Project XL

March 4, 1996 VIA FACSIMILE and AIR COURIER

Ray Sarasino
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 9- Mail Code H-3-1
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105

Re: Pacific Marine's XL Proposal


Dear Ray:

Pacific Marine first submitted an XL application in early November of last year. Four months have passed without an agency XL determination. Pacific Marine is on a tight timetable to begin the demonstration project for the Terra-vit process in Hawaii. The sort of delay that it has experienced during this protracted XL review period is inimical to the spirit of Project XL and threatens to undermine the efforts of Pacific Marine and its partner Battelle Laboratory to expeditiously pioneer what promises to be an invaluable method of recycling Hawaii's wastes.

I understand that EPA intends to convene its XL selection committee in the next two weeks for purposes of resolving Pacific Marine's application status. Given the lengthy time lapse that has already occurred, Pacific Marine requests that the outcome of your decision-making process include a specific regulatory roadmap enabling the company to begin the actual technology testing in the summer of 1997.

Much has been said about the apparent complexity and potentially controversial nature of Pacific Marine's demonstration project. As a result of the heightened level of regulatory and political interest in this project and Hawaii's urgent need for the vitrification technology, Pacific Marine urges EPA to continue to invest whatever resources are necessary to authorize the demonstration project to proceed on an expeditious basis, whether under the auspices of Project XL or otherwise.

Your continued assistance in this regard is greatly appreciated.

Very truly yours, BOGLE & GATES P.L.L.C.

Beth S. Ginsberg
cc: Senator Daniel K. Innoyue
Cynthia Cummis
Chris Knopes
Jon Kessler
Karen Burgan
C:\DOCS\PACIFMAR\SARA



BOGLE&GATES P.L.L.C.