Chemically Hazardous Materials Sent to a Hazardous Waste Site

DOE-STD-6003-96

7. 4.3 Chemically Hazardous Materials Sent to a Hazardous Waste Site

The ultimate disposal of components from the fusion facility will be in accordance with

state and federal permits. State and local laws will naturally depend on location of the facility.

Among the federal laws governing the disposal of hazardous materials are those listed in

Sections 7.4.3.17.4.3.6.

7. 4.3.1 Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act (CAA) established national goals for air quality to protect public health

and welfare, and it required the use of quality standards and criteria for the control of pollutants

in the environment. The approach of the CAA is to determine the relationships between public

health and welfare and air quality, while restoring, maintaining, and improving the quality of the

environment. The Clean Air Regulations are listed in 40 CFR Parts 50, 53. 56, 58, 6062, 65

67, 69, and 81.

7. 4.3.2 Clean Water Act

The goal of the Clean Water Act is to restore, maintain, and enhance the chemical, physi-

cal, and biological integrity of the nation's water. To accomplish this goal, regulations were set

forth establishing stream water quality and effluent limitations.

Particular importance is placed on the control of effluents containing hazardous pollutants.

Regulations concerning the discharge of radioactive and hazardous materials are set forth in

40 CFR Parts 116 and 141143.

7. 4.3.3 Safe Drinking Water Act

The Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the quality of drinking water with provisions aimed

at protecting the quality of groundwater. 40 CFR 141 and 142 establish the National Primary

Drinking Water Regulations and the enforcement responsibilities for these regulations.

40 CFR 143 establishes the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, and Part 144

sets forth the requirements for an Underground Injection Control Program.

7. 4.3.4 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations define hazardous

wastes and regulate their transport, treatment, storage, and disposal. RCRA defines all haz-

ardous wastes as solid waste; this includes all types of hazardous wastes, whether they are

solid, semisolid, liquid or even gaseous (so long as they are in containers).

40 CFR 262 details standards for generators of hazardous waste. These requirements

include obtaining an Environmental Protection Agency identification number, meeting waste

accumulation standards, labeling wastes, and keeping appropriate records. 40 CFR 262.34a

allows generators to store wastes for up to 90 days without a permit and without gaining interim

status as a treatment, storage, and disposal facility, provided specific conditions are met.

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