Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-303 - Dangerous waste regulations › Section 173-303-174 - Satellite accumulation area regulations for medium quantity generators and large quantity generators

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A
			 generator may accumulate as much as fifty-five gallons of dangerous waste or
			 either one quart of liquid acutely hazardous waste or 2.2 lbs. of solid acutely
			 hazardous waste (as defined in WAC
			 173-303-040)  in
			 containers at or near any point of generation where waste initially accumulates
			 (defined as a satellite accumulation area in WAC
			 173-303-040). The
			 satellite accumulation area must be under the control of the operator of the
			 process generating the waste or secured at all times to prevent improper
			 additions of wastes to a satellite container. A generator may accumulate waste
			 without a permit, or without complying with WAC
			 173-303-400,
			 173-303-600,
			 173-303-692,
			 and
			 173-303-800,
			 provided that all the conditions for exemption in this section are met. A
			 generator may comply with the conditions for exemption in this section instead
			 of complying with the conditions for exemption in WAC
			 173-303-172
			 and
			 173-303-200,
			 except as required by (h) and (i) of this subsection. The conditions for
			 exemption for satellite accumulation are:
(a)
			 Condition of containers. If a container holding dangerous waste is not in good
			 condition (e.g., severe corroding or rusting or flaking or scaling, and/or
			 apparent structural defects) or if it begins to leak, the generator must
			 transfer the dangerous waste to a container that is in good condition and does
			 not leak, or immediately transfer and manage the waste in a central
			 accumulation area operated in compliance with WAC
			 173-303-172
			 or
			 173-303-200,
			 as applicable. In addition, the generator must address leaks and spills in
			 accordance with the applicable provisions of WAC
			 173-303-145,
			 173-303-172,
			 and
			 173-303-201.
(b) Compatibility of waste with containers.
			 The generator must use a container made of or lined with materials which will
			 not react with, and are otherwise compatible with, the dangerous waste to be
			 stored, so that the ability of the container to contain the waste is not
			 impaired.
(c) Management of
			 containers.
(i) A container holding dangerous
			 waste must be closed at all times, except:
(A) When it is necessary to add or remove
			 waste; or
(B) When temporary
			 venting of a container is necessary, such as:
(I) For the proper operation of equipment;
			 or
(II) To prevent dangerous
			 situations, such as build-up of extreme pressure.
(ii) A container holding dangerous
			 waste must not be opened, handled, or stored in a manner which may rupture the
			 container or cause it to leak.
(d) Special requirements for reactive waste.
			 Containers holding reactive waste exhibiting a characteristic specified in WAC
			 173-303-090(7)(a)(vi)
			 through (viii)    must be stored in a manner
			 equivalent to the separation distances for storage of explosives in the
			 International Fire Code, 2015 edition, or the version adopted by the local fire
			 district.
(e) Special requirements
			 for incompatible wastes.
(i) Incompatible
			 wastes, or incompatible wastes and materials must not be placed in the same
			 container, unless WAC
			 173-303-395(1)(b) is complied with.
(ii) Dangerous
			 waste must not be placed in an unwashed container that previously held an
			 incompatible waste or material.
(iii) A storage container holding a dangerous
			 waste that is incompatible with any waste or other materials stored nearby in
			 other containers, piles, open tanks, or surface impoundments must be separated
			 from the other materials or protected from them by means of a dike, berm, wall,
			 or other device. Containment systems for incompatible wastes must be
			 separate.
(f) Container
			 labeling or marking. A generator must clearly label or mark each container of
			 dangerous waste with the following:
(i) The
			 words "Dangerous Waste" or "Hazardous Waste." Except for containers one gallon
			 (or four liters) and under, the lettering must be legible from a distance of
			 twenty-five feet or the lettering size is a minimum of one-half inch in
			 height.
(ii) An indication of the
			 hazards of the contents (examples include, but are not limited to, the
			 applicable dangerous waste characteristic(s) and criteria of ignitable,
			 corrosive, reactive and toxic and the applicable hazard(s) identified for
			 listed dangerous wastes). The label or marking must be:
(A) Legible and/or recognizable from a
			 distance of twenty-five feet or the lettering size is a minimum of one-half
			 inch in height; and
(B) Include
			 descriptive word(s) and/or pictogram(s) that identifies the hazards associated
			 with the contents of the containers for the public, emergency response
			 personnel, and employees; for containers one gallon (or four liters) and under
			 the label, marking or lettering can be appropriate for the size of the
			 container.
(g)
			 Accumulation limits. When the accumulation limits listed in this subsection are
			 met:
(i) The container(s) must be marked
			 immediately with the accumulation start date; and
(ii) Moved within three consecutive calendar
			 days to a permitted on-site designated storage area or an on-site central
			 accumulation area or to a permitted off-site designated facility; and
(iii) During the three consecutive calendar
			 day period the generator must continue to comply with all the conditions for
			 exemption for satellite accumulation in this section.
(h) All satellite accumulation areas operated
			 by medium quantity generators must meet the preparedness and prevention
			 regulations and the emergency procedures in WAC
			 173-303-172.
(i) All satellite accumulation areas operated
			 by large quantity generators must meet the preparedness, prevention and
			 contingency regulations and emergency procedures in WAC
			 173-303-201.