Copied from:
AlAfghani, MM and Paramita D, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Phasing-Out Regulation in Indonesia, Final Report. All rights reserved.
In the United States and Europe, beginning from 1929, the beginning of commercial use of PCBs until the beginning of the 1970s, PCBs was used both in open and closed systems (Commission, 2001). Nevertheless, in the United States (US), the use of PCB has been banned since 1979 under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It prohibits the manufacture, processing, use and distribution of PCBs.36
In June 1998, US EPA amended the PCBs and PCBs contaminated equipment regulations. The amended regulation, 40 CFR (Code of Federal Registration) Parts 750 and 761 is known as the PCB Mega Rule. The Mega Rule has detailed specification regarding PCBs (concentration) and PCBs contaminated equipment. The examples are as follows37:
Retrofilling
Retrofilling of transformer is allowed in the US.
Registration
All owners of PCB transformers including transformers in the storage for reuse purpose are obliged to register to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no later than 28 December 199838. The registration includesthe submission of information regarding: company name and address, contact name, telephone number, address where the transformers are located (if it is a mobile source such as ship, the owner should provide the name of the ship), number of PCB transformers and total weight (in kg) of PCBs contained in the transformers and whether the transformers contains flammable dielectric or not.
In addition, by 1 December 1985 the PCB Mega Rule also imposed the registration of PCB transformer used in commercial building (located in or near the building) to the building owners/ all building owners that are located within 30 meters of PCB transformers39. The information should be provided by the buildingowners are: locationof the PCB transformer(s), type of dielectric fluid in the transformer(s) e.g. PCBs, mineral oil, silicone oil etc, type of transformer installation e.g 208/120 volt network, 208/120 volt radial, etc40.
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36 PCB Mega Rule Sec.761.2
37 PCB Mega Rule Sec.761.2
38 PCB Mega Rule Sec.761.30 (vi)(A)
39 PCB Mega Rule Sec.761.30 (vii)
40 PCB Mega Rule Sec.761.30 (vii)