Solid Waste and
tmergency Response
(OS-305)
EP/530-F-92-018
August 1992
Environmental
Fact Sheet
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generators are military motorpools; taxi, bus, and delivery companies;
and shipyards. People who change their own oil (do-it-yourselfers) are
not covered, nor are farmers who generate an average of 25 gallons or
less of used oil per month in a calendar year. Approximately 700,000
facilities qualify as generators.
Generators simply must:
• Keep storage tanks and containers in good condition;
• Label storage tanks, "used oil";
• Clean up any used-oil spills or leaks to the environment; and
• Use a transporter with an EPA identification (ID) number when
shipping used oil off-site.
Service station dealers that comply with these requirements, that
send used oil for recyclng, and that accept used oil from do-it-
yourselfers are not liable for emergency response costs or damages
resulting from threatened or actual releases of used oil from
subsequent handling of the oil. EPA believes relief from this particular
regulatory burden will encourage more service station dealers to collect
used oil, thereby increasing used oil recycling by the consumer sector.
Requirements for Processors and Re-refiners
Used oil processors and re-refiners handle and store large quantities
of used oil for a wide variety of purposes. Consequently, data suggest
that damage from mismanagement of used oil at these facilities is not
uncommon, and that stronger controls are necessary. Approximately
300 facilities must comply with these management standards.
Requirements for these facilities include:
• Obtaining an EPA ID number and notifying the Agency of any
activities concerning used oil;
• Maintaining storage tanks and containers in good
condition, and labeling them "used oil";
• Processing and storing used oil in areas with oil-impervious
flooring and secondary containment structures (such as berms,
ditches, or retaining walls);
• Clean up any used oil spills or leaks to the environment;
• Preparing a plan and a schedule for testing used oil for halogen
content;
• Tracking incoming used oil and out-going recycled used oil
products;
• Maintaining certain records and biennial reporting;
• Managing used oil processing and re-refining residues safely; and
• Ensuring that the facility is properly closed when recycling
operations cease.
Requirements for Transporters, Collectors, and
Burners of Off-Specification Used Oil
A used oil transporter or collector is any person who transports
used oil to another site for recycling. Transfer facilities that are holding
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areas, such as loading docks and parking and storage areas, must
comply with the transporter requirements when used oil shipments are
held for more than 24 hours in route to their final destination.
Generators who transport less than 55 gallons of their own used oil are
exempt from the transporter requirements.
Approximately 400 transporters and collectors also must obtain an
EPA ID number and notify the Agency of any activities concerning used
oil; maintain storage tanks and containers in good condition, and label
them "used oil"; process and store used oil in areas with oil-impervious
flooring and secondary containment structures (such as berms or
ditches); clean up any used oil spills or leaks to the environment; and
track incoming used oil and out-going used oil. In addition,
transporters and collectors must:
• Limit storage at transfer facilities to 35 days and
• Test waste in storage tanks that are no longer in service for
hazardous characteristics, and, if wastes are hazardous, close
them according to existing hazardous waste management
requirements.
Used oil burners must comply with the same storage requirements
as transporters. Less than 1,000 facilities burn off-specification used
oil. Standards for these burners are recodified from 40 CFR Part 266 to
40 CFR Part 279. The Agency plans additional study on used oil
burned as fuel.
Requirements for Used Oil Marketers
Marketers of used oil were regulated in 1985. These standards are
recodified from 40 CFR Part 266, Subpart E to 40 CFR Part 279. There
are no major changes to existing requirements.
Conclusion
In May 1992, EPA determined that listing used oil destined for
disposal as a hazardous waste was unnecessary. Combined with that
rule, this action fulfillS'EPA's statutory mandate under the Used Oil
Recycling Act of 1980. These management standards—working in
tandem with existing laws and regulations—effectively control potential
risks while promoting used oil reycling.
Contact
For additional information or to order a copy of the Federal Register
notice, contact the RCRA Hotline, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30
p.m. EST. The national, toll-free number is (800) 424-9346; TDD (800)
553-7672 (hearing impaired); in Washington, D.C., the number is (703)
920-9810, TDD (703) 486-3323.
Copies of documents applicable to this rule may be obtained by
writing: RCRA Information Center (RIC), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Solid Waste (OS-305), 401 M Street SW, Washington
D.C. 20460.
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