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Interpretive Guidance

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PCB Site Revitalization Guidance PCB Question and Answer Manuals PCB Spill Cleanup Policy Guidance Manuals Historical Information on the Natural Gas Pipeline Compliance Monitoring Program Policy Statements and Letters Planning for Natural Disasters

PCB Site Revitalization Guidance Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (PDF) (87 pp, 11.2MB)

About the Guidance – The Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Site Revitalization Guidance (the guidance) provides information on characterizing, cleaning up, containing, and disposing of PCB waste (for example, soil and other debris generated as a result of any PCB spill cleanup). The guidance has been developed to assist individuals engaging in PCB remediation efforts to comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PCB regulations, the “Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce and Use Prohibitions,” found at 40 CFR Part 761. The document may be useful to Brownfields grant recipients or others revitalizing old properties that involve PCB cleanups under TSCA.

The guidance discusses the factors that must be taken into consideration when determining appropriate cleanup levels (for example, the type of PCB waste or the intended use of the brownfields site). Also discussed are the requirements for verifying that the cleanup standard has been met and for establishing deed restrictions (where necessary), and the options available for disposing of PCB wastes. In addition, other relevant TSCA PCB requirements are mentioned, such as covering/capping PCB-contaminated areas, waste storage, waste container marking, manifesting and recordkeeping requirements.

This guidance does not replace or supplant the requirements of the TSCA PCB regulations, nor does it establish a presumption against enforcement should any violations of PCB cleanup and disposal regulations be discovered. For specific regulatory and legal requirements, please refer to the PCB regulations at 40 CFR Part 761 (PDF) (129 pp, 6.7MB). You can also contact the appropriate EPA Regional PCB Coordinator if you have more questions concerning acceptable remediation practices.

Federal Register Notice for PCB Site Revitalization Guide

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PCB Question and Answer Manuals

PCB Question and Answer Manual (PDF) (135 pp, 315K) (As of January 2009)
About the PCB Question and Answer Manual: The PCB Q and A manual is a living document and is periodically revised and updated. It is recommended that our customers periodically check this web page for updates instead of relying solely on a single hard copy. Each update or revision will be denoted with an "As of..." date which will not change until the next revision is made.

TSCA Disposal Requirements for Fluorescent Light Ballasts (PDF) (1 pg, 4K)

Proper Maintenance, Removal, and Disposal of PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts

Sampling Guidance for 40 CFR 761 Subparts M, O, P and R (PDF) (28 pp, 201K)

2004 Supplemental Response to Comments Document on the Proposed Rule – Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PDF) (12 pp, 52K)

1998 Response to Comments Document (PDF) (234 pp, 632K)

1994 Question and Answer Document (PDF) (221 pp, 437K)

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PCB Spill Cleanup Policy Guidance Manuals

These two documents are part of the PCB Spill Cleanup Policy and are referenced in 40 CFR 761.130(e)). Even though the PCB Spill Cleanup Policy is found in the Code of Federal Regulations, it is an enforcement policy and not a regulation. In addition to other applicability limitations found in 40 CFR 761.120, this policy only applies to spills less than 72 hours old. The use of the methods in these documents is an option, not a requirement. If the reader has any questions as to the interpretation or applicability of the Policy, including the use of these documents or any variations or waivers provided for in the Policy, the reader should contact the Regional PCB Coordinator in the EPA Region where the spill occurred.

The applicability for the use of the methods and procedures in this paragraph are not extended to any other part, subpart, section or paragraph of 40 CFR 761 without prior written approval from EPA.

These documents have been scanned in and as result the files are large and may take a few moments to open or download.

Verification of PCB Spill Cleanup by Sampling and Analysis (PDF) (74 pp, 63.4MB) (EPA-560/5-85-026, August, 1985)

Field Manual for Grid Sampling of PCB Spill Sites to Verify Cleanup (PDF) (55 pp, 38.4MB) (EPA-560/5-86-017, May 1986)

Wipe Sampling and Double Wash/Rinse Cleanup as Recommended By the Environmental Protection Agency PCB Spill Cleanup Policy – April 1991 (PDF) (31 pp, 119K)

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Historical Information on the Natural Gas Pipeline Compliance Monitoring Program

Introduction to the Natural Gas Pipeline Compliance Monitoring Program

The documents listed below provide the history of the Compliance Monitoring Program (CMP) and and list the participating companies.

For more information on PCBs and Natural Gas Pipelines, contact Peter Gimlin (gimlin.peter@epa.gov) at 202-566-0515.
For more information on this particular compliance program, contact Mike Calhoun (calhoun.michael@epa.gov) at 202-564-6031.

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Policy Statements and Letters

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Planning for Natural Disasters

Planning for Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)-Containing Debris (PDF) (33 pp, 439K)
June 2011

This document provides suggestions to local emergency planning committees and local governments on planning for the management of damaged PCB-containing electrical equipment and materials contaminated with PCBs as a result of PCB spills or other environmental releases during an emergency situation caused by a natural disaster. In addition, for emergency responders, the document describes TSCA regulations that apply to damaged PCB-containing electrical equipment and the approaches under TSCA to assess, clean up, and dispose of materials contaminated with PCBs that have been spilled or otherwise released.

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