The ASTSWMO letter to the House Armed Services Committtee regarding the FY 2015 budget request for Department of Defense Environmental Restoration Programs.

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) respectfully requests that the House Armed Services Committee carefully review and reconsider the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budget request for the Department of Defense (DOD) Environmental Restoration Programs.

Fluorescent Lamp Drum-Top Crusher Survey Results

U.S. EPA and State and Territorial (States) regulatory agencies recommend that mercury containing fluorescent lamps be recycled. One device commonly used by industry at the beginning of the recycling process is the drum‐top crusher (DTC). Studies have revealed significant problems with the release of mercury from some DTCs during operation, and there appears to be variability in how States regulate DTCs (from no regulation to requiring a treatment permit). This survey is to quantify the regulatory posture of States with regard to DTCs, to establish a baseline of knowledge, and assist the ASTSWMO Hazardous Waste Recycling Task Force in its dialogue with U.S. EPA on this topic.

ASTSWMO letter to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in response to the Commission’s denial of ASTSWMO’s 2009 petition for rulemaking on tritium exit signs

Thank you for your response dated December 2, 2011, to the petition for rulemaking (PRM) submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in December 2009 by the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO). We are pleased that the NRC is in agreement with ASTSWMO that general licensee accountability may be strengthened by enhancing regulatory guidance and improving communication between the NRC (and Agreement States) and manufacturers. We look forward to contributing to the enhancement of current guidance by participating in the revision of NUREG 1556.

ASTSWMO letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense regarding FY 2013 Formerly Used Defense Sites Budget Request

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) respectfully requests that the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense carefully review and reconsider the FY 2013 Budget Request for the Department of Defense (DOD) program dedicated to restoring contaminated Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS Program). The FY 2013 Budget Request of $237M is a significant reduction from previous appropriations for the FUDS Program; it is 28% less than the FY 2012 appropriation of $327M and 25% less than the $317M appropriated in FY 2011.

ASTSWMO Comments on U.S. EPA’s Plan EJ 2014

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) is providing the following comments to the 10 Dockets referenced above regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Plan EJ 2014 draft implementation plans. In addition, specifics comments to EPA-HQ-OECA-2011-0293, EPA’s Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting Draft Implementation Plan, are attached to this letter.

ASTSWMO Request for Extension of the Comment Period of the Proposed Rule Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Systems; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) respectfully requests a 120 day extension of the comment period for EPA’s proposed rulemaking for the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities.