Characteristic Slags Generated From Thermal Recovery of Lead by Secondary Lead Smelters; Land Disposal Restrictions; Final Rule; Extension of Compliance Date

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an extension of the compliance date until November 26, 1998 for a limited portion of the Phase IV Final Rule, published on May 26, 1998 (63 FR 28556), which, in part, amended the Land Disposal Restriction (LDR) treatment standards for metal-bearing hazardous wastes exhibiting the toxicity characteristic. EPA is extending the date for treatment standards only for secondary lead slags exhibiting the toxicity characteristic for one or more metals that are generated from thermal recovery of lead-bearing wastes (principally batteries). The Agency is taking this action because there appear to be short-term logistical difficulties resulting in a temporary shortage of available treatment capacity for these particular wastes. In the interim, the slags affected by this extension remain subject to the treatment standards for toxicity characteristic metals promulgated in the Third Third Final Rule (55 FR 22520; June 1, 1990) and codified at 40 CFR 268.40.