RCRA Boot Camp(Basic Training for the Newly Inducted)

2013 College & University Hazardous Waste ConferenceCharlottesville, Virginia

August 4-7, 2013

Objectives:

• Summarize, Demonstrate and Provide Experience Completing the Waste Determination Process

• Discuss Special Wastes (Universal Waste, Oil, Etc.)• Summarize Generator Issues (Status, ID#, Subpart K)• Summarize Land Ban & Transportation Issues• Discuss Compliance Strategies & Inspections

Schedule:• 10:00 – 10:10 Introductions & Welcome• 10:10 – 11:00 Waste Determinations• 11:00 – 11:10 Break• 11:10 – 12:00 Waste Determinations (continued)• 12:00 – 13:00 Lunch• 13:00 – 13:30 Special Wastes (UW, Oil, etc.)• 13:30 – 14:00 Generator Issues (Status, ID#, Storage)• 14:00 – 14:10 Break• 14:10 – 14:30 Land Ban & Transportation Issues• 14:30 – 15:00 Compliance Strategies & Inspections

Introductions

Bill Diesslin, ARM, CHMM, CSP

Associate Director, EH&S

Iowa State University

Sean B. Whalen, ASP, CHMM

Environmental Manager, EH&S

Iowa State University

The Need For RCRA

• $750 billion chemical industry• 70,000 different chemicals• 1,500 new chemicals each year• 50,000 hazardous waste sites• Many avenues of exposure• Many chemical risks are poorly understood

Times Beach, Missouri

Love Canal

Valley of the Drums

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Enacted in 1976 as an amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA)

• Main objectives:– Protect human health & the environment

– conserve valuable material

– conserve energy resources

• Established "Cradle-to-grave" management and tracking of hazardous waste

RCRA Administration

• EPA administers RCRA• States may be authorized by the EPA

– Rules need to be adopted for state enforcement

• Alaska & Iowa do not administer state programs

USEPA Regions

Waste Determinations

• What– Wastes to consider

• When– Not defined by regulation

• Who– Interpretive letter

• How– Objective of this class

Waste Determinations (what)

• Solid Waste– To be hazardous waste a material must first be solid

waste– Discarded material– Not excluded by 40 CFR 261.4(a)

• Discarded material– Abandoned material– Recycled material– Inherently waste-like material– A military munition as defined by 40 CFR 266.202

Waste Determinations (what)

• Materials are solid waste if they are abandoned– Disposed– Burned or incinerated– Accumulated, stored or treated in lieu of disposal or

incineration

• Materials are solid waste if they are recycled– Use constituting disposal– Burning for energy recovery– Reclaimed– Accumulated speculatively

Waste Determination (what)

• Use constituting disposal– Materials applied to or placed on land in a manner that

constitutes disposal

– Material used to produce products that are land applied

– Commercial chemical products (261.33) are not solid waste if land application is ordinary manner of use.

• Burning for energy recovery– Materials burned or used to produce fuel

– Commercial chemical products (261.33) are not solid waste if they are themselves fuels.

Waste Determination (what)

• Inherently waste-like materials– Materials that are solid waste when recycled in any

manner

– F020 – F023, F026, F028

• Some materials are not solid waste when recycled– Used as an ingredient in an industrial process

– Used as an effective substitute for a commercial chemical product

– Returned to its original process

Waste Determination (when)

• Not overtly stated in regulation• Often implied that it must be done at the moment

the waste is generated• Topic discussion of discussion in OSW

Waste Determination (who)

• C&U interpretation– 08/16/2002

– RCRA On-line #14618

• Definition of “person”– individual, firm, agency, corporation, partnership,

association, state, municipality, commission

• Waste determination can be made by:– Lab personnel

– EH&S staff

– Other qualified person

Waste Determination (how)

• Outlined in 40 CFR 262.11• Determine if material is solid waste

– As discussed

• Determine if waste is excluded [261.4] • Determine if the waste is a listed hazardous waste• Determine if the waste is a characteristic

hazardous waste

Waste Exclusions

• Outlined in 40 CFR 261.4• Materials which are not solid wastes

– 40 CFR 261.4(a)

• Solid wastes which are not hazardous– 40 CFR 261.4(b)

• Hazardous wastes which are specifically exempt– 40 CFR 261.4 (c) - (g)

40 CFR 261.4(a)

• Domestic sewage. Domestic sewage means untreated sanitary wastes that pass through a sewer system.

• A mixture of domestic sewage and other wastes that pass through a sewer system to a publicly-owned treatment works (POTW).

• A wastewater discharge subject to permitting by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

40 CFR 261.4(a)

• Special nuclear or by-product material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended by 42 USC 2011.

• Excluded scrap metal being recycled.• Shredded circuit boards being recycled.• Materials that meet the requirements for

comparable fuels or comparable syngas fuels as defined in 40 CFR 261.38

40 CFR 261.4(b)

• Household waste• Solid waste generated by agricultural activities

that are returned to the land as fertilizer. Included both plant and animal production.

• Mining overburden returned to the mine.• Fossil fuel combustion residues (fly ash, bottom

ash, etc.)• Trivalent chromium waste.

40 CFR 261.4(b)

• Solid waste from ores and minerals.• Treated lumber used for its intended purpose.• Petroleum contaminated media subject to

corrective action.• Reclaimed CFCs.• Properly managed non-terne plated used oil filters.

40 CFR 261.4(c) – (g)

• Hazardous waste samples• Treatability study wastes• Others

– Rare in acadamia

Listed Wastes

• Waste from non-specific sources– “F-List”

• Waste from specific sources– “K-List”

• Commercial chemical products– “P-List”

– “U-List”

F-Listed Wastes

• Hazardous waste from non-specific sources • Spent materials• F001 – F005 are common wastes in academia• F027 waste is occasionally found at academic

institutions and is subject to acute waste limits

K-Listed Wastes

• Spent material from specific industrial processes• Very rare in academia

Acute Hazardous Wastes

• P-Listed wastes• Unused commercial chemical products• Sole active ingredient• Waste containers require triple rinsing

Toxic Hazardous Wastes

• U-Listed wastes• Unused commercial chemical products• Sole active ingredient

Characteristic Hazardous Wastes

• Ignitable (D001)• Corrosive (D002)• Reactive (D003)• Toxic (D004 – D043)

Ignitable Wastes

• A liquid with a flash point less than 140º F– Does not include aqueous solutions containing less than

24 percent alcohol by volume

• A material other than a liquid capable of causing fire under standard temperature and pressure that burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard

• An ignitable compressed gas

Ignitable Wastes (Oxidizers)

• For many years, 40 CFR 261.21 (a)(4) incorrectly referred readers to 49 CFR 173.151 for the definition of an oxidizer

• Mistake was due to revision of 49 CFR in 1990• EPA determined that excluding DOT definition

from RCRA was impractical • Resulted in the 2006 definition that is actually

more confusing– Includes numerous notes

Revised Oxidizers (2006)

• Substance that yields oxygen readily to stimulate combustion of organic matter– “such as” chlorate, permanganate, nitrate, inorganic

peroxide

• Organic peroxides except:– Class A & B Explosives

– Forbidden for transport

– Predominant hazard is other than organic peroxide

– Does not present a hazard for transportation

Corrosive Wastes

• An aqueous solution with a pH less than or equal to 2.0 or greater than or equal to 12.5

• A liquid that corrodes steel at a rate of 0.25 inches per year

• Solids, by definition, can’t be corrosive

Reactive Wastes

• Normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating

• Reacts violently with water• Forms potentially explosive mixtures with water• Generates toxic gas when mixed with water• Cyanide and sulfide bearing wastes

Reactive Wastes

• Capable of detonation or explosion when ignited or heated under confinement

• Can detonate or explode at standard temperature and pressure

• Forbidden explosives as defined in 49 CFR 173.53

Toxic Wastes

• Wastes that contain hazardous contaminants that may “leach” into groundwater if landfilled

• A sample of the waste is subjected to Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)

• TCLP “leachate” is then subjected to chemical analysis

• Analytical results that exceed limits listed in 261.24 are hazardous waste

Toxic Wastes

• TCLP is not always necessary• May use generator knowledge to assign waste

codes• May use “total” analysis with a 20x dilution factor

in lieu of TCLP process

Toxic Wastes & SDWA

Contaminant SDWA - MCL RCRA - TCLP

Arsenic 0.05 mg/l 5.0 mg/l

Benzene 0.005 mg/l 0.5 mg/l

Mercury 0.002 mg/l 0.2 mg/l

Carbon tetrachloride 0.005 mg/l 0.5 mg/l

Toxic Wastes & SDWA

Contaminant SDWA - MCL RCRA - TCLP

Chlordane 0.002 mg/l 0.03 mg/l

2,4-D 0.07 mg/l 10.0 mg/l

Lindane 0.0002 mg/l 0.4 mg/l

Silver NA 5.0 mg/l

Mixture Rule

• Characteristic waste + solid waste = characteristic waste if the mixture still exhibits the waste characteristic

• Wastes listed for a characteristic + solid waste = listed waste if the mixture still exhibits the waste characteristic

• All other listed wastes + solid waste = listed waste• Mixing is treatment

Derived-From Rule

• Treatment residue from characteristic wastes are hazardous if the exhibit a waste characteristic

• Treatment residue from wastes listed solely for a characteristic are hazardous waste if they exhibit a waste characteristic

• Treatment residue from all other listed wastes remain listed

Questions

Example #1

Unused reagents in their original containers are left over from a research project in the Biology department. These are common reagents that would be readily used if transferred to the Chemistry department. Are the reagents solid waste?

Example #2

A researcher has retired and left behind a supply closet filled with dust covered reagents. Dates on many containers indicate that they are more than 30 years old. Are the reagents solid waste?

Example #3

During a lab inspection you encounter four unlabeled glass containers filled with colorful liquids. All lab staff are aware of the containers but have no idea what they contain. Are these materials solid waste? If so, are they hazardous waste?

Example #4

The campus motor pool uses a power washer to clean automobile engines. A degreaser is applied to the engine as a pretreatment prior to cleaning the surface. Rinse water enters a floor drain that is connected to the sanitary sewer. Is the rinse water hazardous waste?

Example #5

A radio isotope lab is being decommissioned. Twenty lead bricks that were used for shielding are discovered. The bricks are of no use to any other laboratory on campus. Are the bricks solid waste? Are they hazardous waste?

Example #6

A jar of sodium hydroxide pellets is too old for use elsewhere on campus. Is the sodium hydroxide solid waste? Is it hazardous waste?

Example #7

Unused formalin solution typically consists of 37% formaldehyde, 10-15% methanol and 48-53% water. If this liquid (fp 120 – 140° F) were disposed of as waste, what would be the most appropriate waste code(s)?

Example #8

As part of routine maintenance, paint stripper containing methylene chloride was used to remove lead based paint from dormitory windows. What waste code(s) apply?

Example #9

Osmium tetroxide (P087) is used in a fume hood to prepare microscopy samples. The fume hood is equipped with a filter that must be replaced. What is the regulatory status of the used filter?

Example #10

Toulene-2-4-diamine (CAS#95-80-7) and toulene-2-6-diamine (CAS#823-40-5) do not show up in 40 CFR 261.33; however, toluenediamine (CAS#25376-45-8) is listed as U221. What is the regulatory status of these isomers?

Special Wastes

Special Wastes

• Universal Wastes 40 CFR 273• CRTs 40 CFR 261• Oil and Oil Filters 40 CFR 279• Solvent contaminated Wipes (effective 01/14)

Universal Wastes - Background

• EPA recognized large volumes of certain wastes were problem for generators

• Hazardous Waste Rules impediment to recycling efforts

• Promulgated UW Rules in 1995

Universal Wastes - EPA Goals

• Encourage resource conservation while ensuring adequate protection of human health and the environment

• Improve implementation of current Subtitle C hazardous waste program

• Provide incentives for recycling and recovery efforts

What is Universal Wastes (UW)?

• IMPORTANT- for a material to be a Universal Waste it must first be a Hazardous Waste

• But UW Rules encourage recycling of non-hazardous (and therefore non-UW) wastes along with UW wastes– Green tip bulbs

– Certain batteries

What is UW?

• Originally batteries, pesticides, and mercury switches in 1995

• Lamps added in 1999• Mercury containing equipment added in 2005• States may declare other UW

– CRTs, CRT glass

– Non-empty aerosol cans

– Non-hazardous batteries

– Industrial Wipes

What is UW?

• Batteries (40 CFR 273.2)– Defined in 40 CFR 273.9

– HW if not managed as UW• Silver

• Nickel-cadmium

• Mercury

• Lithium ion

• Lead acid

What is UW?

• Batteries– Non-hazardous waste (check state regs, CA & MN)

• Nickel metal hydride

• Alkaline

• Zinc carbon

– Non-haz but might still be recycled

What is UW?

• Pesticides (40 CFR 273.3)– Defined in 40 CFR 273.9

– Hazardous waste by listing or characteristic• Recalled pesticides

• Stocks of other unused pesticides managed as part of a waste pesticide management program

– Non-haz (most pesticides) can still be handled under UW rules

What is UW?

• Mercury Containing Equipment (40 CFR 273.4)– Defined in 40 CFR 273.9

– Device or part of a device that contains mercury

– Excludes batteries and lamps

What is UW?

• Lamps (40 CFR 273.5)– Defined in 40 CFR 273.9

– Hazardous waste due to mercury vapor

– Many new “non-haz” lamps on the market. Debate whether they actually pass TCLP

– But regulations encourage recycling of ALL lamps

UW Management

• Generator Status

• Notification

• Waste Management

• Labeling/Marking

• Accumulation Time Limits

• Training

• Response to Releases

• Off-site Shipments

• Waste Tracking

UW Management

• Generator Status– Small Quantity Handler of Universal Waste (SQHUW)

(40 CFR 273 Subpart B)• Less than 5000 kg (11000 lbs) aggregate accumulation at one

time

– Large Quantity Handler of Universal Waste (LQHUW) (40 CFR 273 Subpart C)

• Greater than 5000 kg (11000 lbs) aggregate accumulation at one time

UW Management

• Generator Status– Must count all UWs on site at a given time

– Most requirements are same for small and large

– Totals are NOT ANNUAL, but are calculated at a single point in time

– Benefits for frequent shipments of smaller amounts

UW Management- Notification

• SQHUW– No requirements, don’t

have to get an EPA ID#

• LQHUW– Must notify EPA of waste

activities and receive an EPA ID# before meeting or exceeding 5000 kg limit

– Unless already have EPA ID#

UW Management

• Waste Management- same for both SQ and LG• Outlines requirements and allowances

– Prevent breakage, spillage, and releases

– Package securely

– Non-treatment techniques such as sorting, mixing, regenerating, and emptying of used batteries

UW- Labeling/Marking

• Same for SQ and LQ handlers• Individual item or container must be marked as

described in the regulations• Make your own labels and distribute them to

campus personnel• LABEL EXAMPLE

Label

Universal Waste BatteriesAugust 03, 2013

Date

UW- Accumulation Time

• Same for SQ and LQ Handlers• 1 year to dispose of UW• Must date each item or container or maintain

detailed inventory system

UW- Training

• SQHUW– Must INFORM all

employees who handle or manage UW regarding proper handling and emergency procedures

• LQHUW– Must ENSURE that all

employees are thoroughly familiar with proper waste handling and emergency procedures, relative to their responsibilities

UW- Response to Releases

• Same for SQ and LQ Handlers• Must immediately contain releases• Must make follow up hazardous waste

determination

UW- Off-site Shipments

• Same for SQ and LQ Handlers• Must send UW ONLY to another UW Handler, a

destination facility (recycler), or a foreign destination

• If a UW Handler self transports off-site, becomes UW Transporter (40 CFR 273 Subpart D)

• Must follow DOT Hazardous Materials regulations (unless otherwise exempt)

UW- Tracking Shipments

• SQHUW– Not required to maintain

records of shipments

– Probably a good idea though.

• LQHUW– Must maintain records of

waste received from off-site

– Must maintain records of waste shipped off-site

– 3 year retention

UW- Questions?

Special Wastes - CRTs

• Conditionally excluded from RCRA– Processed CRT glass (261.39)

– Used broken CRTs (261.40)

– Used intact CRTs (261.41)

• Current proposal to revise export provisions

Special Wastes- Used Oil

• Used oil regs in 40 CFR 279• You have a choice

– Handle oil as a hazardous waste, or

– Recycle it and benefit from used oil regs

• Check state regs for differences with Feds

Special Wastes- Used Oil

• What is used oil?– Refined from crude or synthetic

– Used

– Contaminated by physical or chemical impurities such as water, metal fines, lead, antifreeze, etc.

– Oil not mixed with hazardous wastes except in a few circumstances

Special Wastes- Used Oil

• The EPA assumes that used oil is going to be recycled– Recycling includes reformulation, recovery, and

burning for energy recovery

– You may not use used oil as a dust suppressant

Special Wastes- Used Oil

• Generator Requirements– Mixtures of used oil and hazardous waste generally

become hazardous waste

– Oil storage must be in tanks or containers in good condition

– Oil storage units must be clearly marked “Used Oil”

– Spills or releases must be addressed when found

Special Wastes- Oil Filters

• Requirements vary state to state• Non-terne plated oil filters• Generally puncture and hot drain 12 to 24 hours• Contact local oil collector, service station, or state

agency to identify avenues for recycling

Solvent Contaminated Wipes

• FR Vol. 78, No. 147 July 31, 2013– Effective January 31, 2014

• Conditionally excluded from RCRA– 40 CFR 261

– Cleaned and reused

– Disposed

• “Solvent” is the key word!• Reads much like UW

Solvent Contaminated Wipes

• Requirements (HW if not followed)– Closed, Non-leaking container

– Labeled “Excluded Solvent Contaminated Wipes”

– 180 days from container start (assume dated)

– No free liquids

– Document destination facility

Special Wastes- Conclusion

• Crash course in special waste topics• Benefits to generators if they properly utilize the

less stringent UW and Used Oil Rules• More time for questions later

Questions

Generator Issues

• Generator Status• Generator ID#• Storage

Waste Generator Status

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG)

• Small Quantity Generator (SQG)• Large Quantity Generator (LQG)

Waste Generator Status

• Generator status can change– Up or down

• Status change remains at least one month• Common causes of generator status change

– Conditionally exempt facility accumulating too much waste.

– Generation of acute hazardous waste.

– Failure to identify hazardous waste.

– Cleanouts of old facilities.

Conditionally Exempt Generator

• Generates less than 100 Kg (220 Lbs) of hazardous waste per month.

• Generates less than 1 Kg (2.2 Lbs) of acute hazardous waste per month.– 100 Kg spill clean-up wastes

• Accumulates less than 1,000 Kg (2,200 Lbs) of hazardous waste.– Note limited by mass rather than time

Conditionally Exempt Generator

• Some wastes excluded from monthly tally– Used oil

– Lead-acid batteries

– Universal Wastes

• Many disposal options• Largely exempt from regulation• Often qualify for state sponsored waste

disposal programs

Small Quantity Generator

• Generates between 100 Kg (220 Lbs) and 1,000 Kg (2,200 Lbs) of hazardous waste per month.

• Generates less than 1 Kg (2.2 Lbs) of acute hazardous waste per month.

• 180 day storage limit– 270 days if shipping 200+ miles

• Waste manifests required

Small Quantity Generator

• 6,000 Kg (13,200 Lbs) maximum hazardous waste accumulation

• Follow Subpart I of part 265– Management of containers

– Includes weekly inspections

• Special requirements for tanks• Must have an emergency coordinator• Emergency numbers posted

Small Quantity Generator

• Must keep records for three years– Longer for “unresolved” enforcement

• Exception Reports– 60 days without a signed manifest copy

• Additional Reports– As deemed necessary by EPA

Large Quantity Generator

• Generates more than 1,000 Kg (2,200 Lbs) of hazardous waste per month.

• Generates more than 1 Kg (2.2 Lbs) of acute hazardous waste per month.

• 90 day storage limit• Waste manifests required• Heavily regulated

Large Quantity Generator

• Must keep records for three years– Longer for “unresolved” enforcement

• Biennial Report– March of even numbered years

• Exception Reports (destination manifest)– Contact receiving facility after 35 days

– File report after 45 days

• Additional Reports– As deemed necessary by EPA

Large Quantity Generator

• Contingency Plan• Training Requirements

Hazardous Waste Accumulation

• Permit required for storage beyond generator time limits– Unpermitted storage subject to closure

• Less than 90 days– Tanks

– Containers

– Containment building

• 180/270 days– Tanks

– Containers

Satellite Accumulation

• Waste at or near the point of generation• Contents identified• Less than 55 gallons

– One quart acute hazardous waste

• No time limit– Limited by volume

• Containers dated when capacity is exceeded

• Waste must be moved within 3 days

Generator ID#

• Not required for CESQG• Obtained with Form 8700-12• 12 “digit” number• Unique number required for each

contiguous property– Military munitions rule

• Temporary ID#s available– One time waste removals

Subpart K (Labs Rule)

• 1989 Report to Congress– Acknowledged that RCRA didn’t fit colleges

– 30,000 institutions, but less than 1% of HW

• Academia discussions with EPA in 2000– Wanted rules with a better fit

• Proposed Rule in 2006• Final Rule in 2008• Technical corrections in 2010

Subpart K (Labs Rule)

• “Opt-in” program– Written declaration to regulatory agency

• Laboratory Management Plan (LMP)• Laboratory Clean-out provision• Discussed in detail at this conference

– Kristin Fitzgerald, USEPA

– Alfredo Chandia, Bringham Young University

Questions

Transportation and LDRN

• Transportation of wastes by generator• Transportation of wastes by vendor• Land Disposal Restrictions• Completing the UHWM and LDRN

Transportation of Wastesby Generator• Establish internal SOPs• Satellite Accumulation Area versus Storage• Contiguous versus non-contiguous property• Training requirements

Transportation of Wastesby Generator• Waste collection SOPs

– Internal tracking documents

– Packaging of waste for transport• Done by lab or collection personnel?

– Right of refusal critical

– Emergency response

– Most internal movements of waste not regulated by DOT (Non-commercial)

Transportation of Wastesby Generator• Movement of waste from or between SAAs

– Once waste is moved from POG then SAA rules no longer apply

– Creates a “Storage Area” regulated under 262.34(a)

– Depending on state rules this could be across the bench top, across the hall, or across campus

Transportation of Wastesby Generator• Contiguous versus Non-contiguous property

– EPA working interpretation of contiguous is by proximity AND ownership

– Separate EPA ID#s

– Movement of waste between EPA ID#s triggers UHWM requirements

• Must segregate by DOT hazard class

– Problems if you are not a TSDF

– The Iowa State Clarification

Transportation of Wastesby Generator• Training

– Internal training recommended on SOPs, emergency response

– Shippers of waste must comply with DOT training requirements for shippers of hazardous materials (out to vendors)

Transportation of Wastesby Vendor• Generators responsibility to complete required

paperwork– UHWM and LDRN

– However, most vendors will complete paperwork as part of their service

• You must still sign

• Any errors they make is a potential NOV for you

Land Disposal Restrictions

• 40 CFR 268• Most complicated aspect of RCRA• Essentially, almost all wastes must be treated to

proscribed standards prior to disposal on the land• Burden on generator to inform Transporter and

TSDF that shipment contains restricted wastes

Land Disposal Restrictions

• Each shipment of waste requiring a UHWM must be accompanied by a LDRN– Even if you are the generator, transporter, and TSDF

– Vendor collected wastes

Land Disposal Restrictions

• Exceptions– One time notification if waste shipment is exactly the

same every time (rarely happens in an academic setting)

– Universal Wastes

– CESQG (federal)

– PCBs

Completing the UHWMand LDRN• Handouts

– HCWAF, UHWM, Hazardous Materials Table, LDRN

• UHWM located in Appendix to Part 262• No uniform LDRN

– Example is Iowa State’s

– Create your own or do what we did

– Modify your vendor’s

Completing the UHWMand LDRN• HCWAF

– Based on your needs and state requirements

– Provides information needed to make waste determination and haz mat segregation

• UHWM– EPA requirement even if you are exempt from DOT

rules

Completing the UHWMand LDRN• Hazardous Materials Table

– 49 CFR 172.101

– Science and art determining proper category

– “Waste” before any category

• LDRN– Must accompany UHWF

– Utilize vendor’s

Questions

EPA Inspections andCompliance Strategies

• Summarize basic regulatory structure for hazardous waste management

• Describe enforcement history/Review current regulatory environment

• Provide basic inspection strategies• Provide basic compliance strategies

Regulatory History

• EPA created – 1970• RCRA – 1976• RCRA regulations 1980• Superfund• Big polluters, lakes, rivers, landfills• Has finally trickled down to academia

– Large campus

– Small campus

– Secondary institutions

College & University Initiative

• Started in EPA Region I (May 15, 1999)• Followed by EPA Region III (May 25, 1999)• Followed by EPA Region IX (August, 1999)• Followed EPA Region II (December, 1999)• Followed by EPA Region V• EPA Region VII (2002)• EPA Region IV (2007)

College & University Initiative

• Justification– significant use of hazardous materials

– decentralized (poor management)

– poor waste management history

• Initiative– provide training to colleges & universities

– provide “grace period” to upgrade compliance

– Detailed follow-up inspection

Inspection Priority

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG)– Low priority

• Small Quantity Generator (SQG)– Higher priority

• Large Quantity Generator (LQG)– Highest priority

Inspection Priority

• Generator status can change• Change in status = change in inspection priority• Common causes of generator status change

– Conditionally exempt facility accumulating too much waste.

– Generation of acute hazardous waste.

– Failure to identify hazardous waste.

– Cleanouts of old facilities.

Recent Enforcement Activity

• Washington University (St. Louis, MO)– EPA inspection in 2008

– $15,000 fine and $45,000 SEP in 2010

• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) – EPA inspection in 2008– $175,000 fine in 2010

• Drew University (Madison, NJ)– Self-reported violations in 2007

– Inspected in 2009

– $145,000 fine in 2011

RCRA Enforcement

• EPA may require compliance immediately or within a specified time

• May require monitoring, testing, analysis, and/or reporting

• May involve individuals or institutions• May involve past or present inappropriate

management practices

RCRA Enforcement

• Up to $37,500 per day per violation• Same amount for continued noncompliance• EPA may shut down operation• Criminal penalty up to $7,500 per day per violation or

imprisonment for up to 5 years• Employee or management may be targets

Past Fines & Penalties

• University of Hawaii $1.8 million• Stanford $1.0 million• Brown $365,000• Boston University $771,000• Rhode Island $800,000• MIT $550,000

If You Get Inspected

• EPA Inspectors have same authority as ATF, FBI, etc. Respect them and they will respect you

• EPA contractors • Don’t panic• Cooperate to the fullest of your ability• Promptly correct any violations• Document response

If You Get Inspected• Opening conference

– Authority and credentials

– Goals of inspection

• One hour to several weeks

• Accompany inspectors at all times

• Closing conference– Notice of Preliminary Findings

– Your chance to ask for clarification, argue

• Several days to weeks later– Notice of Violations

• Several months to years later– Fines and penalties

Frequent Citations

• No waste determination• Improper marking and dating

– Hazardous waste– Universal Wastes– Used Oil

• Open containers• Training and training records• Improper SAA and/or storage area management• Secondary containment• Generator status

What’s An NOV and What Do I Do Now?• Notice of Violation

– EPA contends you have broken the law

– Maybe, maybe not

– The EPA has been known to be incorrect

• Require response in certain time frame– If unable to complete, request extension

• Respond in detail how you are addressing the NOV or why you believe the EPA is in error

• If they are right, FIX IT!

• Follow through. NOVs are the first thing an inspector will check on a repeat inspection

Compliance Goals

• Prevention!• Central control• Clearly stated objectives• Well defined roles• Individual appreciation for the “big picture”

Compliance system elements

• Authority• Knowledge of Regulations• Compliance Strategy• Training• Documentation• Management of Change

Authority

• Receive Authority of Administration– Higher the better

– Must have financial resources

– Authority delegated must be commensurate with responsibility

• Establish a Policy Statement– Signed by the individual delegating authority

• Get the Word Out– Refer to policy in correspondence

– Include policy in publications

Knowledge of regulations• Regulatory Publications

– Code of Federal Regulations

– Federal Register

– Regulatory Guidance Documents

• Training Sessions– State and federally sponsored programs

– Private training companies

• Professional Meetings– College & University Hazardous Waste Conference

– CSHEMA

• Internet– www.epa.gov

Compliance Strategy• Set Goals

– Compliance at minimum

– Form committees if necessary

• Determine Cost of Compliance– Training

– FTE

– Supplies, vendors, consultants

• Determine Cost of Non-compliance– Fines

– Liability

– Negative publicity

Training• Awareness Level

– Students– Faculty and staff– Administration

• Operations Level– Waste generators, emission source operators, etc.

• Facility Level– Environmental Managers

• Mode of Delivery– Dedicated training

• Live• Video• Web Based

– In conjunction with class– In conjunction with other training

Documentation• Central Records

– Permit applications

– Permits

– Correspondence

– Reports, manifests, certifications

• Databases• Operation Manuals

– Hard copy

– Electronic

• SOPs

Basic Compliance Strategy

• Identify hazards• Determine generator status• Communicate risk• Eliminate risk• Prevent accumulation of future waste• Environmental compliance evaluations

Identify hazards

• Conduct chemical inventory– What is this material?

– How is it used?

– Is it still suitable for its intended use?

– Record quantity, condition and location.

• Complete waste determinations– Is the material waste?

– Is it hazardous waste?

Determine generator status

• Based on inventory• Obtain EPA ID # if necessary

– May only need temporary ID

• Document generator status

Communicate risk

• Place “burden” of knowledge on appropriate level of administration

• Provide awareness training to faculty and staff• Label hazardous waste

Prevent future accumulation

• Inventory control– Buy only what you can use.

– Date containers when purchased.

– Rotate stock

• Material substitution• Schedule (budget) regular waste removal

Environmental Compliance Evaluations

• You must be visible!• Perform regular evaluations

– SAAs– Shops, custodial closets, maintenance areas– “Storage” areas– Identify weak program areas

• Repeat problems• Recalcitrant personnel

• Evaluation checklists– Maintain data base– Require follow-up by staff

Questions