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Transfer sTaTions are affecTed by a varieTy of federal, sTaTe,

tribal and local regulations, including those related to noise, trac impact

mitigation, land use, workplace saety, taxes, employee right-to-know and equal

employment opportunity that are applicable to any other business or public

operation. Many jurisdictions also have regulations specically applicable to

transer stations. These regulations typically emphasize the protection o public

health and the environment.

Federal RegulationsNo ederal regulations exist that are specically applicable to transer

stations. EPA, however, initiated a rulemaking process exclusively or marinewaste transer stations under authority o the Shore Protection Act in 1994.

These rules would regulate vessels and marine transer stations in the U.S.

coastal waters. EPA is currently working with the U.S. Coast Guard on

nalizing these rules.

State RegulationsState solid waste regulatory programs usually take primacy in transer

station permitting, although local zoning and land use requirements apply as

well. State regulations vary widely. Some have no regulations specic to transer

stations; others mention them as a minor part o regulations that generally

apply to solid waste management; and others have regulations specically

addressing transer station issues such as design standards, operating standards

and the maximum amount o time that waste can be let on site. A ew states

also require transer stations to have closure plans and to demonstrate nancial

assurance, while others require certication o key personnel. Some states also

require compliance with regional solid waste planning eorts or demonstrations

o need.

Local RegulationsLocal regulation o transer stations can take many orms. Typical regulatory

bodies include counties, cities, regional solid waste management authorities,

health departments and air pollution control authorities. Counties, cities and

regional authorities are oten required to prepare comprehensive solid waste

management plans describing long-range plans or waste prevention, recycling,

collection, processing (including transer stations) and disposal. Other local

regulations likely to apply to transer stations include zoning ordinances, noise

ordinances and trac impact analysis.

Public health departments are involved with transer stations because o the

potential health concerns i solid waste is improperly managed. In some States,

the State environmental protection agency delegates authority to local health

departments to oversee solid waste management acilities, including transer

stations. This typically includes overseeing general compliance with a acilitys

operating permit, regular cleaning o the tipping foor, limits on the amount o

waste the acility can accept, and employment o adequate measures to prevent

vectors such as rats, birds and fies rom contacting waste.

Local or regional air pollution control authorities oten regulate odor,

dust and vehicle exhaust emissions at transer stations. Air pollution control

agencies might regulate chemicals used to control odor, exhaust rom vents

on the acilitys roo or walls, and whether dusty loads can be delivered to

the transer station. The local sanitary district oten establishes wastewater

standards and might be involved in storm water management and protection.

Common Regulatory Compliance MethodsCompliance Inspections

Many transer stations are inspected periodically or compliance with the

transer stations operating permit and other applicable regulations. The entity

responsible or perorming inspections and the requency and level o detail o

inspections vary widely around the country. Some inspections are complaint

driven, some occur on a regular requency, and some occur on a random basis.

A typical inspection involves a representative o the local health department

or state or tribal solid waste regulatory program walking through the acility,

looking or improper waste storage or handling methods and writing up a short

notice o compliance or noncompliance. Other inspections or specic issues

are also conducted. Special inspections might target workplace saety, proper

storm-water runo management and compliance with applicable roadway

weight limits or transport vehicles.

ReportingSome transer station operators are required to compile monthly, quarterly

or annual reports or submission to regulatory agencies and host communities.

These reports typically include the ollowing inormation:Weight (tons)and loads (numberof customers) received at thetransfer

station each month. This sometimes includes details such as day o the

week, time o day, type o waste, name o hauler and origin o waste.

Weight(tons)andloads(numberoftransfertruckshipments)shippedfrom

the transer station each month. This sometimes includes a breakdown by

time shipped, type o waste and the nal destination o the waste.

Adescriptionofanyunusualeventsthattookplaceatthetransferstation,

including accidents and discoveries o unacceptable waste.

Asummaryofcomplaintsreceivedandtheactionstakentorespondtothe

complaints.

From www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/r02002.pdf.

RTL| Recycling | Transer Stations | Landflls

Transfer StationsApplicable Regulations

70 WasteAdvantage Magazine April 2012

As Seen In

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2012 Waste Advantage Magazine, All Rights Reserved.Reprinted from Waste Advantage Magazine.

Contents cannot be reprinted without permission from the publisher.

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