3082 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[SWH–FRL–6524–3]

Recovered Materials Advisory Notice

III

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final

Document.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency is providing notice of the

availability of the final Recovered

Materials Advisory Notice III (RMAN

III) and supporting materials. The final

RMAN III contains EPA’s

recommendations for purchasing 18

items designated in the final

Comprehensive Procurement Guideline

III, which is published elsewhere in

today’s Federal Register. This action

will help use government purchasing

power to stimulate the use of recovered

materials in the manufacture of new

products and expand markets for those

recovered materials. EPA designates

items that are or can be made with

recovered materials and provides

recommendations for the procurement

of these items under section 6002 of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery

Act of 1976 (RCRA). The 18 items EPA

is making recommendations for include:

Carpet cushion; flowable fill; railroad

grade crossing surfaces; park benches

and picnic tables; playground

equipment; food waste compost; plastic

lumber landscaping timbers and posts;

solid plastic binders; plastic clipboards;

plastic file folders; plastic clip

portfolios; plastic presentation folders;

sorbents (i.e., absorbents and

adsorbents); awards and plaques;

industrial drums; mats; signage; and

manual-grade strapping. The final

RMAN III contains recommended

recovered materials content levels for

these items and provides other

purchasing recommendations. RMAN III

also contains revised recovered

materials content recommendations for

steel shower and restroom dividers/

partitions, steel recycling containers and

waste receptacles, and the steel

components of traffic barricades and

delineators. These items were

previously designated in CPG I and II

with recommendations provided in

RMAN I and II. The revised

recommended recovered materials

content levels for these previously

designated items are based on

comments submitted on the draft RMAN

III for all items containing recovered

steel.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The recommendations

for purchasing the 18 newly-designated

items are effective January 19, 2001. The

recommendations for previously

designated items (i.e., steel shower and

restroom dividers/partitions, steel

recycling containers and waste

receptacles, and steel components of

traffic barricades and delineators) are

effective January 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The public docket for this

notice is Docket F–1999–CP3F–FFFFF.

Documents related to today’s notice are

available for viewing in the RCRA

Information Center (RIC), which is

located at U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Crystal Gateway

One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Ground Floor, Arlington, VA 22202. The

RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except for

Federal holidays. To review docket

materials, it is recommended that the

public make an appointment by calling

(703) 603–9230. Copies cost $0.15/page.

The index and some supporting

materials are available electronically.

For information on accessing the

documents electronically, see Section V

of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

general information contact the RCRA

Hotline at (800) 424–9346 or TDD (800)

553–7672 (hearing impaired). In the

Washington, DC metropolitan area, call

(703) 412–9810 or TDD (703) 412–3323.

For technical information on individual

item recommendations, contact Terry

Grist at (703) 308–7257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Preamble Outline

I. What is the statutory authority for this

action?

II. Why is EPA taking this action?

III. What are the definitions of terms used in

this action?

V. What did commenters say about the

recommendations in the draft RMAN III?

A. Comments on Proposed Items Containing

Recovered Steel

B. Comments on Specifications for Flowable

Fill

V. Supporting Information and Accessing

Internet

I. What Is the Statutory Authority for

This Action?

The Recovered Materials Advisory

Notice III (RMAN III) is published under

the authority of sections 2002(a) and

6002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as

amended by the Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), as

amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912(a) and 6962;

and Executive Order (E.O.) 13101 (63 FR

49643, September 14, 1998).

II. Why Is EPA Taking This Action?

Section 6002 of RCRA establishes a

Federal buy-recycled program. RCRA

section 6002(e) requires EPA to (1)

designate items that are or can be

produced with recovered materials and

(2) prepare guidelines to assist

procuring agencies in complying with

affirmative procurement requirements

set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (I) of

section 6002. Once EPA designates an

item, section 6002 requires that each

procuring agency that procures the

designated item using appropriated

Federal funds, must procure that item

containing the highest percentage of

recovered materials practicable. For the

purposes of RCRA section 6002,

procuring agencies include the

following: (1) Any Federal agency; (2)

any State or local agencies using

appropriated Federal funds for a

procurement; and (3) any contractors

with these agencies (with respect to

work performed under the contract).

The requirements of section 6002 apply

to procuring agencies only when

procuring a designated item where the

price of the item exceeds $10,000 or

when the quantity of the item, or

functionally equivalent items,

purchased in the previous year

exceeded $10,000.

Executive Order 13101 (63 FR 49643,

September 14, 1998) requires EPA to

designate items in a Comprehensive

Procurement Guideline (CPG) and

publish guidance that contains EPA’s

recommended recovered materials

content levels for the designated items

in Recovered Materials Advisory

Notices (RMAN). The Executive Order

(E.O.) also requires EPA to update the

CPG every two years and the RMAN

periodically to reflect changes in market

conditions. EPA codifies the CPG

designations in the Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR), but, because the

recommendations are guidance, the

RMAN is not codified in the CFR. This

process allows EPA to revise its

recommendations in a timely manner

and in response to changes in a

product’s availability or recovered

materials content.

EPA promulgated the CPG I and

issued notice of RMAN I on May 1, 1995

(60 FR 21370 and 21386, respectively).

CPG I designated 19 items and

consolidated five previous item

designations made in earlier EPA

procurement guidelines, and RMAN I

recommended purchasing practices for

these 24 items. On November 13, 1997,

EPA published CPG II (62 FR 60962),

which designated an additional 12 items

and concurrently published an RMAN II

(62 FR 60975). The final RMAN II also

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3083

provided clarification of EPA’s 1995

recommendations for purchasing floor

tiles containing recovered materials.

Paper Products RMANs were issued on

May 29, 1996 (61 FR 26985) and June

8, 1998 (63 FR 31214). On August 26,

1998, EPA proposed CPG III (63 FR

4558), which proposed to designate an

additional 19 items. EPA concurrently

published a draft RMAN III (63 FR

45580). The 19 items EPA proposed for

designation were: nylon carpet with

backing containing recovered materials;

carpet cushion; flowable fill; railroad

grade crossing surfaces; park benches

and picnic tables; playground

equipment; food waste compost; plastic

lumber landscaping timbers and posts;

solid plastic binders; plastic clipboards;

plastic file folders; plastic clip

portfolios; plastic presentation folders;

sorbents (i.e., absorbents and

adsorbents); awards and plaques;

industrial drums; mats; signage; and

manual-grade strapping. Today, EPA is

publishing recommendations for 18 of

the 19 items. EPA is not designating

nylon carpet with backing containing

recovered materials at this time and,

therefore, is not publishing final

recommendations for purchasing this

item. The reasons for this decision are

discussed in the final CPG III, published

in the rules section of today’s Federal

Register.

EPA wants to stress that the

recommendations in its RMAN are just

that—recommendations and guidance to

procuring agencies to help them meet

their obligations under section 6002.

The designation of an item as one that

is or can be manufactured with

recovered materials and the inclusions

of recommended content levels for an

item in an RMAN do not require the

procurement of an item when it is not

suitable for an agency’s intended

purpose. Section 6002 is explicit about

this when it authorizes a procuring

agency not to procure a designated item

which ‘‘fails to meet the performance

standards set forth in the applicable

specification or fails to meet the

reasonable performance standards of the

procuring agencies.’’(Section 6002(1)(B),

42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(B)).

Thus, for example, in the final CPG III

published elsewhere in today’s Federal

Register, EPA is designating playground

equipment as an item that is or can be

produced with recovered materials. The

Agency’s research shows that this item

is available in either steel, aluminum, or

plastic containing recovered materials.

However, the mere fact that this item is

available containing recovered materials

does not require the procurement of

steel, aluminum, or plastic playground

equipment in every circumstance. The

choice of appropriate materials may

depend on state or local codes. The

effect of EPA’s designation (and section

6002) is simply to require the purchase

of items with recovered materials where

consistent with the purpose of how the

item is to be used. Procuring agencies

remain free to procure playground

equipment made of materials other than

steel, aluminum, or plastic (e.g., wood)

where the design specifications call for

other materials.

III. What Are the Definitions of Terms

Used in This Action?

Today’s final RMAN III recommends

postconsumer or recovered materials

content levels which EPA believes the

designated items are generally available.

The RMAN III recommends two

different measures of recovered

materials: (1) A component of

postconsumer recovered materials and

(2) a component of total recovered

materials for the following items: carpet

cushion; railroad-grade crossing

surfaces; park benches and picnic

tables; playground equipment; plastic

lumber landscaping timbers and posts;

plastic binders, clipboards, file folders,

clip portfolios, and presentation folders;

sorbents; industrial drums; awards and

plaques; mats; signage; and manualgrade strapping. For these items, EPA

found that manufacturers were using

both types of materials to manufacture

these products. If the Agency

recommended only postconsumer

content levels it would fail to meet the

RCRA mandate to maximize the use of

recovered materials, because it would

fail to acknowledge the contribution

that manufacturers using other

manufacturers’ byproducts as feedstock

have made to solid waste management.

EPA defined the terms ‘‘recovered

materials’’ and ‘‘postconsumer

materials’’ in the CPG and in 40 CFR

247.3. We repeat the definitions for

these terms in this notice for the

convenience of the reader.

Postconsumer materials means a

material or finished product that has

served its intended end use and has

been diverted or recovered from waste

destined for disposal, having completed

its life as a consumer item.

Postconsumer material is part of the

broader category of recovered materials.

Recovered materials means waste

materials and byproducts which have

been recovered or diverted from solid

waste, but the term does not include

those materials and byproducts

generated from, and commonly used

within, an original manufacturing

process.

IV. What Did Commenters Say About

the Recommendations in the Draft

RMAN III?

This section discusses the major

public comments on the draft RMAN III.

The Agency received a number of

significant comments related to flowable

fill and the recommended recovered

materials content levels for proposed

designated items containing recovered

steel. These comments are discussed

below. A summary of all of the

comments and the Agency’s response is

provided in the document entitled

‘‘Background Document for the Final

Comprehensive Procurement Guideline

(CPG) III and Recovered Materials

Advisory Notice (RMAN) III,’’

September 1999, hereafter referred to as

the ‘‘Background Document for the

Final CPG III/RMAN III.’’ A copy of this

document has been placed in the docket

for the final RMAN III. See ADDRESSES

above for information about reviewing

documents in the public docket. This

document is also available

electronically on the Internet. See

Section V of this notice for information

on accessing this document

electronically.

A. Comments on Proposed Designated

Items Containing Recovered Steel

Comment: The Steel Recycling

Institute (SRI) submitted comments

noting that all items proposed for

designation (with the exception of

industrial drums) could be

manufactured with steel made by both

Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and

Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) processes.

SRI noted that items made by the BOF

process typically contain 25 to 30

percent recovered materials including

more than 15 percent postconsumer

steel. When these items are made out of

steel manufactured by the EAF process

they may contain up to 100 percent

recovered materials, including 67

percent postconsumer steel. SRI

suggested EPA recommend recycled

content levels of 16 percent

postconsumer and 25 percent total

recovered content for all items made

from BOF steel and 67 percent

postconsumer and 100 percent total

recovered content when items are made

from EAF steel. SRI pointed out that

currently, industrial drums are only

being made from BOF steel and,

therefore, contain a total of 25 percent

total recovered steel, including 16

postconsumer steel. SRI requested that,

for all items proposed in CPG III

containing steel, the final RMAN III

should reflect these recovered materials

content levels.

3084 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

Response: EPA included the

recommended recovered materials

content levels for steel in this final

RMAN notice to reflect SRI’s comments

regarding BOF and EAF manufactured

steel for the items designated in the

CPG, with one exception. Rather than

recommend a single total recovered

materials content level of 25 percent for

items made from BOF steel, the Agency

is recommending a range of 25–30

percent. The use of a recovered

materials content range in this instance

reflects both the information provided

by SRI and the requirements of E.O.

13101 for making recommendations.

EPA is also revising the content level

recommendations for the steel

component of traffic barricades and

delineators, steel recycling containers

and waste receptacles, and for steel

shower and restroom dividers/partitions

to reflect this new information. These

items were designated in CPG I and CPG

II. No other revisions to the

recommendations for items previously

designated in CPG I and CPG II are

being made at this time.

B. Comments on Specifications for

Flowable Fill

Comment: The FIRST Project

(Foundry Industry Recycling Starts

Today), an industry consortium,

suggested that there is an inconsistency

with two of the specifications listed in

the RMAN for flowable fill. ASTM’s

C33–93 Concrete Aggregate

specification limits the use of some

spent sands that have fines content

greater than 3 to 5 percent, while ACI

229R–94 indicates that foundry sands

with up to 20 percent fines were

successfully utilized in flowable fill mix

designs. The commenter believes that

recommending ASTM C33–93

effectively limits the use of this material

without taking into account whether the

performance specification is clearly met.

The commenter suggests that the mix

design specification should be based on

performance, not simply on the

aggregate.

Response: EPA has learned that

ASTM C33–93 was developed to

optimize the strength and

compactability of concrete and was not

meant to be used with controlled lowstrength material or flowable fill. The

Agency, therefore, recognizes that

ASTM C33–93 may not be an

appropriate specification for sands used

in flowable fill. Procuring agencies may

wish to use this specification’s physical

tests as a measure to assure the quality

and uniformity of the sands used in

flowable fill; however, the agency now

believes this specification should not be

referred to for gradation requirements.

Based on this information, the final

RMAN III for flowable fill has been

revised to delete any reference to the

use of ASTM C33–93 for gradation

purposes. The RMAN recommends that

procuring agencies ‘‘refer to ASTM C33–

93, ‘‘Standard Specification for

Concrete,’’ to assure the quality and

uniformity of the ferrous foundry sands

in flowable fill * * *.’’

V. Supporting Information and

Accessing Internet

The index of supporting materials for

today’s final RMAN III is available in

the RCRA Information Center (RIC) and

on the Internet. The address and

telephone number of the RIC are

provided in the ADDRESSES section

above. The index and the following

supporting materials are available on

the Internet:

‘‘Background Document for the Final

CPG III/RMAN III,’’ U.S. EPA, Office

of Solid Waste and Emergency

Response, September 1999.

Copies of the following supporting

materials are available for viewing at the

RIC only:

‘‘Telephone Notes, Flowable Fill

Specifications, Between Lynne

Gilbert, Eastern Research Group and

Paul Tikalsky, Penn State University,

May 12, 1999.’’

To access information on the Internet

go to <www.epa.gov/cpg>.

Dated: January 10, 2000.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

Recovered Materials Advisory Notice

III

The following represents EPA’s

recommendations to procuring agencies

for purchasing the items designated

today in the Comprehensive

Procurement Guideline III in

compliance with section 6002 of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery

Act (RCRA) and section 502(b) of E.O.

13101. These recommendations are

intended to be used in conjunction with

the RMANs issued on May 1, 1995 (60

FR 21386) and November 13, 1997 (62

FR 60975) and the Paper Products

RMANs issued on May 29, 1996 (61 FR

26985) and June 8, 1998 (63 FR 31214).

Refer to May 1, 1995 and November 13,

1997 RMANs for definitions, general

recommendations for affirmative

procurement programs, and

recommendations for previously

designated items. In the case of traffic

barricades, delineators, recycling

containers and waste receptacles, and

shower and restroom dividers/

partitions, the recommendations

published today revise the previous

recommendations issued in RMAN I

and RMAN II.

Contents

I. General Recommendations

II. Specific Recommendations for

Procurement of Designated Items

Part C. Construction Products

Section C–6 (Revised). Shower and

Restroom Dividers/Partitions Containing

Recovered Plastic or Steel

Section C–8. Carpet Cushion Made from

Bonded Polyurethane, Jute, Synthetic

Fibers, or Rubber Containing Recovered

Materials.

Section C–9. Flowable Fill Containing Coal

Fly Ash and/or Ferrous Foundry Sands.

Section C–10. Railroad Grade Crossing

Surfaces Containing Coal Fly Ash,

Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel

Part D. Transportation Products

Section D–1 (Revised). Temporary Traffic

Control Devices

Section D–3 (Revised). Channelizers,

Delineators, and Flexible Delineators

Containing Recovered Plastic, Rubber, or

Steel

Part E. Park and Recreation Products

Section E–3. Park Benches and Picnic

Tables Containing Recovered Steel,

Aluminum, Plastic, or Concrete.

Section E–4. Playground Equipment

Containing Recovered Plastic, Steel, or

Aluminum.

Part F. Landscaping Products

Section F–2. Compost Made From Yard

Trimmings, Leaves, Grass Clippings,

and/or Food Waste.

Section F–5. Plastic Lumber Landscaping

Timbers and Posts Containing Recovered

Materials.

Part G. Non-Paper Office Products

Section G–1 (Revised). Office Recycling

Containers and Office Waste Receptacles

Containing Recovered Paper, Plastic, or

Steel

Section G–8. Solid Plastic Binders, Plastic

Clipboards, Plastic File Folders, Plastic

Clip Portfolios, and Plastic Presentation

Folders Containing Recovered Plastic

Part H. Miscellaneous Products

Section H–2. Sorbents Containing

Recovered Materials for Use in Oil and

Solvent Clean-Ups and as Animal

Bedding.

Section H–3. Industrial Drums Containing

Recovered Steel, Plastic, or Paper.

Section H–4. Awards and Plaques

Containing Recovered Glass, Wood,

Paper, or Plastic.

Section H–5. Mats Containing Recovered

Rubber and/or Plastic.

Section H–6. Manual-grade Strapping

Containing Recovered Steel or Plastic.

Section H–7. Non-Road Signs Containing

Recovered Plastic or Aluminum and

Road Signs Containing Recovered

Aluminum.

I. General Recommendations

General recommendations for

definitions, specifications, and

affirmative procurement programs can

be found in the May 1, 1995 RMAN (60

FR 21386).

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3085

II. Specific Recommendations for

Procurement of Designated Items

Recommendations for purchasing

previously-designated items can be

found in the May 1, 1995 and November

13, 1997 RMANs and the May 29, 1996

and June 8, 1998 Paper Products

RMANs. Revised recovered materials

content level recommendations for the

steel components of traffic barricades

and delineators, steel shower and

restroom dividers/partitions, and steel

office recycling containers and waste

receptacles are included in today’s

notice.

Part C—Construction Products

Note: Refer to Section E–2—Plastic Fencing

Containing Recovered Plastic for Specified

Uses and to Part F—Landscaping Products

for additional items that can be used in

construction applications.

Section C–6 (Revised). Shower and

Restroom Dividers/Partitions Containing

Recovered Plastic or Steel

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table C–6, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing shower and

restroom dividers/partitions.

TABLE C–6 (REVISED).—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS

CONTENT LEVELS FOR SHOWER AND

RESTROOM DIVIDERS/PARTITIONS

CONTAINING RECOVERED PLASTIC

OR STEEL

Material

Postconsumer

materials

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Steel ................... 16 25–30

67 100

Plastic ................ 20–100 20–100

NOTES: EPA’s recommendation does not

preclude agencies from purchasing shower

and restroom dividers/partitions manufactured

from another material, such as wood. It simply

recommends that procuring agencies, when

purchasing shower and restroom dividers/partitions made from plastic or steel, purchase

these items made from recovered materials

when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact

that the designated items can be made from

steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen

Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace

(EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains

25%–30% total recovered materials, of which

16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the

EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the following

specifications when procuring shower

and restroom dividers/partitions:

(1) The American Institute of

Architects (AIA) has issued guidance for

specifying construction materials,

including plastic and steel dividers/

partitions. The AIA guidance is known

throughout the construction industry as

the ‘‘Masterspec’’ and is available

through the U.S. General Services

Administration (GSA).

(2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’

Guide Specification CEGS–10160, Toilet

Partitions.

Section C–8. Carpet Cushion Made from

Bonded Polyurethane, Jute, Synthetic

Fibers, or Rubber Containing Recovered

Materials

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table C–8, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing bonded

polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or

rubber carpet cushion containing

recovered materials.

TABLE C–8.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR BONDED POLYURETHANE, JUTE, SYNTHETIC

FIBER, AND RUBBER CARPET CUSHION

Product Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered materials content

(%)

Bonded polyurethane ...................................................... Old carpet cushion .......................................................... 15–50 15–50

Jute .................................................................................. Burlap .............................................................................. 40 40

Synthetic fibers ................................................................ Carpet fabrication scrap ................................................. — 100

Rubber ............................................................................. Tire rubber ...................................................................... 60–90 60–90

NOTE: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing another type of carpet cushion. They simply require that

procuring agencies, when purchasing bonded polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or rubber carpet cushions, purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements. Refer to Section C–4 in RMAN I for EPA’s

recommendations for purchasing polyester carpet containing recovered materials.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

carpet cushion specifications unique to

carpet cushions containing recovered

materials. Therefore, EPA recommends

that procuring agencies use any

appropriate standards set by the Carpet

and Rug Institute and the Carpet

Cushion Council when purchasing

bonded polyurethane, jute, synthetic

fiber, or rubber carpet cushion

containing recovered materials.

Section C–9. Flowable Fill Containing

Coal Fly Ash and/or Ferrous Foundry

Sands

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that procuring agencies

use flowable fill containing coal fly ash

and/or ferrous foundry sands for backfill

and other fill applications. EPA further

recommends that procuring agencies

include provisions in all construction

contracts involving backfill or other fill

applications to allow for the use of

flowable fill containing coal fly ash and/

or ferrous foundry sands, where

appropriate.

The specific percentage of coal fly ash

or ferrous foundry sands used in

flowable fill depends on the specifics of

the job, including the type of coal fly

ash used (Class C or Class F); the

strength, set time, and flowability

needed; and bleeding and shrinkage.

Therefore, EPA is not recommending

specific coal fly ash or ferrous foundry

sands content levels for procuring

agencies to use in establishing

minimum content standards for

flowable fill. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies refer to the mix

proportions in Tables C–9a and C–9b for

typical proportions for high and low

coal fly ash content mixes. EPA further

recommends that procuring agencies

refer to American Concrete Institute

(ACI) report ACI 229R–94 for guidance

on the percentages of coal fly ash that

can be used in flowable fill mixtures.

3086 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

TABLE C–9a.—TYPICAL PROPORTIONS FOR HIGH FLY ASH CONTENT FLOWABLE FILLS

Component Range kg/m3(lb/yd3) Mix design

kg/m3 (lb/yd3)

Fly ash (95%) ......................................... 949 to 1542 (1600 to 2600) ................................................................................... 1234 (2080)

Cement (5%) ........................................... 47 to 74 (80 to 125) ............................................................................................... 62 (104)

Added water ............................................ 222 to 371 (375 to 625) ......................................................................................... 247 (416)*

Total: ............................................ 1543 (2600)

* Equal to 189 liters (50 gallons).

Source: ‘‘Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers,’’ FHWA–SA–94–081, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, August 1995.

TABLE C–9b.—TYPICAL PROPORTIONS FOR LOW FLY ASH CONTENT FLOWABLE FILLS

Component Range kg/m3 (lb/yd3) Mix design

kg/m3 (lb/yd3)

Fly ash (6% to 14%) ............................... 119 to 297 (200 to 500) ......................................................................................... 178 (300)

Cement ................................................... 30 to 119 (50 to 200) ............................................................................................. 59 (100)

Sand ........................................................ 1483 to 1780 (2500 to 3000) ................................................................................. 1542 (2600)

Added water ............................................ 198 to 494 (333 to 833) ......................................................................................... 297 (500)*

Total: ............................................ 2076 (3500)

High calcium fly ash is used in lower amounts than low calcium fly ash.

*Equal to 227 liters (60 gallons).

Source: ‘‘Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers,’’ FHWA–SA–94–081, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, August 1995.

Specifications: The following

recommendations address mix designs,

test methods, and performance

standards.

• Mix designs. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use ACI report

ACI229R–94, ‘‘Controlled Low Strength

Materials (CLSM)’’ and ‘‘Fly Ash Facts

for Highway Engineers,’’ (FHWA–SA–

94–081, U.S. Department of

Transportation, Federal Highway

Administration, August 1995) in

developing mix designs. Among other

things, ACI229R–94 addresses materials,

including coal fly ash and foundry

sands, mix design, and mixing,

transporting, and placing. It also

provides examples of mixture designs

containing coal fly used by the states of

Iowa, Florida, Illinois, Indiana,

Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, and South

Carolina. ‘‘Fly Ash Facts for Highway

Engineers’’ addresses materials,

strength, flowability, time of set,

bleeding and shrinkage.

A mix design for the use of foundry

sand and coal fly ash in flowable fill

was developed for Ford Motor

Company. Procuring agencies can obtain

a copy of this design by contacting the

RCRA Hotline at 1–800–424–9346.

Table C–9c provides the recommended

trial mixture from this specification.

TABLE C–9C.—MATERIALS QUANTITIES

FOR FLOWABLE FILL MIXTURE CONTAINING FOUNDRY SANDS AND COAL

FLY ASH

Component

Quantity per

cubic yard

(lbs.)

Cement ..................................... 50

Coal fly ash ............................... 250

Foundry sand ............................ 2,850

Water ........................................ 500

• Materials specifications and test

methods. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use ACI229R–94 and

the ASTM standards listed in Table C–

9d when purchasing flowable fill or

contracting for construction that

involves backfilling or other fill

applications.

EPA recommends that procuring

agencies refer to ASTM C 33–93,

‘‘Standard Specification for Concrete

Aggregates,’’ to assure the quality and

uniformity of the ferrous foundry sands

used as aggregates in flowable fills.

TABLE C–9d.—RECOMMENDED TEST METHODS FOR FLOWABLE FILLS (CONTROLLED LOW STRENGTH MATERIALS)

ASTM specification Number Title

D4832–95e1 ......................... Standard Test Method for Preparation and Testing of Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) Test Cylinders.

D5239–92 ............................. Standard Practice for Characterizing Fly Ash for Use in Soil Stabilization.

D5971–96 ............................. Standard Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Controlled Low Strength Material.

D6103–07 ............................. Standard Test Method for Flow Consistency of Controlled Low Strength Material.

D6023–96 ............................. Standard Test Method for Unit Weight, Yield, Cement Content and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Controlled Low

Strength Material (CLSM).

D5971–96 ............................. Standard Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Controlled Low Strength Material.

d6024–96 ............................. Standard Test Method for Ball Drop on Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) to Determine Suitability for Load

Application.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3087

• State specifications. The following

states have specifications for flowable

fill containing coal fly ash: California,

Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,

Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,

Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire,

New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio,

Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and

Wisconsin.

The state of Ohio has a specification

entitled ‘‘Flowable Fill Made with Spent

Foundry Sand,’’ and the states of

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana

are developing specifications for using

foundry sands in flowable fill.

If needed, procuring agencies can

obtain state specifications from the

respective state transportation

departments and adapt them for use in

their programs. ACI229R–94 includes

mix designs from several of these states.

• Contract specifications. EPA

recommends that procuring agencies

which prepare or review ‘‘contract’’

specifications for individual

construction projects revise those

specifications to allow the use of

flowable fills containing coal fly ash

and/or ferrous foundry sands.

• Performance standards. EPA

recommends that procuring agencies

review and, if necessary, revise

performance standards relating to fill

materials to insure that they do not

arbitrarily restrict or preclude the use of

flowable fills containing coal fly ash

and/or ferrous foundry sands, either

intentionally or inadvertently, unless

the restriction is justified on a job-by-job

basis: (1) To meet reasonable

performance requirements for fill

materials or (2) because the use of coal

fly ash or ferrous foundry sands would

be inappropriate for technical reasons.

EPA recommends that this justification

be documented based on specific

performance information. Legitimate

documentation of technical infeasibility

can be for certain classes of

applications, rather than on a job-by-job

basis. Agencies should reference such

documentation in individual contract

specifications to avoid extensive

repetition of previously documented

points. However, procuring agencies

should be prepared to submit such

documentation to scrutiny by interested

parties and should have a review

process available in the event of

disagreements.

Promotion program: EPA recommends

that, as part of the promotion programs

required by section 6002(I) of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery

Act, procuring agencies conduct

demonstration programs for using

flowable fills containing coal fly ash

and/or ferrous foundry sands. EPA

further recommends that procuring

agencies educate construction

contractors about the design, use, and

performance of flowable fills containing

coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry

sands.

Section C–10. Railroad Grade Crossing

Surfaces Containing Coal Fly Ash,

Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table C–10a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing

concrete, rubber, and steel railroad

grade crossing surfaces containing

recovered materials.

EPA further recommends that

procuring agencies include provisions

in all concrete railroad grade crossing

construction contracts to allow for the

use, as optional or alternate materials, of

concrete containing coal fly ash, where

appropriate.

TABLE C–10a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR CONCRETE, RUBBER, AND STEEL

RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING SURFACES

Surface material Recovered material Postconsumer

content (%)

Total recovered materials

content (%)

ConcreteCoal ................................................................ fly ash ........................................................................... ........................ 15–20

Rubber .......................................................................... Tire rubber .................................................................... ........................ 85–95

Steel .............................................................................. Steel .............................................................................. 16

67

25–30

100

Notes: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing another type of railroad grade crossing surface, such as

wood or asphalt. They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing concrete, rubber, or steel grade crossing surfaces, purchase

these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for rubber railroad grade crossing surfaces are based on the weight of the raw materials, exclusive of any additives such as binders or other additives.

Coal fly ash can be used as an ingredient of concrete slabs, pavements, or controlled density fill product, depending on the type of concrete

crossing system installed. Higher percentages of coal fly ash can be used in the concrete mixture; the higher percentages help to produce a

more workable and durable product but can prolong the curing process.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel

manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25%–30% total

recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is

postconsumer.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the ASTM

standards listed in Table C–10b when

purchasing rubber railroad grade

crossing surfaces. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the ASTM and

AASHTO standards listed in Table C–

10c when purchasing concrete railroad

grade crossing surfaces.

TABLE C–10b.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR RUBBER RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS

ASTM specification number Title

D 2000–96 ............................ Rubber Products in Automotive Applications.

D 2240–97 ............................ Rubber Property—Durometer Hardness.

D 412–97 .............................. Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension.

D 297–93 .............................. Rubber Products—Chemical Analysis.

E 303–93 .............................. Measuring Surface Frictional Properties Using the British Pendulum Tester.

D 1171–94 ............................ Rubber Deterioration—Surface Ozone Cracking Outdoors or Chamber (Triangular Specimens).

D 573–88 .............................. Deterioration in an Air Oven.

3088 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

TABLE C–10b.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR RUBBER RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS—Continued

ASTM specification number Title

D 395–89 .............................. Rubber Property—Compression Set.

D 257–93 .............................. DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials.

D 2137–94 ............................ Rubber Property—Brittleness Point of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics.

TABLE C–10c.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR CEMENT AND CONCRETE CONTAINING RECOVERED MATERIALS

Specification

number Title

ASTM C 595 Standard Specification for

Blended Hydraulic Cements

ASTM C 150 Standard Specification for

Portland Cement.

AASHTO M

240.

Blended Hydraulic Cements.

ASTM C 618 Standard Specification for Fly

Ash and Raw or Calcined

Natural Pozzolan for Use

as a Mineral Admixture in

Portland Cement Concrete.

TABLE C–10c.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR CEMENT AND CONCRETE CONTAINING RECOVERED MATERIALS—Continued

Specification

number Title

ASTM C 311 Standard Methods of Sampling and Testing Fly Ash

and Natural Pozzolans for

Use as a Mineral Admixture

in Portland Cement Concrete.

Part D. Transportation Products

Section D–1 (Revised). Temporary

Traffic Control Devices

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table D–1, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing traffic cones and

traffic barricades.

TABLE D–1 (REVISED).—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR TRAFFIC CONES AND TRAFFIC

BARRICADES

Product Material Postconsumer

materials (%)

Total recovered

materials

(%)

Traffic Cones .............................. PVC, LDPE, Crumb Rubber ............................................................ — 50–100

Traffic Barricades ........................ HDPE, LDPE, PET .......................................................................... 80–100 100

Steel ................................................................................................ 16 25–30

67 100

Fiberglass ........................................................................................ — 100

NOTES: The recommended recovered materials content levels are based on the dry weight of the raw materials, exclusive of any additives

such as adhesives, binders, or coloring agents.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel

manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25%–30% total

recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is

postconsumer.

Section D–3 (Revised). Channelizers,

Delineators, and Flexible Delineators

Containing Recovered Plastic, Rubber,

or Steel

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table D–3 (Revised),

procuring agencies establish minimum

content standards for use in purchasing

channelizers, delineators, and flexible

delineators.

TABLE D–3 (REVISED).—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR CHANNELIZERS, DELINEATORS,

AND FLEXIBLE DELINEATORS CONTAINING RECOVERED PLASTIC, RUBBER, OR STEEL

Product Material Postconsumer content (%)

Channelizers ................................... Plastic ............................................ 25–95

Rubber (base only) ........................ 100

Delineators ...................................... Plastic ............................................ 25–90

Rubber (base only) ........................ 100

Steel (base only) ........................... 16% postconsumer and 25–30% total recovered materials or 67%

postconsumer and 100% total recovered materials.

Flexible delineators ......................... Plastic ............................................ 25–85

Notes: EPA’s recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing channelizers, delineators, or flexible delineators manufactured from another material. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing these items made from rubber, plastic, or steel, purchase them made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3089

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel

manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25%–30% total

recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is

postconsumer.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the following

specifications when procuring

channelizers, delineators, and flexible

delineators:

(1) The Federal Highway

Administration’s Manual on Uniform

Traffic Control Devices contains

specifications for the size, shape,

mounting, and placement of temporary

traffic control devices.

(2) The States of Florida and North

Carolina have specifications that require

the use of recovered materials in their

flexible delineators. The California

Department of Transportation

(CALTRANS) has specifications for

‘‘Drivable Flexible Plastic Guide Marker

and Clearance Marker Posts.’’ A copy of

these specifications are available from

the RCRA Hotline at 1–800–424–9346.

Part E. Park and Recreation Products

Section E–3. Picnic Tables and Park

Benches Containing Recovered Steel,

Aluminum, or Plastic

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table E–3a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing

aluminum, steel, or plastic park benches

and picnic tables containing recovered

materials.

TABLE E-3a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES CONTAINING RECOVERED ALUMINUM, STEEL, CONCRETE OR PLASTIC

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Plastics .............. 90–100 100

Plastic composites .................. 50–100 00

Aluminum ........... 25 25

Concrete ............ ....................... 15–40

Steel ................... 67 100

Notes:‘‘Plastics’’ includes both single and

mixed plastic resins. Picnic tables and park

benches made with recovered plastics may

also contain other recovered materials such as

sawdust, wood, or fiberglass. The percentage

of these materials contained in the product

would also count toward the recovered materials content level of the item.

TABLE E-3a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES CONTAINING RECOVERED ALUMINUM, STEEL, CONCRETE OR PLASTIC—Continued

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact

that the designated items can be made from

steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen

Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace

(EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains

25%–30% total recovered materials, of which

16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the

EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.

EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a

procuring agency from purchasing park benches or picnic tables made from other materials.

They simply require that procuring agencies,

when purchasing park benches or picnic tables made from plastic, aluminum, concrete,

or steel purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance

requirements.

Specifications: EPA did not identify

any specifications for park benches or

picnic tables made from steel, concrete,

or aluminum. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies ensure that there is

no language in their specifications for

park benches or picnic tables that would

preclude or discourage the use of

products containing recovered

materials.

EPA recommends that procuring

agencies use the ASTM specifications

referenced in Table E–3b for park

benches and picnic tables made from

plastic lumber.

TABLE E–3b.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER

USED IN PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC

TABLES

ASTM

specification

number

Title

D 6108–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive Properties of

Plastic Lumber.

D 6109–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Flexural Properties of

Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic Lumber.

TABLE E–3b.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER

USED IN PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC

TABLES—Continued

ASTM

specification

number

Title

D 6111–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Bulk Density and Specific

Gravity of Plastic Lumber

and Shapes by Displacement.

D 6112–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive and Flexural

Creep and Creep Rupture

of Plastic Lumber and

Shapes.

D 6117–97 ... Standard Test Method for Mechanical Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and Shapes.

Section E–4. Playground Equipment

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table E–4a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing

playground equipment made from

plastic lumber, steel, or aluminum

containing recovered materials.

TABLE E–4a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

CONTAINING RECOVERED PLASTIC,

STEEL, OR ALUMINUM

Material Postconsumer

content (%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Plastics .............. 90–100 100

Plastic Composites .................. 50–75 95–100

Steel ................... 16 25–30

67 100

Aluminum ........... 25 25

Notes: ‘‘Plastics’’ includes both single and

mixed plastic resins. Playground equipment

made with recovered plastics may also contain

other recovered materials such as wood or fiberglass. The percentage of these materials

contained in the product would also count toward the recovered materials content level of

the item.

3090 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact

that the designated items can be made from

steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen

Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace

(EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains

25%–30% total recovered materials, of which

16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the

EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.

EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a

procuring agency from purchasing playground

equipment made from other materials. They

simply require that procuring agencies, when

purchasing playground equipment made from

plastic, aluminum, or steel purchase these

items made with recovered materials when the

item meets applicable specifications and performance requirements.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the

specifications in Table E–4b when

procuring playground equipment.

Playground equipment may also be

subject to state and local codes and

standards as well as Federal child safety

laws. EPA also recommends that

procuring agencies use the ASTM

specifications referenced in Table E–4c

for playground equipment made from

plastic lumber.

TABLE E–4b.—RECOMMENDED SAFETY

SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLAYGROUND

EQUIPMENT

Specification Title

Consumer Product

Safety Commission

(CPSC) Publication

No. 325.

Handbook for Public

Playground Safety.

ASTM F–1487–95 ..... Safety Performance

Specification for

Playground Equipment for Public

Use.

TABLE E–4c.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER

USED IN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

ASTM

Specification

Number

Title

D 6108–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive Properties of

Plastic Lumber.

D 6109–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Flexural Properties of

Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic Lumber.

D 6111–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Bulk Density and Specific

Gravity of Plastic Lumber

and Shapes by Displacement.

D 6112–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive and Flexural

Creep and Creep Rupture

of Plastic Lumber and

Shapes.

TABLE E–4c.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER

USED IN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT—Continued

ASTM

Specification

Number

Title

D 6117–97 ... Standard Test Method for Mechanical Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and Shapes.

Part F. Landscaping Products

Section F–2 (Revised). Compost Made

From Yard Trimmings and/or Food

Waste

Note: Following are EPA’s revised

recommendations for purchasing compost.

The revisions add recommendations for

purchasing compost made from food waste to

EPA’s 1995 recommendations for purchasing

yard trimmings compost. Procuring agencies

should substitute these recommendations for

the recommendations found in Section F–2

of the 1995 RMAN I.

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that procuring agencies

purchase or use compost made from

yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings

and/or food wastes in such applications

as landscaping, seeding of grass or other

plants on roadsides and embankments,

as nutritious mulch under trees and

shrubs, and in erosion control and soil

reclamation.

EPA further recommends that those

procuring agencies that have an

adequate volume of yard trimmings,

leaves, grass clippings, and/or food

wastes, as well as sufficient space for

composting, should implement a

composting system to produce compost

from these materials to meet their

landscaping and other needs.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies ensure that there is

no language in their specifications

relating to landscaping, soil

amendments, erosion control, or soil

reclamation that would preclude or

discourage the use of compost. For

instance, if specifications address the

use of straw or hay in roadside

revegetation projects, procuring

agencies should assess whether compost

could substitute for straw or hay or be

used in combination with them.

The U.S. Department of

Transportation’s ‘‘Standard

Specifications for Construction of Roads

and Bridges on Federal Highway

Projects 1996,’’ specifies compost as one

of the materials suitable for use in

roadside revegetation projects

associated with road construction.

These standards do not preclude the use

of compost made from yard trimmings,

leaves, grass, clippings, and/or food

waste.

The State of Maine has developed

quality standards for compost products

that are used by its agencies and/or

purchased with state funds. The quality

standards have been set for six types of

compost products, ranging from topsoil

(three classes), to wetland substrate, to

mulch (two classes). For each of these

types of compost product, standards for

maturity, odor, texture, nutrients, pH,

salt content, organic content, pathogen

reduction, heavy metals, foreign matter,

moisture content, and density have been

established. EPA recommends that

procuring agencies obtain and adapt this

or another suitable specification for

their use in purchasing compost

products.

The Composting Council is helping to

define and develop industry wide

standards for composts made from

various combinations of materials,

including yard trimmings, leaves, grass

clippings, and food wastes. The

Composting Council publishes these

standards in an operating guide for

composting facilities entitled, ‘‘Test

Methods for Examination of Composting

and Compost.’’ The guide also provides

standards for the suitability of different

types of composts made for different

applications, depending on the compost

mix.

Section F–5. Plastic Lumber

Landscaping Timbers and Posts

Containing Recovered Materials

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table F–5a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing plastic

lumber landscaping timbers and posts

containing recovered materials.

TABLE F–5a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR PLASTIC LUMBER LANDSCAPING

TIMBERS AND POSTS

Material

Post consumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

HDPE ........................ 25–100 75–100

Mixed Plastics/Sawdust ....................... 50 100

HDPE/Fiberglass ...... 75 95

Other mixed resins ... 50–100 95–100

Note: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing

wooden landscaping timbers and posts. They

simply require that procuring agencies, when

purchasing plastic landscaping timbers and

posts purchase these items made with recovered materials when the items meet applicable

specifications and performance requirements.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3091

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies use the ASTM

specifications referenced in Table F–5b

for plastic lumber landscaping timbers

and posts.

TABLE F–5b.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER

LANDSCAPING TIMBERS AND POSTS

ASTM

specification

number

Title

D 6108–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive Properties of

Plastic Lumber.

D 6109–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Flexural Properties of

Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic Lumber.

D 6111–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Bulk Density and Specific

Gravity of Plastic Lumber

and Shapes by Displacement.

D 6112–97 ... Standard Test Method for

Compressive and Flexural

Creep and Creep Rupture

of Plastic Lumber and

Shapes.

D 6117–97 ... Standard Test Method for Mechanical Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and Shapes.

Part G. Non-Paper Office Products

Section G–1 (Revised). Office Recycling

Containers and Office Waste

Receptacles

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table G–1 (Revised),

procuring agencies establish minimum

content standards for use in purchasing

office recycling containers and office

waste receptacles.

TABLE G–1 (REVISED)—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS

CONTENT LEVELS FOR OFFICE RECYCLING CONTAINERS AND OFFICE

WASTE RECEPTACLES

Product Recovered materials (materials and percent)

Office Recycling Containers and

Office Waste

Receptacles.

Plastic: 20–100

Postconsumer Recovered

Materials.

Paper: Refer to the Paper

Products Recommendations in Part A of RMAN.

Steel: 16% postconsumer

and 25%–30% total recovered materials.

Notes: EPA’s recommendations for office

recycling containers and office waste receptacles containing recovered plastic, paper, or

steel do not preclude a procuring agency from

purchasing containers or receptacles manufactured from another material, such as wood.

They simply require that procuring agencies,

when purchasing office recycling containers or

office waste receptacles manufactured from

plastic, paper, or steel, purchase these items

made with recovered materials when the items

meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

TABLE G–1 (REVISED)—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS

CONTENT LEVELS FOR OFFICE RECYCLING CONTAINERS AND OFFICE

WASTE RECEPTACLES—Continued

Product Recovered materials (materials and percent)

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact

that the designated items are made from steel

manufactured in a Basic Oxygen Furnace

(BOF). Steel from the BOF process contains

25%–30% total recovered materials, of which

16% is postconsumer steel.

Section G–8. Solid Plastic Binders,

Plastic Clipboards, Plastic File Folders,

Plastic Clip Portfolios, and Plastic

Presentation Folders Containing

Recovered Plastic

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table G–8, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing solid plastic

binders, plastic clipboards, plastic file

folders, plastic clip portfolios, and

plastic presentation folders containing

recovered materials.

TABLE G–8.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR SOLID PLASTIC BINDERS, CLIPBOARDS, FILE

FOLDERS, CLIP PORTFOLIOS, AND PRESENTATION FOLDERS

Product Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered materials

content

(%)

Solid plastic binders ......................................................................................................... HDPE ........................ 90 90

PE .............................. 30–50 30–50

PET ........................... 100 100

Misc. Plastics ............. 80 80

Plastic clipboards ............................................................................................................. HDPE ........................ 90 90

PS .............................. 50 50

Misc. Plastics ............. 15 15–80

Plastic file folders ............................................................................................................. HDPE ........................ 90 90

Plastic clip portfolios ........................................................................................................ HDPE ........................ 90 90

Plastic presentation folders ............................................................................................. HDPE ........................ 90 90

Note: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing binders, clipboards, file folders, clip portfolios, or presentation folders made from another material, such as paper. They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing these items made from

solid plastic, purchase them made with recovered plastics when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements. For

EPA’s recommendations for purchasing pressboard binders and paper file folders containing recovered materials, see table A–1c in the Paper

Products RMAN (61 FR 26986, May 29, 1996). See Table G–3 in RMAN I for EPA’s recommendations for purchasing plastic-covered binders

containing recovered materials.

Specifications: EPA did not identify

any specifications for solid plastic

binders, clipboards, file folders, clip

portfolios, and presentation folders.

EPA recommends that procuring

agencies ensure that there is no

language in their specifications for these

items that would preclude or discourage

the use of products containing

recovered materials.

3092 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

Part H. Miscellaneous Products

Section H–2. Sorbents

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–2a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing sorbent

materials for use in oil and solvent

clean-ups and for use as animal

bedding.

TABLE H–2a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR SORBENTS USED IN OIL

AND SOLVENTS CLEAN-UPS AND FOR

USE AS ANIMAL BEDDING

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Paper ................. 90–100 100

Textiles .............. 95–100 95–100

Plastics .............. ....................... 25–100

Wood ................. ....................... 100

TABLE H–2a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR SORBENTS USED IN OIL

AND SOLVENTS CLEAN-UPS AND FOR

USE AS ANIMAL BEDDING—Continued

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Other Organics/

Multi-Materials ....................... 100

Notes:‘‘Wood’’ includes materials such as

sawdust and lumber mill trimmings. Examples

of ‘‘other organics’’ include, but are not limited

to, peanut hulls and corn stover. An example

of ‘‘multi-material’’ sorbents would include, but

not be limited to, a polymer and cellulose fiber

combination.

EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a

procuring agency from purchasing sorbents

made from other materials. They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing sorbents made from paper, wood, textiles, plastics, or other organic materials, purchase them made with recovered materials

when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

Specifications: EPA recommends that

procuring agencies ensure that there is

no language in their specifications for

sorbents that would preclude or

discourage the use of products

containing recovered materials.

EPA recommends that procuring

agencies use the ASTM specifications in

Table H–2b when procuring sorbents for

use on oil and solvent clean-ups.

TABLE H–2b.—ASTM SPECIFICATIONS

FOR ABSORBENTS AND ADSORBENTS

ASTM specification number

Title

F 716–81 ...... Standard Method of Testing

Sorbent Performance of

Adsorbents.

F 716–82 ...... Standard Method of Testing

Sorbent Performance of

Absorbents.

Section H–3. Industrial Drums

Containing Recovered Steel, Plastic, and

Paper

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–3, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing steel, plastic, or

fiber industrial drums containing

recovered materials. EPA further

recommends that procuring agencies

reuse drums, purchase or use

reconditioned drums, or procure drum

reconditioning services, whenever

feasible.

TABLE H–3.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR STEEL, PLASTIC, AND FIBER INDUSTRIAL DRUMS

Product Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials content

(%)

Steel drums ...................................................................................................................... Steel .......................... 16 25–30

Plastic drums ................................................................................................................... HDPE ........................ 30–100 30–100

Fiber drums ...................................................................................................................... Paper ......................... 100 100

Note: EPA’s recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing another type of industrial drum. It simply requires that procuring agencies,

when purchasing steel, plastic, or fiber industrial drums, purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and

performance requirements.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items are made from steel manufactured in a

Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25%–30% total recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

specifications unique to industrial

drums containing recovered materials.

EPA notes that industrial drums

containing recovered materials can meet

applicable U.S. Department of

Transportation specifications for

packaging hazardous materials.

Additionally, the National Motor

Freight Traffic Association

specifications for containers used to

transport goods via truck do not prohibit

the use of industrial drums containing

recovered materials.

Section H–4. Awards and Plaques

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–4, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing awards and

plaques containing recovered materials.

TABLE H–4.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR AWARDS AND PLAQUES CONTAINING RECOVERED MATERIALS

Material

Postconsumer content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Glass ................................ 75–100 100

Wood ............................... ................... 100

Paper ............................... 40–100 40–100

TABLE H–4.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR AWARDS AND PLAQUES CONTAINING RECOVERED MATERIALS—

Continued

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Plastic and Plastic/Wood

Composite .................... 50–100 95–100

Note: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring

agency from purchasing awards or plaques made from other

materials. They simply require that procuring agencies, when

purchasing awards or plaques made from paper, wood,

glass, or plastics/plastic composites, purchase them made

with recovered materials when these items meet applicable

specifications and performance requirements.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

specifications or standards for awards or

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices 3093

plaques containing recovered materials.

EPA recommends that procuring

agencies ensure that there is no

language in their specifications for

awards and plaques that would

preclude or discourage the use of

products containing recovered

materials.

Section H–5. Mats

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–5, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing mats containing

recovered materials.

TABLE H-5.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR MATS

Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Rubber ............... 75–100 85–100

Plastic ................ 10–100 100

Rubber/Plastic

Composite ...... 100 100

Note:EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing

mats made from other materials. They simply

require that procuring agencies, when purchasing mats made from rubber and/or plastic,

purchase them made with recovered materials

when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements. When

purchasing mats with steel or aluminum linkages, the Agency recommends that these linkages also contain recovered materials.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

specifications or standards for mats

containing recovered materials. EPA

recommends that procuring agencies

ensure that there is no language in their

specifications for mats that would

preclude or discourage the use of

products containing recovered

materials. EPA is aware of one ASTM

specification for wrestling mats, but

does not believe that this type of mat is

purchased in appreciable quantities by

procuring agencies.

Section H–6. Manual-Grade Strapping

Containing Recovered Steel and Plastic

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–6a, procuring

agencies establish minimum content

standards for use in purchasing manualgrade strapping containing recovered

materials.

TABLE H–6a.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR MANUAL-GRADE POLYESTER,

POLYPROPYLENE, AND STEEL STRAPPING

Product Material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered materials content

(%)

Polyester strapping ............................................................................................................... PET ........................... 50–85 50–85

Polypropylene strapping ....................................................................................................... PP .............................. ....................... 10–40

Steel strapping ...................................................................................................................... Steel .......................... 16 25–30

67 100

Notes: EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing another type of strapping, such as nylon. They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing polyester, polypropylene, or steel manual-grade strapping, purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel

manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25%–30% total

recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is

postconsumer.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

specifications unique to strapping

containing recovered materials. EPA

notes that strapping containing

recovered materials can meet the ASTM

strapping specifications and selection

guide listed in Table H–6b.

TABLE H–6b.—RECOMMENDED ASTM

SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDE FOR

STRAPPING

ASTM specification/guide

number

Title

ASTM 3953 .. Standard Specification for

Strapping, Flat Steel and

Seals.

ASTM D

3950.

Standard Specification for

Strapping, Nonmetallic (and

Joining Methods).

ASTM D

4675.

Standard Guide for Selection

and Use of Flat Strapping

Materials.

Section H–7. Signage

Preference Program: EPA

recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–7, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing plastic signs for

non-road applications (e.g., building

signs, trail signs) and aluminum signs

for roadway or non-road applications

containing recovered materials. EPA

also recommends that, based on the

recovered materials content levels

shown in Table H–7, procuring agencies

establish minimum content standards

for use in purchasing sign supports and

posts containing recovered plastic or

steel.

TABLE H–7.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS

FOR SIGNS CONTAINING RECOVERED

PLASTIC OR ALUMINUM AND SIGN

POSTS/SUPPORTS CONTAINING RECOVERED PLASTIC OR STEEL

Item/material

Postconsumer

content

(%)

Total recovered

materials

content

(%)

Plastic signs ....... 80—100 80–100

Aluminum signs 25 25

Plastic sign

posts/supports 80–100 80–100

Steel sign posts/

supports ......... 16 25–30

67 100

Notes:Plastic signs and sign posts are recommended for nonroad applications only such

as, but not limited to, railway signs in parks

and directional/informational signs in buildings.

3094 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 19, 2000 / Notices

The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact

that the designated items can be made from

steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen

Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace

(EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains

25%–30% total recovered materials, of which

16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the

EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.

EPA’s recommendations do not preclude a

procuring agency from purchasing signs or

sign posts made from other materials. They

simply require that procuring agencies, when

purchasing signs made from plastic or aluminum or sign posts made from plastic or

steel, purchase them made with recovered

materials when these items meet applicable

specifications and performance requirements.

Specifications: EPA is not aware of

specifications for non-road signs

containing recovered materials.

Standard specifications for road sign

size, lettering, color, strength, and

performance requirements can be found

in the ‘‘Manual on Uniform Traffic

Control Devices,’’ which is published by

the Federal Highway Administration.

Applicable portions of this manual have

been placed in the RCRA public docket

for the proposed CPG/RMAN III notices.

[FR Doc. 00–1068 Filed 1–18–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–U