Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 854 - STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES
Section 096-854-14 - Additional Standards for Treatment in Tanks

Current through 2024-13, March 27, 2024

A. Performance Standards

(1) Facilities for treatment of hazardous waste in tanks must be constructed, altered and operated to meet the following performance standards:
(a) A hazardous waste or constituent or derivative thereof must not escape from the treatment facility to ground or surface waters or to adjacent subsurface soil at any time during the life of the facility.

(b) A hazardous waste or constituent or derivative thereof must not appear in the atmosphere in concentrations significantly above the background level or exceed current ambient air quality standards for Maine at any time.

Background levels must be established by monitoring or demonstrated to have been previously established by monitoring.

(c) The treatment of hazardous waste in an underground tank is prohibited.

(2) An applicant seeking a license to treat hazardous waste in a tank or tanks must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that:
(a) The waste is capable of being treated in a tank or tanks using the processes proposed, based upon a trial test (a bench or small-scale pilot test), that determines the treatment technique, its effectiveness, and any limiting factors;

(b) The design measures and operating procedures will maximize the success of the treatment;

(c) The facility design and components are compatible with the hazardous waste and the treatment process; and

(d) The treatment process can and will be controlled at all times so as to prevent uncontrolled releases of hazardous waste or its constituents or derivatives and to protect the public health and safety and the environment.

B. Design. In addition to the requirements applicable to storage of hazardous waste in tanks under Section 12 B, the following requirements apply to treatment in tanks:

(1) Materials used in the construction and operation of all parts of the treatment facility must be compatible with the wastes to be treated and with any treatment chemicals or reagents utilized in the treatment process.

(2) An alarm system to alert the operator to abnormal operations and to malfunctions must be installed prior to operation of the facility.

(3) The facility must have sufficient excess capacity to hold all wastes undergoing treatment if an equipment malfunction or breakdown occurs during the treatment process. The wastes must be able to be held securely until the treatment equipment is repaired.

(4) Fugitive emissions, including volatile organic compounds, from the facility must be controlled in accordance with a plan approved by the Board.

C. Operation. In addition to the requirements applicable to the storage of hazardous waste in tanks under Section 12(C) of this Chapter, the following requirements apply to treatment in tanks.

(1) All hazardous waste must be analyzed immediately prior to treatment, in order to ensure that:
(a) The proper treatment technique, feed rates of treatment chemicals and reagents, and operating conditions (temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.) are known and will be adhered to;

(b) The treatment technique proposed will not have any detrimental effect upon any of the materials used to construct or operate the treatment apparatus;

(c) The waste contains no components or contaminants which might interfere with or have an adverse impact on the treatment process;

(d) The waste contains no components or contaminants which, when treated, may cause an uncontrolled release of wastes or toxic gases or fumes;

(e) The waste contains no components or contaminants which, when treated, would form substances or residues which the facility could not handle properly in accordance with State and Federal requirements.

(2) Demonstration of the treatment process must be made by trial test. The demonstration, appropriately modified for treatment in tanks, must comply with 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 856, § 10(G).

(3) All treatment chemicals and reagents must be stored in a manner that minimizes the potential for spills, fires, explosions or uncontrolled discharges or releases.

D. Inspection, Surveying and Recordkeeping. In addition to the requirements applicable to the storage of hazardous waste in tanks under Section 12(D) of this Chapter, the following requirements apply to treatment in tanks:

(1) The owner or operator must maintain and keep current a record of:
(a) All hazardous waste(s), by type and volume, received for treatment;

(b) Where at the facility each hazardous waste is being held prior to treatment;

(c) Date of treatment of each waste received, the volume treated and the method of treatment (if more than one method is permitted);

(d) Details of all accidents and spills at the facility; and

(e) All inspections.

This record must be maintained at the facility during operation and upon closure must be delivered to the Department. The Department may require that a current copy of that record be kept on file with the Department.

E. Air, Ground Water and Surface Water Monitoring. The Department may require ground water, surface water and air quality monitoring in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8(D), 8(E), and 8(F) of this Chapter if it determines that such monitoring is necessary to ensure protection of public health and safety or of the environment.

F. Response to Leaks or Spills and Closure. The requirements of Sections 12(E) and 12(G) of this Chapter applicable to the storage of hazardous waste in tanks also apply to the treatment of hazardous waste in tanks.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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