Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17663-17664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9064]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6323-2]


Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Project XL Proposed Final Project 
Agreement: Exxon Fairmont Coke Works Superfund Site Clean-up.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA is requesting comments on a proposed Project XL Final 
Project Agreement (FPA) for Exxon Company, U.S.A. (hereafter 
``Exxon''). The FPA is a voluntary agreement developed collaboratively 
by Exxon, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection 
(WVDEP), the Fairmont Community Liaison Panel (FCLP) and EPA. Project 
XL, announced in the Federal Register on May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282), 
gives regulated entities the flexibility to develop alternative 
strategies that will replace or modify specific regulatory or 
procedural requirements on the condition that they produce greater 
environmental benefits. EPA has set a goal of implementing fifty XL 
projects undertaken in full partnership with the states.
    The draft FPA presents an alternative strategy for clean-up of the 
Sharon Steel Fairmont Coke Works Superfund Site located in Fairmont, 
WV. The Site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) by EPA 
under the Superfund clean-up program on December 23, 1996. Exxon is the 
only Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) working with the EPA and WVDEP 
to clean up the Site.
    In the draft FPA, Exxon proposes that changes to the traditional 
Superfund clean-up process be made in (a) the regulatory approach used 
to characterize and clean-up the site, (b) risk assessment, (c) the 
management of onsite landfills (designation of an ``Area of 
Contamination''), (d) mitigation requirements for EPA-created wetlands 
onsite, (e) the commercial/industrial redevelopment of the Site, (f) 
the stakeholder/community involvement process, (g) reduction of 
paperwork, (h) quality assurance and (i) the support of regulatory 
involvement. Mechanisms for the implementation of these proposed 
changes, which represent the regulatory flexibilities being requested, 
are also presented.

DATES: The period for submission of comments ends on May 12, 1999.

ADDRESSEES: All comments on the proposed Final Project Agreement should 
be sent to: Melissa Whittington, U.S. EPA, Region III, 1650 Arch Street 
(3HS23), Philadelphia, PA 19103, or John DuPree, U.S. EPA, Room M3802 
(1802), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments may also be 
faxed to Ms. Whittington at (215) 814-3002 or Mr. DuPree (202) 260-
3125. Comments may also be received via electronic mail sent to: 
whittington.melissa@epa.gov or dupree.john@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain a copy of the proposed Final 
Project Agreement or Fact Sheet, contact: Melissa Whittington, U.S. 
EPA, Region III, 1650 Arch Street (3HS23),

[[Page 17664]]

Philadelphia, PA 19103, or John DuPree, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street SW Room 
M3802 (1802), Washington DC 20460. The FPA and related documents are 
also available via the Internet at the following location: https://
www.epa.gov/ProjectXL. In addition, public files on the project, 
including the FPA, are located at Marion County Library, 321 Monroe 
Street, Fairmont, WV 26554, (304) 366-1210. Questions to EPA regarding 
the documents can be directed to Melissa Whittington at (215) 814-3225 
or John DuPree at (202) 260-4468. To be included on the Exxon Project 
XL mailing list about future public meetings, XL progress reports and 
other mailings from Exxon on the XL project, contact Art Chin at (908) 
474-7295, Exxon Company, U.S.A., P.O. Box 728, Linden, NJ 07036. For 
information on all other aspects of the XL Program contact Christopher 
Knopes at the following address: Office of Reinvention, United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW Room M3802 (Mail Code 
1802), Washington, DC 20460. Additional information on Project XL, 
including documents referenced in this notice, other EPA policy 
documents related to Project XL, regional XL contacts, application 
information, and descriptions of existing XL projects and proposals, is 
available via the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL.

    Dated: April 2, 1999.
Lisa Lund,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Reinvention.
[FR Doc. 99-9064 Filed 4-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U