SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

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Page Two CR89-192 The Laboratory's permit request is for the treatment and storage of all hazardous wastes at its main site in Livermore and includes the Laboratory's existing incinerator, which is considered a treatment facility. Wastes are generated during weapons, energy, and biomedical research. Under its Waste Minimization Program,the Laboratory treats its wastes at the source whenever possible and has improved its operating procedures and modified its processes to reduce their generation. Improved housekeeping and recycling have reduced wastes even further. Less than 5%of the wastes have been incinerated in the past and the incinerator has not been in regular use since October 1988,pending a decision on our permit by the regulatory agencies. Following treatment, all wastes are disposed of off-site. No wastes are disposed of at the Laboratory. EPA's Action and Public Hearing The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intention to deny the Laboratory's current application for a permit to continue to operate portions of our storage and treatment facilities,including the existing incinerator. The Laboratory will act expeditiously to meet all requirements that EPA feels we have failed to meet. We endeavor to be good stewards of the environment and give environmental, health and safety matters higher priority than programmatic goals. EPA is seeking additional information from the public and LLNL during a public comment period that is open through November 17. A public hearing will be held in Livermore on Thursday, November 16 with sessions beginning at 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm. The hearing will be held at The Barn, 3000 Pacific Avenue. For more information please contact the EPA at(415)974-8119. Following the review of all the data and comments submitted, EPA will make a final decision on the permit. Site 300 Permit Recently Received The Laboratory recently received a permit from EPA for the hazardous waste container storage area at Site 300. This permit will remain in effect for 10 years and is renewable providing that the Laboratory complies with federal laws governing the storage of wastes. Decontamsnarion and Waste Treatment Facility Review Panel Plans for this modern,comprehensive waste management facility are still under review by an in-house panel of expert Laboratory scientists and engineers who are thoroughly reviewing many aspects of this proposed project. We look forward to sharing their report and recommendations with you in the next few months. EPA has stated that its proposal to deny a permit for the Laboratory's existing waste treatment facilities does not affect the proposed DWTF, which is the subject of a separate permit request. In the meantime,the Laboratory continues to focus its attention on the Waste Minimization Program to identify other ways to reduce the generation of wastes on site.