&EPA
                 Unnvd SUIM
                 £nvironm«nui Pro(*ction
                 Agency
               Off.c* of
               Solid W»»IB «nd
               Emerge:.;y P«»pon»«
DIRECTIVE NUMBER:
•''Lc:  Evaluating the Ignitability of Physical Solids

APPROVAL DATE:  April 21, 1986
EFFECTIVE DATE:  April n  1986
ORIGINATING OFFICE: QSW/SMB
3 FINAL
D DRAFT
  STATUS:

REFERENCE (other document*):
'E    DIRECTIVE     DIRECTIVE    D

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                                                                           t   I
  xvEPA
                                         .               .   _..     .
                                         Wasnmgton. OC 2G4bO
                        OSWER  Directive Initiation Reauest
                                                                  9443.00-1A
                                            Or-qmator informal
Name of Contact Person
    David  Friedman
                                   Mail Cooe  -
                                   WH-562B
                                                 Branch
                                                   SMB
                                                    Teieonone-Numoer
                                                           ' 382-4770
 ead 0«.et
   D OERR
   E OSW
                 Q
                 D OWPE
                 n AA-OSWER
                 Signature of 0"ice Director
                                                                 i Date
 ,t!e
    Evaluating the Ignitability of  Physical Solids
Summary ot Directive
    Letter  explaning that the  flash  point  tests  specified in  40 CFR 261.21  only  apply
    to liquid wastes.
Key Words:
    Ignitability,  Hazardous Waste,  Solids
Type of Directive iManutt. Policy Directive. Announcement, etc.i
    Clarification  Memorandum
                                                                      Status
                                                                         D Draft
                                                                         GD Final
                                                                     |   131 Now
                                                                     i   LJ Revision
Doe»tnis Directive Supersede Previous Directive**;'   j_j Yes
if "Ye*" to Either Question. What Directive /number, title/
                                                    No   Does it Supplement Previous Directives)'   bc_l Y««   |  ) NO
Review Plan
   D AA-OSWER   Q OUST
   1-1 — -       D OWPE
   G OERR
   [E] OSW
I—I Regions
                                   D OECM
                                   D OGC
                                   D OPPE
                                                    D
                                      Otner iSpecityl
This Request Meets OSWER Directives System format
Sigrature of Lead Office Directives Officer
                                                                                   ' Date
Signature of OSWER Directives Officer
                                                                                   '• Date

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  \         UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
  2
 r>                    WASHINGTON. D.C. 20460
 .-?
                             APR 2 I  1955
                                                        OFFICE OF
                                               SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
MEMORANDUM
1'j.lbL f-C-i. u.Vj L-llZa:.l|-vt ff 9
SUBJECT:  Evaluating the Ignitability of  Phyaical  Solids

FROM:     Marcia E. Williams, Director
          Office of Solid Waste  (WH-562)

TO:       Robert L. Duprey, Director
          Waste Management Division  (8HWM)


     In response to your March 25th memorandum on  Amoco's  questions
about the application of a flash point  test  to solid  wastes,  the
use of flash point as a determinant of  hazard is restricted  to
liquid wastes only.  As we have  stated  previously,  in OSW's
Quality Assurance Notes #5, while some  States are  requiring
generators to use the Pensky-Martens or Setaflash  test to  determine
if non-liquid wastes are hazardous by reason of ignitability, OSW
cannot support this position.  ASTM, who  was responsible  for the
development of these tests, states that the  Setaflash method is
applicable only to liquids with  a viscosity  below  150 st  at
25°C, while the Pensky-Martens test can also be used  for  liquids
that contain suspended solids.   Neither test, however, is  approved
by ASTM for use in evaluating the flash point of solids or sludges.

     The OSW has been conducting research to develop  techniques
for measuring the ignitability of solids  and sludges.   These
tests are currently undergoing interlaboratory collaborative
testing prior to formal proposal.  Until  we  can complete  develop-
ment of the test procedure, and  accompanying regulatory thresholds
for non-liquid wastes, we will have to  continue to rely on the
definition in §261.21(2).

     If you have any additional  questions concerning  any  of  the
characteristics, please contact  David Friedman at  FTS 382-4770.

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