Hazardous Waste and Nuclear Waste
Class #3
Homework:
Homework #3 is due before you move on to next class. Research paper outlines also due. If any questions, contact Professors Auberle and Jeffery via email, phone or fax.
Current event summaries to Professors Auberle and Jeffery any time.
Introduction to waste management case study; history of waste management policies in the US.
1. Announcements
Homework #2 due before proceed with Class #3. If not yet done, should complete and submit to Professors Auberle and Jeffery before proceeding.
2. Current Events
Uranium tailings still in dispute
What to do in face of uncertainty. Conservative assumptions?
Asbestos danger "overestimated"
Nuclear dump gets US OK.
3. Waste Management case study
If completed other modules in 410 series, familiar with hypothetical CCP facility. If not, background information on facility available through case study portions web site. In either case, review background information and information specific to waste management case study.
CCP produces large amount of wastes during chemical manufacturing process. Some emitted into air. Others discharged in wastewater. Still others transported off-site for disposal or treatment.
Your boss, VP for EH&S at CCP has asked several questions. You assigned to answer one of set of questions for her. Specific assignment identified in course materials you received in course packet.
Answers and summary of analysis due before begin Class #8.
4. History of waste management policies in US
Common Law:
Trespass
Nuisance
Negligence
For Centuries, waste management laws province local government.
Federalization: (Not include nuclear waste. Special case, will discuss in Class #7)
Began to change 1965 with first substantive federal law – Solid Waste Disposal Act
80% wastes land disposed
Thrust move from dumps to sanitary landfills.
1970 Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments ("Resource Recovery Act")
Looking for ways to use refuse beneficially
1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
1st time really looked at waste in terms of reduction and beneficial use.
Federalization, continued
1970s many environmental statutes with waste management implications
CAA
CWA
FIFRA
CZMA
UMTRA
1984 amendments – Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments
1988 – Medical Waste Tracking Act.
In response to problem of hypodermic needles and other medical wastes washing up on Atlantic Coast beaches, Congress directed EPA to set up demonstration program for tracking shipment and disposal of medical wastes in selected number of states.
EPA regulations set up program tracking transportation waste from generator to disposal facility. Generator required to segregate waste where can, and use appropriate labels and containers.
RCRA most important part
Start paying attention to waste streams from time generation to disposition
Cradle to grave
Focus on Subtitles C & D
Subtitle D:
Defines and deals with solid wastes
What is a solid waste?
Solid waste
Discarded material (regulation)
Paint example. Throw away, or rework. No net economic value.
At least know what "solid" means. Right?
Not liquid
Query semi-solid or sludge
Certainly not gaseous material
Solid waste First Click: Second Click: "including solid, liquid, etc."
Solid waste First Click: Second Click: "does not include . . . "
Does not include domestic sewage, irrigation return flows, point source industrial, or nuclear. Why not?
Except for special kind of "solid waste" called "hazardous waste", regulation of solid waste is responsibility of states pursuant to Subtitle D of RCRA.
Federal involvement limited to establishing minimum criteria that prescribe best practicable controls and monitoring requirements for solid waste disposal facilities.
Compliance with the minimum requirements determines whether a facility is an "open dump" or not. If complies, is "sanitary landfill. If not, is open dump. Disposal of solid waste in "open dumps" (i.e., facilities not meeting criteria) is prohibited.
EPA’s main enforcement tool against state for failing to close open dumps is to terminate certain grant funds available to state under RCRA.
RCRA also envisions state, with help federal grant funds, develop regional solid waste management plans.
For our purposes, most important part of RCRA, certainly most interesting part, is Subtitle C.
Subtitle C:
Deals with special kind of solid waste called "hazardous waste".
Is it a solid waste? Recall special definition from Subtitle D.
Is it hazardous? Special definition. Will discuss next class. Also case study explores definition hazardous waste.
Key to regulatory system is "cradle to grave" tracking system. Use manifest system to track hazardous waste from time created to time of final disposal or treatment.
ENV 410C - Lectures