticides, Herbicides, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) with Analytical Validation by GC/NPD and GC/ECD.  Prepared by Dionex","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0031"}],"agency_name":"EPA","documents":[{"comment_count":null,"comment_start_date":null,"updated_at":"2023-08-29T09:56:13.535-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0080","allow_late_comments":null,"id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0080","comment_end_date":null,"regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":49,"id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556","title":"Alternate PCB Extraction Methods and Amendments to PCB Cleanup and Disposal Regulations"}],"document_number":"2023-17708","effective_on":"2024-02-26","end_page":59696,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2023/08/29/2023-17708.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/29/2023-17708/alternate-pcb-extraction-methods-and-amendments-to-pcb-cleanup-and-disposal-regulations","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2023-17708?publication_date=2023-08-29","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2023-08-29/2023-17708/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":35,"page_views":{"count":7765,"last_updated":"2026-08-23 18:15:06 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-08-29/pdf/2023-17708.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-17708.pdf?1693226714","publication_date":"2023-08-29","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2023/08/29/2023-17708.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2050-AH08":{"issue":"202310","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2050-AH08/alternate-pcb-extraction-methods-and-amendments-to-pcb-cleanup-and-disposal-regulations","title":"Alternate PCB Extraction Methods and Amendments to PCB Cleanup and Disposal Regulations","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202310&RIN=2050-AH08&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2050-AH08"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Red Line Version of Proposed Revisions to 40 CFR 761","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0047"},{"title":"PCB Annual Report Form 3-11-20","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0044"},{"title":"Consolidated Petition on Behalf of USWAG Members to Use Automated Soxhlet Extraction (Method 3541) in Connection with June 10, 2014 Risk-Based Approvals to Dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Remediation Waste","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0043"},{"title":"Hurricane Michael PCB Disaster Waste Cleanup Guidance","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0042"},{"title":"R4 Hurricane Irma Disaster Debris Guidance","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0040"},{"title":"Form 7710-53 Notification of PCB Activity 3-11-20","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0039"},{"title":"Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Polyethylene (PE) Gas Distribution Piping","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0038"},{"title":"PCB Annual Report Form 6.7.19","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0037"},{"title":"Extraction of Organic Pollutants from Solid Samples Using Microwave Energy","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0556-0033"},{"title":"Single Laboratory Method Validation Report - Extraction of Organophosphorus Pesticides, Herbicides, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) with Analytical Validation by GC/NPD and GC/ECD.  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