Tag: Waste
What to Expect in the World of Waste for 2012
In November 2011, EPA closed public comment on a rule concerning the disposal of coal combustion residuals from electricity-producing facilities, first proposed in 2010. EPA is considering two possible options for the management of coal ash. Under the first proposal, EPA would list these residuals as special wastes subject to regulation under Subtitle C of […]
Getting a Handle on Handling Universal Wastes
The goal of EPA‘s universal waste rule (40 CFR 273) is to reduce the amount of hazardous waste items in the municipal solid waste wastestream and encourage recycling and proper disposal of certain common or widely generated hazardous wastes. Wastes regulated under the universal waste rules include: Batteries Pesticides Thermostats Fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps […]
2011 Hazardous Waste Report Due March 1
By Elizabeth Dickinson, J.D. BLR Legal Editor Referred to by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the Hazardous Waste Report (EPA Form 8700-13 A/B), and by those in the environmental management field as the Biennial Report, the report must be submitted by March 1 of every even-numbered year with information of the facility’s hazardous […]
Compliance Tip: Delisting Your Waste
So, for example, a waste generated at your facility may meet a listing description even though the process uses raw materials different from those EPA assumed were used when listing the waste—as such, the waste may not contain the contaminants for which it was listed. Similarly, after treatment of a listed waste, the residues may […]
Yucca Mountain and Disposing Nuclear Waste
By law the U.S. DOE was required to develop a permanent geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and begin accepting waste for disposal on January 31, 1998. But after decades of investigations, design, engineering, and testing at a cost of $14 billion, the Yucca Mountain option appears to have died under overwhelming negative response from […]
What to Do with Your UST After a Flood
Also, in less catastrophic conditions, a UST system that has been prepared for the risks posed by surface-level floodwater or rising groundwater can be brought back online relatively quickly. If the UST has been in a flood, the following actions, depending on site-specific conditions, are recommended: Do not assume everything is OK because water didn’t […]
Universal Wastes FAQ Roundup
What are the regulations for taping/protecting the ends of batteries when preparing them for shipment/disposal? There are no requirements under EPA‘s Universal Waste regulations for taping/protecting the ends of batteries when preparing them to be sent offsite as universal waste. However, a handler of universal wastes (which includes the generator) may manage broken or damaged […]
Saving Your UST from Floods
Even if you have insurance to cover repairs, bringing a damaged UST back up to code can be a lengthy process, particularly if the flooding is widespread and qualified UST contractors are in high demand. Furthermore, loss of product can lead to environmental pollution and the attendant remediation obligations and costs. If You are in […]
Options for Nuclear Waste Are Not Encouraging
Although these options have worthwhile aspects in terms of safety and practicality, each is very expensive and has contamination and exposure risks over both the short and long term. Not to mention, the American public is adamant in rejecting any proposal that places nuclear waste near communities either via transportation or storage. In November 2009, […]