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ECAR Fact Sheet for North Dakota
Hazardous Wastes
The
intent of the hazardous waste program is to provide a cradle-to-grave
management system for hazardous wastes to ensure that these wastes
are not mismanaged in a way that will impact human health or the
environment.
North
Dakota’s hazardous waste management rules are virtually identical
to the federal regulations (40 CFR Parts 124, 260-264, 266, 268,
270, 273 and 279). The programs are administered by the North Dakota
Department of Health, Environmental Health Section, Division of
Waste Management (the Department).
The
Department has prepared a guidance document to help auto recyclers
manage hazardous waste. Much of the information is included in the
fact sheet below or you can click on the document and find more
information on managing hazardous
wastes.
To
comply with North Dakota’s hazardous waste requirements, you must
follow the steps below:
- Determine
whether any hazardous waste is generated.
- Determine
your facility’s generator status.
- Determine
which regulations must be complied with depending upon your facility’s
generator status, and comply with those requirements.
Regulations
Definition
of Solid Waste. In order for a waste to be considered a hazardous
waste, it must first meet the definition of solid waste. The term
“solid waste” can be somewhat misleading. The word “solid” does
not refer to the physical state of the waste. Solid waste can be
a solid, liquid, or contained gas. Under the hazardous waste rules,
a solid waste is any material that will no longer be used for its
original intended purpose, or a material that must be reclaimed
before reuse. You will need to look at each of the waste streams
generated (e.g., antifreeze, used oil, solvents, etc.) and determine
whether it is a solid waste. Note that not all solid wastes are
considered hazardous wastes. Certain solid wastes, such as used
oil destined for recycling, are excluded from the hazardous waste
rules.
Hazardous
Waste Determination. It is the responsibility of all solid
waste generators to determine whether their waste is hazardous.
The procedure for this is called a “hazardous waste determination.”
You may assume a waste is hazardous based on its characteristics
or on past laboratory analysis provided there is no change in how
the waste was generated. In some cases, you may use your knowledge
of a waste to make a determination as to whether the waste is a
characteristic hazardous waste. If you use such information to classify
a waste as nonhazardous, you must maintain documentation supporting
this determination. If you are not sure, have the waste tested.
Keep in mind that a non-hazardous waste may become hazardous if
contaminated or mixed with other materials and re-testing would
be needed.
Wastes
can be hazardous if they are either “listed” or “characteristic”,
or if they are a mixture of a listed hazardous waste and other wastes.
A.
Exempt Wastes. Some wastes are exempted from regulation as hazardous
waste. Examples of exempted waste include household refuse, irrigation
return flows, sewage, mining overburden, used oil, fly and bottom
ash, scrap metal, oilfield wastes, nuclear materials, and NDPDES-permitted
discharges.
B.
Listed wastes. Waste is considered hazardous if it is found
on any one of four “lists”. These “lists” are called the “F”, “K”,
“P” and “U” lists.
C.
Characteristic wastes. Once a facility has reviewed the F, K,
P and U lists, and determined whether generated wastes are found
on any of the lists, a determination will need to be made to see
if these wastes are “characteristic” hazardous wastes. There are
four different characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity,
and toxicity.
- IGNITABLE
- combustible under certain conditions
- CORROSIVE
- highly acidic, basic and/or capable of corroding metal
- REACTIVE
- unstable under normal conditions and capable of creating explosions
and/or toxic fumes, gases, and vapors when mixed with water
- TOXICITY
- wastes contain dangerous amounts of metals, pesticides,
herbicides, and organic chemicals that could be released to the
groundwater.
D.
Universal Waste and other regulated wastes. Universal wastes
have fewer waste management rules that apply to them. For more information
about the generation, storage, transportation, disposal and recycling
of universal wastes, refer to the state’s universal waste requirements.
Other regulated wastes include asbestos abatement wastes, radioactive
wastes, wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
E.
Land Disposal Restrictions. Land disposal restrictions
(LDR’s) prohibit the disposal of many hazardous wastes on the land,
unless the waste meets specific treatment standards. When evaluating
wastes, you must determine if the wastes are subject to LDR rules.
Generator
Status. If you manage hazardous waste, you must determine
your generator status. Your facility will fall under one of these
three classifications.
- Conditionally
Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG). You are considered
a CESQG in a calendar month if you generate no more than 100 kilograms
(220 pounds) of hazardous waste per month.
- Small
Quantity Generator (SQG). You are considered an SQG if you
generate greater than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) but less than
1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of hazardous waste in a calendar
month.
- Large
Quantity Generator (LQG). You are considered an LQG if you
generate 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) or more of hazardous waste
in a calendar month. You also are considered an LQG if you generate
during a calendar month, or accumulate at any time, more than
one kilogram of acutely hazardous waste, or more than a total
of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of any residue, contaminated soil,
waste, or debris from cleaning up a spill of any acutely hazardous
waste onto land or into water.
Complying
with Hazardous Waste Rules. Once you have determined whether
you generate hazardous waste and your generator status, you can
determine which requirements apply to you. See North Dakota’s Hazardous
Waste Compliance Guide for more details
Links
to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations
pertaining to hazardous waste management.
North Dakota’s
Hazardous Waste Management Requirements
Federal
EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
Contacts
- For
more information, contact the North Dakota Department of Health,
Environmental Health Section Division of Waste Management at 701-328-5166.
- To
report a spill or leak, call the Division of Emergency Management’s
24-hour number at
800-472-2121, or 800-773-3259 (normal
business hours), and if necessary, the National Response
Center at 800-424-8802. For calls
originating outside of North Dakota, call
701-328-8100 (normal business hours), or 701-328-9921 (weekends
and non-business hours).
- To
report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the Division of
Waste Management or file an online
incident report.
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