Regulations last checked for updates: Oct 31, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Oct 29, 2024
§ 761.260 - Applicability.

This subpart provides a method for collecting new data for characterizing a PCB remediation waste cleanup site or for assessing the sufficiency of existing site characterization data, as required by § 761.61(a)(2).

§ 761.265 - Sampling bulk PCB remediation waste and porous surfaces.

(a) Use a grid interval of 3 meters and the procedures in §§ 761.283 and 761.286 to sample bulk PCB remediation waste that is not in a container and porous surfaces.

(b) Use the following procedures to sample bulk PCB remediation waste that is in a single container.

(1) Use a core sampler to collect a minimum of one core sample for the entire depth of the waste at the center of the container. Collect a minimum of 50 cm 3 of waste for analysis.

(2) If more than one core sample is taken, thoroughly mix all samples into a composite sample. Take a subsample of a minimum of 50 cm 3 from the mixed composite for analysis.

(c) Use the following procedures to sample bulk PCB remediation waste that is in more than one container.

(1) Segregate the containers by type (for example, a 55-gallon drum and a roll-off container are types of containers).

(2) For fewer than three containers of the same type, sample all containers.

(3) For more than three containers of the same type, list the containers and assign each container an unique sequential number. Use a random number generator or table to select a minimum of 10 percent of the containers from the list, or select three containers, whichever is the larger.

(4) Sample the selected container(s) according to paragraph (b) of this section.

§ 761.267 - Sampling non-porous surfaces.

(a) Sample large, nearly flat, non-porous surfaces by dividing the surface into roughly square portions approximately 2 meters on each side. Follow the procedures in § 761.302(a) with the exception of the sampling grid size.

(b) It is not necessary to sample small or irregularly shaped surfaces.

[63 FR 35464, June 29, 1998, as amended at 88 FR 59695. Aug. 29, 2023]
§ 761.269 - Sampling liquid PCB remediation waste.

(a) If the liquid is single phase, collect and analyze one sample. There are no required procedures for collecting a sample.

(b) If the liquid is multi-phasic, separate the phases, and collect and analyze a sample from each liquid phase. There are no required procedures for collecting a sample from each single phase liquid.

(c) If the liquid has a non-liquid phase which is >0.5 percent by total weight of the waste, separate the non-liquid phase from the liquid phase and sample it separately as a non-liquid in accordance with § 761.265.

§ 761.272 - Chemical extraction and analysis of samples.

Select applicable method(s) from the following list to extract PCBs and determine the PCB concentration from individual and composite samples of PCB remediation waste: SW-846 Method 3510C, Method 3520C, Method 3535A, Method 3540C, Method 3541, Method 3545A, Method 3546, or Method 8082A (all standards incorporated by reference in § 761.19). Modifications to the methods listed in this paragraph or alternative methods not listed may be used if validated under Subpart Q of this part or authorized in a § 761.61(c) approval.

[88 FR 59695, Aug. 29, 2023]
§ 761.274 - Reporting PCB concentrations in samples.

(a) Report all sample concentrations for non-liquid PCBs on a dry weight basis as micrograms of PCBs per gram of sample (ppm by weight). Report surface sampling results as µg/100 cm 2. Divide 100 cm 2 by the surface area and multiply this quotient by the total number of micrograms of PCBs on the surface to obtain the equivalent measurement of micrograms per 100 cm 2.

(b) Report all sample concentrations for liquid PCBs on a wet weight basis as micrograms of PCBs per gram of sample (ppm by weight).

source: 43 FR 7156, Feb. 17, 1978, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 761.265