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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES JANUARY 6 PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDING USED OIL REGULATIONS TO MAKE THEM LESS RESTRICTIVE TO BUSINESS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing on Friday, January 6 on proposed amendments to the state's hazardous waste regulations as they pertain to management of used oil. The proposed amendments would provide businesses that generate used, or waste, oil an alternative and less restrictive method for managing their used oil than is currently available to them. DEM worked with members of industry and local environmental groups to draft and refine the proposed amendments, which have subsequently been reviewed and approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency."The proposed amendments," said W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D., Director of DEM, "will provide protective oversight while being less costly for businesses to implement, and should facilitate the recycling of used oil." Among businesses that would benefit, he said, are auto service centers, trucking companies, and companies that use oil in their manufacturing processes. Under current regulations, used oil generators may be classified as hazardous waste generators depending on the characteristics of their used oil. Under the proposed regulations, a new category is proposed for used oil generators that recycle or reclaim their used oil. Such generators would not, under the proposed regulations, need to register with DEM as hazardous waste generators. In addition, used oil generators would be able to store up to two dozen 55-gallon drums of used oil without a time limit, and they would have up to180 days after exceeding the 24 drum accumulation limit to ship excess drums off-site. Generators would also be able to self-transport up to 55 gallons of used oil per shipment to a used oil burning or processing facility, and could burn used oil onsite as an alternative fuel in specific burners. Generators of used oil only would not be required to develop a hazardous waste contingency plan or provide hazardous waste management training to employees. In addition to easing restrictions on used oil generation, the proposed regulations would also set forth modified provisions governing used oil storage and burning facilities. Temporary storage facilities could store used oil onsite for up to 35 days after obtaining approval from DEM, and burning facilities could burn specific used oil onsite after notifying and/or obtaining DEM approval, rather than federal approval. Used oil processors and re-refiners would be required to obtain a permit from DEM. The draft amendments are available online at DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Compliance and Inspection" under "Programs". They are also available by calling DEM's Office of Customer & Technical Assistance at 222-6800. The January 6 public hearing will be held at 9 a.m. in Room 300 at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street in Providence. Written comments will be accepted at the hearing and may also be sent to DEM's Office of Compliance and Inspection, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908, to the attention of Sean Carney, by January 13. For additional information, call Carney, at DEM's Office of Compliance and Inspection at 222-4700 ext. 7411. -30- |
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