Lucent Technologies
FR Notice of availability of Lucent's FPA and other related XL documents
[Federal Register: September 3, 1998 (Volume 63, Number171)] [Notices] [Page 47022-47023] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03se98-72]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6156-4] Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability of Lucent Project XL Final Project Agreement and related documents. --------------------------------------
SUMMARY:EPA is announcing the signing of the Project XL Final Project Agreement (FPA) for Lucent Technologies, Inc.'s Microelectronics unit.
DATES: The FPA was signed on 19 August 1998.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the Final Project Agreement, Fact Sheet, or public comments received, contact: Rich Kampf, U.S. EPA, Region III, 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, or L. Nancy Birnbaum, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Room 1025WT (1802), Washington, DC 20460.
The documents are also available via the Internet at the following location: ``https://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL''. In addition, public files on the Project are located at EPA Region III in Philadelphia.
Questions to EPA regarding the documents can be directed to Rich Kampf at (215) 814-2105 or L. Nancy Birnbaum at (202) 260-2601.
To be included on the Lucent Project XL mailing list to receive information about future public meetings, XL progress reports and other mailings from Lucent on the XL Project, contact: Debra Hennelly, Lucent Technologies, Inc., 219 Mount Airy Road, Room 2F236, P.O. Box 612, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920-0612. Ms. Hennelly can also be reached by telephone at (908) 953-4960.
For information on all other aspects of the XL Program contact Christopher Knopes at the following address: Office of Reinvention, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Room 1029, 401 M Street, SW (1802), Washington, DC 20460.
Additional information on Project XL, including documents referenced in this notice, other EPA policy documents related to Project XL, regional XL contacts, application information, and descriptions of existing XL projects and proposals, is available via the Internet at ``http:// www.epa.gov/ProjectXL'' and via an automated fax-on-demand menu at (202) 260-8590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FPA is a voluntary agreement developed collaboratively by Lucent, stakeholders, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and EPA. Project XL, announced in the Federal Register on May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282), gives regulated sources the flexibility to develop alternative strategies that will replace or modify specific regulatory requirements on the condition that they produce greater environmental benefits. EPA has set a goal of implementing a total of fifty projects undertaken in full partnership with the states. On June 29, 1998, EPA announced the availability of the draft umbrella FPA in the Federal Register (63 FR 35212) and requested comments. As a result of that announcement, EPA received six positive comments: one each from the Allentown and Reading LEAGs, two from individual members of the Allentown LEAG, one from an individual member of both Allentown and Breinigsville LEAG who is also an environmental health and safety manager for a nearby R&D/corporate headquarters, and one from the Environmental Law Institute. No other comments were received.
The FPA is based on an existing third-party certified environmental management system (EMS) for Lucent's entire global microelectronics business unit, in fulfillment of the ISO 14001 standard for EMSs. The FPA allows Lucent to use the existing EMS as a framework for developing specific proposals involving regulatory flexibility such as simplifying permitting, record keeping, and reporting requirements, while driving continual improvement and pollution prevention programs. The FPA provides a ``test bed'' to determine the broad applicability of ISO 14001 as a vehicle for determining and managing regulatory flexibility while achieving superior environmental performance. Lucent's project is a multi-regional attempt to incorporate environmental management practices across the entire business unit. The parties anticipate that the EMS will foster superior environmental performance by identifying opportunities to reduce Lucent's environmental impact. EPA Regions 3 and 4 are intended sites for facility-specific projects. Each facility-specific addendum to the umbrella FPA will also demonstrate superior environmental performance. The regulatory flexibility necessary to implement specific projects will be discussed in each facility-specific addendum. As part of its EMS, Lucent has established facility-specific Local Environmental Advisory Groups (LEAGs) for all of its facilities globally. Each LEAG is composed of local stakeholders including environmental organizations, community groups, employees, and other interested citizens. The LEAGs provide input on the XL project and the EMS. The LEAGs unanimously approved the draft umbrella FPA.
Dated: August 20, 1998.
Lisa Lund, Deputy Associate Administrator for Reinvention Programs, Office of Reinvention.