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2/24/22, 4:24 PM eCFR :: 40 CFR Part 761 Subpart G — PCB Spill Cleanup Policy
<br />Standard wipe test means, for spills of high-concentration PCBs on solid surfaces, a cleanup to numerical surface standards and sampling by
<br />a standard wipe test to verify that the numerical standards have been met. This definition constitutes the minimum requirements for an
<br />appropriate wipe testing protocol. A standard-size template (10 centimeters (cm) x 10 cm) will be used to delineate the area of cleanup;
<br />the wiping medium will be a gauze pad or glass wool of known size which has been saturated with hexane. It is important that the wipe
<br />be performed very quickly after the hexane is exposed to air. EPA strongly recommends that the gauze (or glass wool) be prepared with
<br />hexane in the laboratory and that the wiping medium be stored in sealed glass vials until it is used for the wipe test. Further, EPA requires
<br />the collection and testing of field blanks and replicates.
<br />[52 FR 10705, Apr. Z 1987; 52 FR 23397, June 19, 19871
<br />§761.125 Requirements for PCB spill cleanup.
<br />(a) General. Unless expressly limited, the reporting, disposal, and precleanup sampling requirements in paragraphs (a) (1) through (3) of this
<br />section apply to all spills of PCBs at concentrations of 50 ppm or greater which are subject to decontamination requirements under
<br />TSCA, including those spills listed under § 761.120(b) which are excluded from the cleanup standards at paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
<br />section.
<br />(1) Reporting requirements. The reporting in paragraphs (a)(1) (i) through (iv) of this section is required in addition to applicable
<br />reporting requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA) or the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
<br />Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). For example, under the National Contingency Plan all spills involving 1 pound or more by weight of
<br />PCBs must currently be reported to the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802). The requirements in paragraphs (a)(1) (i)
<br />through (iv) of this section are designed to be consistent with existing reporting requirements to the extent possible so as to
<br />minimize reporting burdens on governments as well as the regulated community.
<br />Where a spill directly contaminates surface water, sewers, or drinking water supplies, as discussed under § 761.120(d), the
<br />responsible party shall notify the appropriate EPA regional office and obtain guidance for appropriate cleanup measures in the
<br />shortest possible time after discovery, but in no case later than 24 hours after discovery.
<br />(ii) Where a spill directly contaminates grazing lands or vegetable gardens, as discussed under § 761.120(d), the responsible party
<br />shall notify the appropriate EPA regional office and proceed with the immediate requirements specified under paragraph (b) or
<br />(c) of this section, depending on the source of the spill, in the shortest possible time after discovery, but in no case later than
<br />24 hours after discovery.
<br />Where a spill exceeds 10 pounds of PCBs by weight and is not addressed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) or (ii) of this section, the
<br />responsible party will notify the appropriate EPA regional office and proceed to decontaminate the spill area in accordance
<br />with this TSCA policy in the shortest possible time after discovery, but in no case later than 24 hours after discovery.
<br />Spills of 10 pounds or less, which are not addressed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) or (ii) of this section, must be cleaned up in
<br />accordance with this policy (in order to avoid EPA enforcement liability), but notification of EPA is not required.
<br />(2) Disposal of cleanup debris and materials. All concentrated soils, solvents, rags, and other materials resulting from the cleanup of
<br />PCBs under this policy shall be properly stored, labeled, and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of subpart D of this part.
<br />(3)
<br />
<br />Determination of spill boundaries in the absence of visible traces. For spills where there are insufficient visible traces yet there is
<br />evidence of a leak or spill, the boundaries of the spill are to be determined by using a statistically based sampling scheme.
<br />(b) Requirements for cleanup of low-concentration spills which involve less than 1 pound of PCBs by weight (less than 270 gallons of
<br />untested mineral oil) -
<br />(1) Decontamination requirements. Spills of less than 270 gallons of untested mineral oil, low-concentration PCBs, as defined under §
<br />761.123, which involve less than 1 pound of PCBs by weight (e.g., less than 270 gallons of untested mineral oil containing less than
<br />500 ppm PCBs) shall be cleaned in the following manner:
<br />Solid surfaces must be double washed/rinsed (as defined under § 761.123); except that all indoor, residential surfaces other
<br />than vault areas must be cleaned to 10 micrograms per 100 square centimeters (10 pg/100 cm2) by standard commercial
<br />wipe tests.
<br />All soil within the spill area (i.e., visible traces of soil and a buffer of 1 lateral foot around the visible traces) must be excavated,
<br />and the ground be restored to its original configuration by back-filling with clean soil (i.e., containing less than 1 ppm PCBs).
<br />Requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section must be completed within 48 hours after the responsible party
<br />was notified or became aware of the spill.
<br />(2) Effect of emergency or adverse weather. Completion of cleanup may be delayed beyond 48 hours in case of circumstances including
<br />but not limited to, civil emergency, adverse weather conditions, lack of access to the site, and emergency operating conditions. The
<br />occurrence of a spill on a weekend or overtime costs are not acceptable reasons to delay response. Completion of cleanup may be
<br />delayed only for the duration of the adverse conditions. If the adverse weather conditions, or time lapse due to other emergency, has
<br />left insufficient visible traces, the responsible party must use a statistically based sampling scheme to determine the spill
<br />boundaries as required under paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
<br />(3)
<br />
<br />Records and certification. At the completion of cleanup, the responsible party shall document the cleanup with records and
<br />certification of decontamination. The records and certification must be maintained for a period of 5 years. The records and
<br />certification shall consist of the following:
<br />https.//www.ecfr.govicurrent/title-40/chapter-Usubchapter-R/part-761/subpart-G 4/7
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