Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's) were introduced in the 1930's and were seen as widespread use. But in the 1970's, they were banned after finding that they are toxic and posed a risk for the environment. This information was obtained by Andrew Havics', "Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)".
Contamination of the Fox River from PCBs illustration.
Disposal Requirements:
The disposal requirements of PCB waste steams must be managed according to the original source of the concentration, including those of older spills. However, the redefining of PCB remediation waste most permits these wastes to be managed according to the concentration of the current medium and not from the actual source. In the winter of year 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency issues a temporary deferral of the Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) to direct the attention of contaminated soil that exhibit toxicity levels of wastes. This deferral does not apply where the total halogens exceed 1,000 ppm in the soil. This rule was instituted to reverse the previous regulations that resulted in discouraging generators from cleaning up contaminated soils.PCB Remediation Waste:
The Mega Rule implemented three disposal options for PCB waste: self-implementing, performance-based, and risk-based. Self-implementing waste disposal is permitted for bulk PCB remediation waste, non-porus surfaces, porous surfaces (this includes concrete), liquids, and clean-up wastes. The calculation of PCB concentrations in any new clean-up should be based on the concentration at which the PCBs are found rather than on the original source concentration. One significant aspect of this is that any soil containing <50 ppm PCB's can be placed in a municipal or more industrial, non-hazardous landfill is permitted to accept low-level PCB wastes. The performance-based disposal options are for liquids, incineration or decontamination, for solids (TSCA incineration, TSCA landfill, or decontamination), and for dredged material containing <50 ppm PCBs (management per the Clean Water Act and US Army Corps of Engineers permitting). The EPA permits petitioning of the Administrator for alternative risk-based disposal options, other those that are already discussed, as long as the proposed storage or disposal method does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.
Site Cleanup:
EPA's rules allow self-implementing remediation, except in "sensitive locations". These aspects include site characterization (including sampling), a 30 day notification to EPA, specified cleanup levels, site clean up protocols, clean-up verification, capping, and deed restriction. Site cleanup regulations permit on-site use of soil washing and solvent extraction systems or decontamination as well as off-site disposal. Deed restrictions may be required depending on the occupancy standard.
Decontamination:
The rule permits decontamination of a broad array of items including building components, equipment, water, organic liquids, non-porous surfaces, concrete, and coated porous surfaces. The decontamination methods include a long list of solvents used for cleaning as well as thermal processes for metal surfaces. For any liquids, the treatment standards vary with end use. The regulations provided new standards for non-porous surfaces that are in contact with liquids containing >500 ppm PCBs. Concrete is permitted to be decontaminated within 72 hours of a spill to achieve a surface concentration of <ug/100cm^2 for reuse. Records retention of sampling and analysis data is set at a minimum three years after completion of decontamination.
PCB caution label
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