Definition of Hazardous Waste



"According to EPA: Hazardous waste is waste that is potentially harmful or dangerous to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be the thrown away commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes." From http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard

The comprehensive definition of hazardous waste:

It is a solid, liquid or solid substance identified in 40 CFR 261 that is a "Characteristic Waste" with one or more of the following descriptions:

Flammable (liquid with a flashpoint less than 141oF, a spontaneously combustible solid, an ignitable compressed gas or an oxidizer), or;

Caustic (an aqueous solution with a pH below 2.0 or above 12.5) a liquid which corrodes steel at a rate of 0.25 inches per year, or;

Reactive (an unstable material, reacts with water, explosive, generates toxic gas or a cyanide or sulfide bearing waste), or;

Toxic (RCRA metals such as chromium, lead, silver, mercury, cadmium; or pesticides, organic solvents, chlorinated solvents); and

Is thrown away, has served its intended use or is a manufacturing by-product, and; That is not inland sewage, a household waste or a sample collected for testing.

The term hazardous waste is also defined under RCRA as solids, liquids, and gases that show certain characteristics or are specifically listed in the rules. Hazardous waste is controlled under a “cradle to grave” concept, meaning that the waste is tracked via written records from the time it becomes a waste, and that ownership remains with the generator forever. Therefore, the best method to reduce the risk of future remediation costs is to decrease the amount of hazardous waste being generated. It is important to consider the amounts and types of wastes that will be generated when a project is in the proposal stage in order to guarantee that a disposal method exists that is both legal and affordable—and to minimize the amount of waste generated.

Full story at http://www.ccri.edu/safety/hazard_waste_mgmt_training.html


Related Articles/Links:
https://esd.uga.edu/hazardous-materials
http://www.wecomply.com/ethics-training/243721-handling-hazardous-materials-compliance-training-courses-classes
http://www.mtu.edu/oshs/safety-programs/required/waste-disposal/
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/

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The BoatUS Foundation offers Free Online Fuel Spill Training




ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As the summer boating season is in progress, harbors, boat yards and clubs are now on operation. These seasonal employees, sometimes high school, college students or part-timers are in charge for refueling hundreds of boats – but the question is? Do they have the training to avoid a fuel spill? With a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the BoatUS Foundation now provide these seasonal employees a serious learning tool, “Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff,” at BoatUS.org/spill-prevention. “It’s all about minimizing risk,” said BoatUS Foundation Vice President Susan Shingledecker, “And giving seasonal fuel dock staff the ability to protect your marina and the environment.”

The free online course, which covers spill prevention, planning and response, offers videos, interactive exercises and interviews with spill responders, marina owners and managers, and can be taken at anytime. Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff does not provide HAZWOPER certification but tackles the simple ways any seasonal employee can help prevent spills and safely reply should a spill happen as well as the simple steps they can take to prevent a spill at your marina. While the course is designed for new marina staff, included throughout are management tips to provide additional information to more senior staff.


Full story at http://www.boatingindustry.com/news/2015/06/04/boatus-offers-free-online-fuel-spill-training/
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The Oil Spill in Refugio, a Crime Scene?



The Crew Organizes to Excavate Pipeline as Investigation Continues

As a crew prepared to excavate the pipe that had spilled hundreds of containers of oil into the Pacific, Santa Barbara’s District Attorney Joyce Dudley was on the spot Monday, of a mind to deliberate it a “potential crime scene.” Her office has act against multiple environment-related cases in the past, she said, and could probably take on the Refugio spill, though she could not comment on the facts. She’ll be meeting with federal prosecutors this week to talk over the possibilities.


The area is being secured by Sheriff’s deputies for both the health and safety of the public, she explained and also to avoid impacting any evidence.


The north side of Refugio is just one area under isolation from the public. The beaches at Refugio and El Capitan are closed through June 4, and Coal Oil Point remains off limits. The fishing zones from Canada de Alegria to Coal Oil Point remain closed, states the Refugio oil spill’s Unified Command. A safety zone around the fisheries has also been made from west of Gaviota State Beach to west of Coal Oil Point. Aircraft, including drones, have in the same way been limited from a five-mile radius around the Refugio State Beach area to 1,000 feet ASL.


At the moment, a HAZWOPER (pronounced “haz-whopper”), or Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard training is planned for a couple days this week, followed by beach cleanups in order to show how to safely handle tars and oils, said a CERT volunteer at the Joint Information Center. The Unified Command press release express thanks to the community for its commitment and warned that volunteer opportunities would vary with the situation.

Full story at Refugio Oil Spill a Crime Scene?

Related article post
http://hazwoper-training-online.blogspot.com/2015/05/experts-response-on-refugio-oil-spill.html

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