In the real world of RCRA regulation, acceptable knowledge gives good information for listed waste. However, some type of testing is needed for characteristic waste. Since debris waste is by definition heterogeneous, it cannot be representatively sampled. Each RCRA facility permit addresses what waste is acceptable and what waste is prohibited at each individual facility. Massive widespread areas of pitting and corrosion were visible on the inner surface of the drum.
Pitting is evidence of corrosion.
On some plastic material contained by the drums, rust was also present. This rust was the result of a corrosion reaction caused by some chemical component in the waste that was incompatible with the drum. Corrosion indicates a weakening of the container material and could lead to an eventual loss of containment. Dr. Hirschhorn supports a prohibition of chemically incompatible wastes at WIPP and believes that the appropriate process to ensure that chemically incompatible waste is not emplaced at WIPP is to open and examine more carefully every drum of debris waste. As currently written, the EPA language does not include non-aqueous solid waste, but the EPA has developed a procedure to test the pH of such solids.