ECAR Fact Sheet for Wyoming
Vehicle Crusher

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources
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The
following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once
prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process
with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check
on the status of the review process here.
Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried
to present a summary of the essential information on this topic,
you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations,
may apply to you.
What You Need to Know
The
main environmental concern in vehicle crushing operations is letting
any fluids still in the vehicle get away from you. If fluids
are allowed to drain into the soil, or to get into a drain where
they are not supposed to be, you could be in for trouble.
And even if the fluids are contained in the crushing area, you need
to be sure stormwater won’t wash them away.
If
the fluids are hazardous wastes, special handling and disposal rules will apply to
them.
Regulations
There
are no environmental regulations that specifically govern the design
and operation of vehicle crushing operations. However, if vehicle
crushing is not performed properly, vehicle fluids will drain to
the soil, which is prohibited. Also, allowing vehicle fluids to
be carried away by stormwater is prohibited. Therefore, auto-recycling
facilities should implement the best management practices listed
below to help prevent these types of environmental violations from
occurring at their vehicle crushing operations.
Fluids
collected during oil crushing operations should be managed as hazardous waste unless
a hazardous waste determination has been made that proves that the
fluids are non-hazardous. A hazardous waste determination involves
collecting samples of the fluid and having the samples analyzed
at a laboratory.
Links
to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to hazardous
waste determinations and management.
Wyoming’s Hazardous Waste Management
Requirements
Federal
EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
Self-Audit
Checklist
When
an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things he
or she checks to see if you are in compliance with environmental
regulations. It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit"
and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties.
Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits
(see Audit Policy Page).
Use
the following list to audit your vehicle crusher management procedures.
- Do vehicle fluids escape to
the soil from vehicle crushing operations? Verify that the soil surrounding
vehicle crushing operations does not show signs of vehicle fluid
spills. If there are signs of fluid spills, such as stained
soil or dead vegetation, then remediation may be necessary.
- Are fluids generated from vehicle
crushing properly managed and disposed of? Verify that fluids were properly
managed and disposed/recycled as hazardous waste or that a hazardous
waste determination was made that indicates it is a non-hazardous
waste. If the waste is non-hazardous, verify that it is properly
managed.
Best
Management Practices (BMPs)
Most
regulations tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but
they don’t explain how to do it. That’s where "best management
practices" come into play. BMPs are proven methods that
help you to get into compliance and stay there. The following BMPs
are recommended for vehicle crusher management procedures.
- Vehicles should be adequately drained prior to crushing
in order to minimize the volume of waste fluids to manage. Fluids
such as fuel, used oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc. should
be stored in separate containers that are clearly labeled.
- Vehicle crushers should be situated on a bermed or self-contained
impervious surface, preferably under a roof and protected from
the weather. The floor surface should be sloped to contain fluids.
Position crushers toward the center of the surface or concrete
pad rather than along the edge.
- Mobile crushers should always be situated on an impervious
surface or heavy duty plastic sheeting. Containers designed to
be fitted to the crusher can help capture fluids.
- Maintain disposal receipts from mobile crusher operators
for all wastes generated and transported off-site for disposal.
Contacts
- For more information, contact the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality,
Solid & Hazardous
Waste Division at 307-777-7752.
- To
report a spill or leak, contact the Wyoming All Hazards Response
Program at 888-996-9104.
- To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact
the Wyoming
All Hazards Response Program.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
- Hazardous
Wastes
Other
Relevant Resources
- Wyoming – Solid and
Hazardous Waste Guidance
- Wyoming
Recycling Directory
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