PCBs and PCB Items

Generally, all electrical equipment with PCBs greater than or equal to 50 ppm, and containers in which PCB equipment maybe placed, must bear a warning label that will last as long as the PCB Article, PCB Equipment, or PCB Container. The label must bear letters on white or yellow background the size of the mark is to be at least six inches on each side. Where this mark is specified but the PCB item is too small to accommodate its size, a smaller mark is specified. 

These regulations require marking PCB Transformers, but do not clearly state who is responsible for making sure they are marked. In In the Matter of Nello Santacroce Dominic Fanelli d/b/a Gilroy Associates the Environmental Appeals Board concluded that only owners and operators of PCB Transformers have an obligation to mark them. A person who owns property that has a PCB Transformer on it is not liable for failure to mark it if that person does not own or operate it. 

The location of PCB Transformers and PCB Large Low Voltage Capacitors must be marked in addition to marking the equipment itself, by marking the vault door, machinery room door, fence, hallway, pole, or means of access.  

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CFR761 41CFR101-42.1102-2(e)(l) 4.8.4.12 Abandonment and destruction - PCBs and PCB items not disposed of via utilization, donation, or sale shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the EPA regulation (40CFR761) and applicable State laws. 

C.ER. 761.3 defines PCB wastes in a circular fashion as those PCBs and PCB Items that are subject to the disposal requirements of subpart D [of Part 761]. ... 

Similarly, no person may export PCBs or PCB Items for disposal with the exception of PCBs and PCB Items at concentrations less than 50 ppm, which... 

PCB waste is defined as those PCBs and PCB Items that are subject to the disposal requirements of subpart D [of Part 761]. 40 C.F.R. 761.3. Therefore, PCBs that are not regulated for disposal, e.g., non-hquid bulk waste or debris from the demolition of buildings containing PCB concentrations less than 50 ppm, are not subject to the notification and manifesting requirements. 

Complete the annual report of PCBs and PCB items by July 1 of each year. This report must be retained for 5 years. 

Dulumyea, R. J. Johnson, G. Richard, and A. M. Takata, "Guidelines for the Disposal of PCBs and PCB Items by Thermal Destruction," United States Environmental Protection Agency, Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, (February 1981), EPA-600/2-81-022. (Available from NTIS as PB 81-182339). ... 

Table 7.12 summarizes the level of POPs contamination in eight main locally consumed food groups in 2003. With the exception of DDT and HCB, POPs pesticides were not detected in most food groups. DDT was found in cereals, fruits, dairy products and seafoods, while HCB was detected in cereals only. PCBs was not detected in fruits, dairy products, meats or poultry, but found in seafood items at a mean concentration of 4.07 pg g-1 food. Measurable levels of dioxins/furans were found in cereals, dairy products, eggs, seafoods, meats and poultry, with mean dioxin/furan levels ranging from 0.001 (meats) to 0.285 (seafoods) pg TEQ g-1 food. Dioxins/furans were not analyzed in vegetable and fruit items sampled in 2003. 

Linear regression analyses using the NOS as the dependent variable and either maternal PCB-cord sum, maternal PCB-serum sum, or the child s PCB level at 42 months as the exposure found no associations between this outcome and any of these exposure variables. (Each exposure variable was modeled separately). Potential confounders in each model included the study center, the type of feeding during early life, the duration of breast feeding, and several items from the obstetrical optimality score (i.e.,... 

Although there are exceptions, such as waste oils used for energy recovery, PCB wastes are generally regulated for disposal under TSCA at concentrations of 50 ppm. The requirements for the disposal of PCB liquids and PCB items will be codified at 40 CFR 761.60. Disposal requirements for PCB remediation waste or PCB bulk product waste will be codified in 40 CFR 761.61 and 761.62, respectively. When the components of a waste are PCBs and non-PCB contaminants, and the PCB component is approved for disposal, the non-PCB component must meet the requirements of all other applicable statues or regulatory authorities prior to disposal (EPA 1998a). 

CFR101-42.1102-2(a)(4) 4.8.4.2 All PCBs (see definition) and PCB items (see definition) to be transferred, donated, or sold shall be labeled or marked clearly with atoxic hazard warning as specified in 41CFR101-42.1102-2(a)(4). 

CFR761 41CFR101-42.1102-2(b)(2) SF 122 4.8.4.S To obtain GSA s approval for transfers of excess PCBs or PCB items, (a) the items shall be intact, non-leaking, and totally enclosed, and (b) the SF 122 shall cite the specific provision in 40CFR761 that allows continued use of the item, and contains a certification that the product has been inspected by the transferee and that it complies with all applicable provisions of 40CFR761. 

CFR761 41CFR101-42.1102-2(b)(3) 4.8.4.6 When a PCB or PCB item is transferred as excess, the receiving agency shall note in its property accountability records the nature and concentration of the PCB and shall list the provisions of 40CFR761 authorizing its use. 

CFR42.1102-2(a)(4) 41CFR101-42.1102-2(d)(3) 4.8.4.11 If PCBs or PCB items are to be sold, the invitation for bid (IFB), any Standard Form that lists such items, and any sales literature related to these items shall contain the warning as prescribed in 41CFR42.1102-2(a)(4). 

Coils and transformers. Items containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). 

Paralleling 6(e), the regulations provide that no persons may use any PCB, or any PCB Item regardless of concentration, in any manner other than in a totally enclosed matmer within the United States unless authorized. Exceptions to the authorization requirement are provided for excluded manufacturing processes and excluded PCB products. 

The storage for disposal requirements apply to PCBs wastes at concentrations of 50 ppm or greater and PCB Items with PCB concentrations of 50 ppm or greater. 

The importation of PCBs is manufacturing for purposes of TSCA and the PCB regulations. Therefore, the statutory prohibition on manufacture of PCBs absent an authorization or exemption applies equally to the importation of PCBs. Additionally, no person may import PCBs or PCB Items for disposal without an exemption. 

Perform the required inspections, and maintain an accurate log of PCB items, their location, inspection results, and actions taken. These records must be maintained for 3 years after disposal of the PCB component. 

Does facility maintain regular inspection and maintenance history of each PCB item including ... 

From C.L. Mantel (ed.). Solid Wastes Origin, Collection Frocessing and Disposal Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1975. PCBs added to item 36. 

A closed item containing toxic chemicals (e.g., a transformer containing PCBs) that does not release the chemicals during normal use is considered an article if the facility uses the item as intended and the toxic chemicals are not released. If the facility services the transformer by replacing the toxic chemicals, the chemicals added during the reporting year must be counted in threshold and release calculations. 

It is assumed that most small items containing PCBs, sealers, dyes, etc. have been disposed with household or construction waste. Due to numerous dissipative applications, on the one hand, and high persistence of PCBs, on the other hand, the contaminations will last for further decades. 

The general population is mainly exposed to PCBs through common food items. Fatty food of animal origin, such as meat, certain fish and diary products are the major sources of human exposure. Owing to considerable differences in the kinetic behaviour of individual PCB congeners, human exposure to PCB from food items differs markedly in composition compared to the composition of commercial PCB mixtures. 

Work programme of CEN TC 275 Working Group 3 Pesticides in Fatty Foods Work Item A determination of pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) ... 

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