From: SVETKOVICH Christine
Sent: Thu Jan 05 08:11:07 2012
To: (All DEQ) Executive Management Team
Cc: RAWSON Stephanie; FULLER Brian
Subject: FYI: Follow-up from EJTF meeting re: Conversion Technologies Rulemaking
Importance: Normal
Hi All- Nina asked me to send you all a note letting you know the EJ Task Force’s interest in our Conversion Technologies Rulemaking.
At the last EJ Task Force meeting (December 16th) I provided a verbal update on the planned rulemaking regarding Conversion Technologies asked if any of the EJ Task Force members had interest in participating on the rulemaking committee or had recommendations for anyone else that might be interested. There was a lot of discussion and general interest on the topic as well as some technical questions I could not answer. I was asked to follow-up with a written description of the rulemaking (see below).
To date, I have not heard from any of the Task Force members regarding interest in participation or recommendations for others but am committed to providing them updates throughout the process. They will meet again sometime in March and I will work with Stephanie and Brian to provide an update at that time.
Please let me know if there are any questions.
Christine
From: SVETKOVICH Christine
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 3:39 PM
To: 'Benjamin DUNCAN'
Subject: Follow-up from EJTF meeting re: Conversion Technologies Rulemaking
Thanks for a great meeting Ben! Let’s be in touch after the holidays regarding your thoughts for any DEQ presentations at the next EJTF meeting. I want to make sure we have time to adequately prepare and get it on peoples calendars if you would like to schedule us at the next meeting.
Below is my request for an EJ Task Force member to participate in the “conversion technologies” rulemaking (or a recommendation for someone who can represent environmental justice interests) and some background on the topic.
Let me know if you have any questions. Hope you and your family have an enjoyable holiday season-
Christine
Conversion technologies generally are technologies that convert unrecyclable solid waste into useful products, chemicals and fuels such as green fuels and renewable energy, in an environmentally beneficial way. These technologies may be thermal, chemical, biological, mechanical, or a combination of processes, but do not include incineration (waste combustion). Note: DEQ currently does not have a definition of conversion technology so the definition provided is cobbled together from various sources (thus the need for a rulemaking).
DEQ is embarking on a rulemaking process to establish a new permit category for conversion technology facilities; define conversion technology; establish an appropriate fee schedule; and establish performance standards in conjunction with risk-based solid waste permit requirements. Existing solid waste rules do not provide performance standards or permit requirements that are appropriate for conversion technology facilities. These rules are intended to develop a performance-based regulatory approach for conversion technology facilities that applies requirements based on level of environmental and public health risk posed by the facility.
DEQ is establishing an Advisory Committee/Work Group for this rulemaking. Members will be asked to attend a series of meetings over the course of the rulemaking, which will likely last a year. The first meeting is scheduled for the week of January 23, 2012.
DEQ would like to include representation of environmental justice communities/interests on the work group. If any Environmental Justice Task Force members are interested in participating, or have suggestions of some who may be interested, please let me know as soon as possible.
Best-
Christine