Remediation of PCBs and the PCB Spill Cleanup Policy

Depending on the date of the release and nature of contaminated media, EPA provides several cleanup and disposal options. Any party may proceed to clean up any PCB remediation waste based on the concentration of PCBs found, and may do so either (i) as a self-implementing on-site cleanup and disposal (ii) consistent with performance-based disposal standards or (iii) pursuant to a risk-based cleanup and disposal approval received from the Administration. In addition, and with regard to a more limited class of PCB spills and releases, a party may proceed with cleanup and disposal under the EPA s PCB Spill Cleanup Policy.  

PCB cleanups are overseen by the EPA s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), which handles cleanups in general, and not by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, which is the office that implements most of the TSCA programs. In addition to PCB cleanups, OSWER implements the TSCA regulations concerning PCB disposal, storage, processing, and distribution for disposal. Which office handles which function is detailed in two memoranda issued by the EPA.  

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