929 Proposed State plan to implement emission guidelines for hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators; public hearing

Proposed State Plan to Implement Emission Guidelines for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators; Public Hearing

[28 Pa.B. 2728]

   Under sections 111(d) and 129 of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated standards for new hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators (HMIWI) in 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ec and Emission Guidelines for ''existing'' HMIWI in Subpart Ce to control the emissions of designated pollutants. (See 62 FR 48348, September 15, 1997). The designated pollutants regulated under the Guidelines include particulate matter (PM); metals (cadmium, lead and mercury); acid gases (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and nitrogen oxides), organic compounds (dioxins and furans); and carbon monoxide. States must submit a section 111(d)/129 for HMIWI to the EPA within 12 months after publication of the final emission guidelines to implement and enforce the Subpart Ce requirements. Consequently, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) must develop and submit the State Plan for HMIWI to the EPA no later than September 15, 1998.

   For purposes of the State Plan, a hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerator is a device that combusts any amount of hospital waste or medical/infectious waste. The designated HMIWI source category is divided into small (less than or equal to 200 lb/hr), medium (greater than 200 lb/hr but less than or equal to 500 lb/hr) and large (greater than 500 lb/hr) subcategories based on the maximum design waste burning capacity. A facility is considered an existing HMIWI if the facility commenced construction on or before June 20, 1996. Approximately 54 existing HMIWI facilities are currently subject to the proposed HMIWI State Plan and Emission Guidelines in 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart Ce. The State Plan developed and implemented under sections 111(d) and 129 of CAA, is not an element of State Implementation Plans required under section 110 of the CAA.

   The Department will hold three public hearings for the purpose of accepting testimony on the proposed State Plan for designated HMIWI facilities. The public hearings will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates at the following Department locations:

July 15, 1998	Southeast Regional Office Main Conference Room 555 North Lane, Suite 6010 Conshohocken, PA 19428
July 16, 1998	Rachel Carson State Office Building Room 105 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
July 21, 1998	Southwest Regional Office Monongahela Room 400 Waterfront Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4745

   Persons wishing to present testimony at a hearing should contact Kimberly Maneval at the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, [phone] at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony. Persons who do not reserve a time to testify will be able to testify after preregistered witnesses. Each witness must keep oral testimony to 10 minutes, and submit three written copies of the oral testimony at the hearing. Each organization should designate one witness to present testimony on its behalf.

   Persons interested in submitting written comments on the proposed State Plan should send the comments to Krishnan Ramamurthy, Chief, Technical Support Section, Division of Permits, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468. Written comments must be received by the close of business on July 31, 1998. Copies of the proposed adopted State Plan for HMIWI may be obtained from Krishnan Ramamurthy at the above address or at [phone] (e-mail: [e-mail]. pa.us). This proposed State Plan is also available on the DEP Web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Public Participation Center/Proposals Open for comment). A copy of the proposed HMIWI State Plan will be available for review in each of the Department's regional offices.

   Persons with a disability who will attend a hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Krishnan Ramamurthy at the above address or telephone number; or for TDD users, the AT&T Relay Service at 1 [phone] to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-929. Filed for public inspection June 12, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]