Source: http://www.envcap.org/statetools/hzrl/hazmanaging.cfm
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 02:33:29
Document Index: 58026420

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 261', 'art 261', 'art 261', 'art 261', 'art 262', 'art 262', 'art 261']

Hazardous Waste Determination Generator Status
Storage requirements Storing hazardous wastes
Hazardous Waste Determination Any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is discarded by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, or recycled falls into a regulatory category that EPA terms "solid waste" (whether or not the waste material itself is solid, in the usual sense of the term). Certain solid wastes are considered by EPA to be "hazardous wastes" on the basis of a set of definitions and rules. The complete set can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 261.
It is the responsibility of every business to determine if any waste they generate is a hazardous waste. The rules can get complicated, but here is a general outline of how to determine whether a waste is hazardous.
Hazardous waste can be the byproduct of a manufacturing process, or simply a commercial product that you use in your business (including such materials as cleaning fluid or battery acid) and that is being disposed of. Note that even materials that are recyclable, or that can be used in some other application (such as solvents that can be burned for fuel) might be considered hazardous waste.
In basic terms, a solid waste can be considered a hazardous waste if it meets either of two conditions:
A "listed hazardous waste" is a material that appears on one of several regulatory lists:
Hazardous wastes from non-specific sources (40 CFR Part 261.31) Hazardous wastes from specific sources (40 CFR Part 261.32), or Discarded commercial chemical products, off-specification species, container residues, and spill residues thereof (40 CFR Part 261.33)
A "characteristic hazardous waste" is a material that does not appear on one of the hazardous waste lists, but is still considered hazardous because it demonstrates one or more of the four hazardous characteristics because it is:
ignitable (40 CFR 261.21),
corrosive (40 CFR 261.22),
reactive (40 CFR 261.23), or
toxic (40 CFR 261.24)
You can find more complete explanations of the hazardous waste determination process at HERC and FedCenter. Generator Status In order to regulate the over 800,000 hazardous waste generators
in the United States cost effectively, EPA in 1985 established three types
of generators: Conditionally-Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CE-SQG) who
generate less than 100 kg of non-acute hazardous waste a month, less than 1
kg of acute hazardous waste a month (e.g. p-listed wastes such as epinephrine)
and less than 100 kg of residues or contaminated soil, waste, and other debris
from the spill cleanup of acute hazardous waste; Small Quantity Generators (SQG) who generate
between 100 kg and 1000 kg of non-acute hazardous waste a month, less than
1 kg of acute hazardous waste a month, and less than 100 kg of spill residue
from acute hazardous waste; and Large Quantity Generators (LQG) who generate
1000 kg or more of non-acute hazardous waste a month, 1 kg or more of acute
hazardous waste a month, and 100 kg or more of spill residue from acute hazardous
waste. A CE-SQG is exempt from the regulation as long as it complies
with the set of regulations described in Section 261.5. Hence the name conditionally-exempt small
quantity generator. An SQG must meet limited requirements in Part 262. These
reduced requirements for SQGs are to ensure that while some tracking of and
accountability for the waste is placed on the small quantity generator, the
requirements are not so burdensome as to prevent compliance. An LQG, of course,
must meet the full set of Part 262 requirements. Please note that a facility’s generator status may
change from month to month. One can be a CE-SQG in January and a LQG in February.
Since generators are required to comply with all applicable requirements according
to their generator status, one should probably evaluate the risks associated
with changing status on a month to month basis on one’s environmental
and legal liabilities. EPA Identification Number Small quantity generators (SQG) and large quantity generators
(LQG) ONLY are required under the Federal hazardous waste program to obtain
an EPA ID number and use it when manifesting wastes off-site. This allows EPA
and the states to track waste activities. One can obtain an EPA ID number by
calling your EPA Regional Office. [One can link to the regional locator
here or create a slide of the specific numbers in each region for EPA ID numbers] Biennial Report
As for reporting, large quantity generators (LQG) only are
required to submit a biennial report to their EPA regional office by March
1 of every even numbered year. This reporting requirement is intended to provide
EPA with reliable national data on hazardous waste management. The report includes: EPA ID number, name and address of the generator, and
every transporter, treatment, storage, and disposal facility and recycler
Actions taken to reduce the volume and toxicity of the
waste, and the results of those actions.
Both conditionally-exempt small quantity generators (CE-SQG)
and small quantity generators (SQG) have limits on how much hazardous waste
they can store at their facility at any one time. If they go above those limits,
they need to comply with the requirements of the next higher generator category. For non-acute hazardous waste, this limit is 1000 kg or 2,200
lbs for a CE-SQG and 6000 kg or 13,200 lbs for a SQG. For acute hazardous waste, the limit is the same for both:
1 kg for an acute hazardous waste or 100 kg for spill residue from an acute
hazardous waste. An LQG can store as much hazardous waste as it wants on site.
There is no quantity limitation. Time Limits The length of time that hazardous waste can be stored on-site
varies depending on generator status:
There are no time limits placed on a CE-SQG for the storage
of hazardous waste. [Although there is a limit on how much hazardous waste
a conditionally-exempt small quantity generator (CE-SQG) can accumulate on
site, one of the advantages of being a CE-SQG is that as long as one remains
below that limit (see discussion above), one can store that waste forever.]
Small quantity generators (SQG) can only keep their waste
on–site for 180 days or 270 days if their treatment, storage, and disposal
facility is more than 270 miles away.
Large quantity generators (LQG) can only store their waste
for 90 days without obtaining a permit as a storage facility.
Small quantity generators (SQG) and large quantity generators
(LQG) have additional requirements placed on them when storing their hazardous
waste. They are recommended for conditionally-exempt small quantity generators
but not required. There are two types of storage areas: the satellite accumulation
area and the main hazardous waste storage area. The satellite accumulation
area is an area at or near the point of hazardous waste generation and under
the control of the operator of the process generating the waste where the wastes
are allowed to be temporarily stored for 3 days before being moved to the main
hazardous waste storage area. The main hazardous waste storage area can be anywhere at the facility and is
where the facility stores their waste before being sent off-site for treatment,
disposal, or recycling. There can also be more than one main storage area.
The requirements for each storage area are listed below. Satellite Accumulation Areas Can accumulate up to 55 gallons of non-acute hazardous
waste or one quart of acute hazardous waste
Required to date the containers when the above quantity
limits are reached so that the generator can remove the hazardous waste to
the main hazardous waste storage area or ship the wastes off-site within
3 days of reaching the above limits
Need to keep the containers closed except when adding
or removing wastes; and
Must mark the containers with either the words “Hazardous
Waste” or with other words that identify the contents of the container. Main Hazardous Waste Storage
Areas Required to comply with the hazardous waste time and quantity
limits appropriate to your generator status; Must keep the containers sealed except when adding or
removing wastes, in good condition, and secured from failure (i.e., the container’s
material needs to be compatible with the waste)
Must conduct weekly inspections with log book entries;
Need to label each container with the words “Hazardous
Waste”, the specific description of its contents, and the date on which
the container first entered the main storage area. In regards to this latter
point, if you have several main hazardous waste storage areas at your facility,
you cannot start the clock over again by moving your wastes from one main
hazardous waste storage area to another. The date is the time the container
first left the satellite accumulation area and was transferred to a main
Emergency Planning Small quantity generators (SQG) and large quantity generators
(LQG) have specific requirements placed on them under RCRA so that they are
prepared for emergencies involving hazardous waste. These requirements are
recommended for conditionally-exempt small quantity generators but not required. First, they must have an adequate internal alarm or communication
system in place. Voice is Ok for small facilities. Second, they must also designate an emergency coordinator
and an alternate who is on the premises or on call at all times. Thus if an
inspector shows up at your door when your emergency coordinator is on vacation
and no one can answer his questions, you will be in violation of this requirement
of RCRA. Third, they must post emergency information by the phone.
Employees should not have to go searching through a bunch of papers for the
number of the local fire department when there is a chemical fire looming in
the background. It should be right by the phone. This emergency information
should include the name, office, and home phone numbers, and address of the
emergency coordinator. Particular attention should be paid to outside hazardous
waste sheds to make sure that employees can call for emergency assistance quickly
and easily since in many cases there is no phone in the shed. Fourth, SQGs and LQGs must ensure adequate aisle space for
emergency response, adequate water for fire fighting, and have available properly
maintained fire extinguishers and alarms, spill control material, and decontamination
supplies. Fifth, they must make advanced emergency arrangements with
the police and fire departments, emergency response teams, equipment suppliers
and emergency contractors, and hospitals. Finally, LQGs only are required to prepare a written contingency
plan which is designed to minimize hazards from fires, explosions, or any unplanned
release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents into the environment.
It is recommended for SQGs but not required. SQGs are only required to establish
basic safety guidelines and response procedures. This written contingency plan
must be kept on-site and an additional copy must be submitted to all local
emergency service providers. Personnel Training One of the most common questions is what hazardous
waste training does a small quantity generator (SQG) need to give their employees?
Under RCRA, an SQG must ensure that all employees are thoroughly familiar with
the proper waste handling and emergency procedures relevant to their responsibilities.
Large quantity generators (LQG), on the other hand, must have a formal personnel
training program in place in accordance with the requirements in 265.16 and
262.34(a)(4). This requires initial training and annual review that teaches
proper waste management and familiarizes them with procedures, equipment, and
systems to effectively respond to emergencies. Please note that conditionally-exempt
small quantity generators are not legally required to train their employees
on hazardous waste management and emergency procedures but it is highly recommended. Hazardous Waste Minimization
Under RCRA, small quantity generators (SQG) must make a good
faith effort to minimize waste generation and to select the best available
waste management method that they can afford. Large quantity generators (LQG),
on the other hand, are actually required to have a formal hazardous waste minimization
program in place to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste generated to the
degree economically practicable, and must select a currently available treatment,
storage, or disposal method that minimizes present or future threats. Please
remember that when one signs a hazardous waste manifest, one is stating to
EPA that one’s facility has a hazardous waste minimization program. Inspections RCRA requires that SQGs and LQGs of hazardous waste
inspect containers in storage (not in satellite accumulation areas) at least
weekly for signs of leaks, corrosion, or other deterioration and record those
inspections in a log. At a minimum, these records must include the date and
time of inspection, the name of the inspector, a notation of the observations
made, and the date and nature of any repairs or other remedial actions. A
facility may choose its own format for recording such observations as long
as the format provides for full documentation of observations and any remedial
actions taken. If a checklist is chosen as the documentation format, the
checklists must be filled out completely. Each item on the checklist must
be addressed by means of a check mark or other item-specific notation.
(40CFR
265.15(d))
Shipping Waste Off-Site As for shipping wastes off-site, conditionally-exempt small
quantity generators (CE-SQG) are required to ensure delivery of their hazardous
wastes to either a RCRA treatment storage and disposal facility (TSDF), a state
authorized solid waste facility, or a recycler. If a CE-SQG sends its wastes
to any other facility, it will lose its exemption and must comply with the
requirements for a small quantity generator (SQG). The key here is the term “ensure
delivery”. The fact that a CE-SQG can send their hazardous wastes to
a municipal landfill does not mean they can throw that wastes in the trash.
The wastes are at a minimum required to get to the destination intact. So throwing
fluorescent light bulbs in the trash will not be permitted since the odds of
the bulbs getting to the landfill intact are small. One should check with one’s
state hazardous waste program on how they interpret the phrase “ensure
delivery.” As for small quantity generators (SQG) and large quantity
generators (LQG), they must send their wastes to either a RCRA TSDF or a recycling
facility. Their wastes cannot go to a municipal landfill. In addition, they
must ensure that hazardous waste shipments are properly packaged, labeled,
marked, and placarded to Department of Transportation regulations. This is
usually done by the transporter. Furthermore, they must prepare hazardous waste
manifests correctly which allow all parties involved in hazardous waste management
(e.g.. generators, transporters, TSDFs, EPA and state agencies) to track the
movement of hazardous wastes from the point of generation to the point of ultimate
treatment, storage, and disposal. Each time a waste is transferred (e.g., from
the generator to the transporter, the transporter to the TSDF, or from a transporter
to a transporter if there is more than one), the manifest must be signed to
acknowledge receipt of waste. A copy of this manifest is retained by each individual
in the transportation chain. Once the waste is delivered to the TSDF, the TSDF
must sign the manifest and return a copy to the generator. Thereby, closing
the loop and letting the generator know that his waste has safely arrived at
its ultimate destination. SQGs and LQGs must keep copies of the manifests that
are signed by the TSDF for 3 years. If they do not receive a copy back from
the TSDF in 35 days, they must investigate why this is the case and if they
do not receive the copy back in 45 days, they must notify EPA. States may have
shorter time periods. Finally, SQGs and LQGs must ensure that their hazardous
waste meets the land disposal restriction (LDR) requirements and send the receiving
TSDF a completed LDR form.
A hazardous waste manifest must accompany all hazardous
waste that is shipped off site. A hazardous waste manifest is a multipart
form designed to track hazardous waste from generation to disposal. It will
help you to track your waste during shipment and make sure it arrives at
the proper destination. If you send waste to a recycling facility, you may
be able to use a tolling agreement instead of a manifest. A tolling agreement
is a "closed-loop" arrangement whereby a generator contracts with
a recycling company to reclaim its hazardous waste and return it as a recycled
product, thereby avoiding disposal. A copy of the contract must be kept on
file for three years after the contract has ended. You must fill in all parts of a manifest. Information
requested includes: name of transporter, name of the designated facility,
your EPA ID number, and a description of the waste based on DOT requirements,
such as proper shipping name and hazard class. Call the DOT information line
for more information on DOT waste description requirements. The transporter signs the completed manifest when the
shipment is accepted for transport. The facility operator at the designated
TSDF also signs the form when the shipment is received and sends a copy of
it back to you. You must keep this copy on file for three years. (It might
be a good practice, however, to keep it for as long as you are in business.) Any SQG that does not receive a signed copy of the
manifest from the designated TSDF within 60 days of shipment must submit
a legible copy of the manifest to the state or EPA regional office. This
copy, known as an exception report, simply indicates that a signed copy was
not received from the facility operator.
Please note: A new hazardous waste manifest form went into effect on September 5, 2006. See the EPA web page on the Hazardous Waste Manifest System for details. A useful training video is also available. Recordkeeping and Reporting
SQGs and LQGs who ship hazardous waste off-site to a treatment,
storage, disposal (TSD) facility must prepare and submit a Biennial Report
to the EPA Regional Administrator by March 1 of each even numbered year (1998,
2000, 2002, etc.). Use EPA Form 8700-13A/B for submitting the report, and include
the following information: The EPA identification number, name, and address of the
generator; The calendar year covered by the report Your EPA identification number, name, and address for
each off-site treatment, storage, or disposal facility to which waste was
shipped The name and EPA identification number of each transporter
used A description, EPA hazardous waste number (from 40 CFR
part 261, subpart C or D), DOT hazard class, and quantity of each hazardous
waste shipped off-site A description of the efforts undertaken during the year
to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste generated. A description of the changes in volume and toxicity of
waste actually achieved during the year in comparison to previous years The certification signed by the generator or authorized
Some states require have more frequent reporting requirements
(e.g., annually).
Exception reports are part of the RCRA tracking system. After
you send waste off-site for disposal, the TSDF is required to return to you
a copy of the original manifest. If you don't receive the manifest from the
TSDF, then you must submit an Exception Report. SQGs must file a Exception
Report if they have not received a copy of the manifest with the handwritten
signature of the owner or operator of the designated facility within 45 days
of the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter. There is no
special form for the Exception Report. You can write directly on a copy of
the manifest or attach a separate sheet of paper (handwritten or typed). Make
sure you include:
A legible copy of the manifest in question A statement explaining the efforts taken to locate the
hazardous waste Your signature The Exception Reporting requirements for LQGs are a little
different. If you do not receive a copy of the manifest within 35 days of the
date that the waste was accepted by the original transporter, you must contact
the transporter and TSDF to determine the status of the waste. If you still
haven't received a copy of the manifest within 45 days, then you must submit
the Exception Report as described above for SQGs. Recordkeeping
You must retain records for three years, including: Manifests Biennial Reports Exception Reports Any test results, waste analyzes, or similar information
related to the waste shipped off-site Your inspection schedule and reports. (Specific inspection
requirements are found in 40 CFR 265.15.) The three-year time period is automatically extended indefinitely
if you have any unresolved enforcement action. In this case, maintain the files
until all matters are fully resolved.