On March 12, 2024, EPA announced proposed amendments to the regulations for the open burning and open detonation of waste explosives. The proposed rule would improve implementation of requirements for how facilities must evaluate and use alternative technologies determined to be safe and available for treating waste explosives in lieu of OB/OD. EPA is also proposing changes to the OB/OD requirements for:
• Waste analysis and characterization.
• Wastes prohibited from OB/OD.
• Minimum technical standards for OB/OD units.
• Potential de minimis exemption to evaluating and implementing alternative treatment technologies.
• Delay of closure applicability to OB/OD units.
• Applicability to emergencies.
• Timelines for implementing alternative treatment technologies.
• Permitting of mobile treatment units.

EPA will be taking public comment for 60 days once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. During the comment period, EPA will host a public webinar about this proposal and will post that information on this webpage.