Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

Two New England facilities, IBM in Vermont, and HADCO in New Hampshire have been accepted into the XL program with projects that will result in improved waste management at lower cost. The first to be approved was HADCO Corporation, which has four facilities in NH and two outside of New England. HADCO contended that their sludges no longer contain the toxic chemicals that led them to be listed as hazardous, and that they should be allowed to ship these sludges directly to a smelter for reclamation, as non-hazardous waste. HADCO has indicated that the cost savings associated with direct recycling will allow it to recycle other non-hazardous process wastes containing high copper content. HADCO is seeking comment from the local community and others about their proposal. EPA and the states will monitor HADCO's compliance with the agreement; if the experiment is successful, the goal will be to change the rules for all companies in the same situation. The second New England XL project to be approved is for the IBM semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, VT. IBM proposed to treat its isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solvent waste (which is currently identified as an ignitable hazardous waste) using an existing biological treatment system. This solvent waste contains a high concentration of carbon and treating it with the wastewater (which contains high concentrations of nitrogen) already treated in the biological treatment system would optimize the operating efficiency of that system and reduce the total pollutants discharged to the Winooski River. The proposal would also eliminate the hazards associated with off-site transport and incineration of over 150,000 gallons of solvent per year of IPA.