Domain V: Disposition of Materials with Hazards Flashcards
What does LDR mean under RCRA?
Land Disposal Restriction (LDR)
In 1984, Congress created land disposal restrictions program as part of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) to the Resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA).
It requires the EPA to specify either concentration levels or methods of treatment for hazardous constituents to meet before land disposal.
The LDR program applies to both generators of hazardous waste and facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste (TSDF facilities).
The foundation of the LDR program consists of 3 prohibitions:
1.) Disposal - the prohibition against land disposal of untreated hazardous waste
2.) Dilution - The dilution prohibition ensures that wastes are properly treated and not simply diluted
3.) Storage - The storage prohibition prevents the indefinite storage of hazardous waste in lieu of treatment
What are the requirements when a TSDF is closed?
When a hazardous waste management unit stops receiving waste at the end of its active life, it must be cleaned up, closed, monitored, and maintained in accordance with RCRA closure and post-closure care requirements.
TSDFs must also comply with both EPA regulations under RCRA and OSHA regulations under Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
At TSDFs where multiple hazardous waste management units are in operations, one unit may cease operation. This is known as partial closure. The closed units are subject to all applicable closure requirements.
All TSDFs are required to prepare and submit a written closure plan. A permitted facility submits this plan as part of its permit application. Closure plans must be certified by an independent professional engineer.
Post-closure care is required for land disposal units that leave waste in place upon closure. These sites must have provisions to protect the surrounding environment and population from releases of hazardous constituents. the standard post-closure care period is 30 years.
What is the underground injection control program?
This program is found under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
The Underground Injection Control program consists of six classes of injection wells. Each well class is based on the type and depth of the injection activity, and the potential for that injection activity to result in endangerment of a USDW.
No owner or operator shall construct, operate, maintain, convert, plig, abandon, or conduct any other injection activity in a manner that allows the movement of fluid containing any contaminant into underground sources of drinking water.
What is a Class I well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class I wells are used to inject hazardous and non-hazardous wastes into deep, isolated rock formations.
What is a Class II well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class II wells are used exclusively to inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production.
What is a Class III well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class III wells are used to inject fluids to dissolve and extract minerals.
What is a Class IV well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class IV wells are shallow wells used to inject hazardous or radioactive wastes into or above a geologic formation that contains a USDW.
What is a Class V well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class V wells are used to inject non-hazardous fluids underground. Most Class V wells are used to dispose of wastes into or above underground sources of drinking water.
What is a Class VI well under the Underground Injection Control Program?
Class VI wells are wells used for injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) into underground subsurface rock formations for long-term storage, or geologic sequestration.
Are generators allowed to treat hazardous waste?
No.
A permit is required for any treatment of hazardous waste.
What are three desirable alternatives to immediate land burial of hazardous waste?
Resource Recovery
Detoxification
Volume reduction, coupled with disposal
Hazardous waste treatment processes can be classified into four general groups. What are they?
Chemical Treatment
This includes neutralization, precipitation, ion exchange, reduction, or oxidation, etc
Physical treatment
solidification, flotation, sedimentation, evaporation, or filtration, etc
Biological Treatment
landfarming, etc.
Thermal Treatment
incineration
Describe biological treatment of hazardous waste.
A treatment process in which bacteria, fungi, and or microorganisms are used to alter or destroy hazardous waste. Liquid and soil wastes that can be treated by this method may include toxic chlorinated and aromatic organic compounds. The process is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, including fluctuations in pH and temperature, and to changes in the concentrations of heavy metals and salts in the waste stream.
Describe chemical treatment of hazardous waste.
A treatment process in which the hazardous waste is altered by a chemical reaction in order to destroy the hazardous component. Waste that can be treated by this method include both organic and inorganic compounds without heavy metals. Drawbacks to this method include the inhibition of the treatment process reaction by impurities in the waste and the potential generation of hazardous byproducts.
Describe physical treatment of hazardous waste.
A treatment process in which the hazardous waste is separated from its carrier by various physical methods such as adsorption, distillation, filtration, etc. Physical treatment is applicable tp a wide variety of wastes but further treatment is usually required.
