NWPPA Hazardous Materials Task Force update.(Hazardous Materials Update)

The April 5, 2004 meeting of the NWPPA Hazardous Materials Task Force was held at the Boise Convention Center in Boise, Idaho. The meeting was well attended. Both Dan Duncan, Region X PCB Coordinator for EPA Region X in Seattle, and by Greg Weigel, EPA Regional Office, in Boise, Idaho updated the Task Force on the latest EPA developments and discussed, in detail, SPCC planning requirements.

EPA Speaks

EPA is developing a National PCB Strategy to integrate the PBT strategy and PCB action plan to reduce both sets of chemicals in the United States and overseas. As the result of the "Greening of Government," Presidential E.O. 13148, the Federal government is committing to reduce PCB uses to levels similar to private enterprise. NWPPA Task Force members were strongly supportive of this initiative.

In implementing the Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic Initiative (PBT) Program, EPA is seeking to reduce risk in terms of measurable environmental outcomes. This means that, for example, EPA will monitor the number of 1) PCB transformers; 2) PCB capacitors; 3) PCB containing electrical equipment; or 4) pounds or kilograms reduced on each year or each five years. EPA wants to work with electric utilities to develop incentives to reach measurable reductions. EPA is seeking ideas and a partnership with utilities to develop incentives.

EPA's effort to develop a partnership with utilities is a sincere and productive approach. For over a year, EPA officials have met with the Task Force seeking ideas and …