First, you must ensure that the company has an EPA Identification Number. To do this, ask the transporter what their identification number is, and then call the state environmental agency to validate the number and confirm that the number has not been revoked, terminated, or suspended. Alternatively, you could directly ask the state environmental agency if the company under consideration has a current EPA Identification Number. Although EPA requires only the submission of a notification form for a transporter to obtain an EPA identification number, some states do have permit requirements. Permit requirements for transporters range from the submission of annual permit fees to the licensing of vehicle operators, registration of motor vehicles, and identification of TSDFs to which hazardous waste can be carried.
Many states require transporters to have a permit to transport hazardous waste through their state.
Once you select a TSDF, determine the route that the transporter will follow to get there. If the route takes the transporter outside of the state in which it is based, contact each applicable state department of transportation to determine if they require a permit for vehicles to haul hazardous waste through their state. Finally, ask the transporter in which states it is permitted to operate. This will help determine both if a transporter has the authority to carry hazardous waste interstate, and if it is aware of state-specific permitting requirements. Don't forget to audit other waste vendors, including those that handle your waste oil, precious metals, scrap metal, biological wastes, universal wastes, and radioactive wastes.