v>EPA
              United States
              Environmental Protection
              Agency
            Office of
            Solid Waste and
            Emergency Response
DIRECTIVE NUMBER: 9453.01(82)


TITLE: 9Q_nay Accumulation of Hazardous Waste in Tanks



APPROVAL DATE: 8-31-82

EFFECTIVE DATE: 8-31-82

ORIGINATING OFFICE:

0 FINAL
                                  of Solid Waste
D DRAFT

 STATUS:
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I  1
[  1
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A- Pending OMB approval
B- Pending AA-OSWER approval
C- For review &/or comment
D- .In development or circulating

          headquarters
               REFERENCE (other documents):
  OSWER      OSWER      OSWER
fE    DIRECTIVE    DIRECTIVE

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PART 262  SUBPART C - PRE-TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS
                                                      9453.01(82)
Key Words:    Accumulation Rule, Storage

Regulations:  40 CFR 262.34, Part 265 Subparts I and J

Subject:      90-Day Accumulation of Hazardous Waste in Tanks

Addressee:    Thomas W. Devine, Director, Air and Waste Management
              Division, Region IV

Originator:   John H. Skinner, Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste

Source Doc:   #9453.01(82)
Date:
Summary:
8-31-82
     This memorandum presents a distinction between 90-day accumulation of
hazardous wastes in tanks, and 'storage of hazardous wastes which requires a
RCRA permit or interim status.  EPA determined that generators should not be
burdened with the RCRA permitting process for short-term accumulation that is
incidental to their operations.  If generators adhere to the standards in Part
265, Subparts I and J (for containers and tanks), they can safely accumulate
hazardous waste for 90 days or less without having to obtain a permit.

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                        AUG 3119&1
 i>i>txjLCT:   yo-uay  Accumulation  ot  Hazardous  Waste  in Tanks

 FROM*      John  H. bkinner
           Actiny Director
         .  Otficw OJC Sol id,. Watt ta, (WH-562) ,
           " *»»'»
 TOi        Thomas W. Devine  ~  "
           Director
           Air and waste Management  Division, Keg ion IV


     This  is in response  to your memorandum ot June 29, 1982
 regarding  the 90-da/ accumulation ot hazardous  waste in  tanks.
 in your aeoo, you requested  headquarters'  rationale for  allow-
 ing generators  to accumulate hazardous waste in tanks under 40
 CfK 262.34.   You pointed out  that accumulation,,da-tanks is
 virtually  the sane activity  as  storage in  tanks,  and \h*c»Łore
 it seems inconsistent to apply, different standards to the'two
 activities.

     section 262.J4 allows generators who  accumulate hazardous,
 waste as a normal part of  their manufacturing or industrial
 processes  to do so tor short periods of ti^e without obtaining
 a kCKA permit  for storage  or  qualifying  cor  interio status.
 This distinction  between  accumulation  ana storage  was tnada
 tor practical  and  administrative  reasons.   EPA  determined
 tnat generators should not be uurUeneu with the  KCKA ^eriuittiaj
 ^cocoas tor snort-term accumulation  that is incidental to their
 operations.  We  allow  generators  to  accumulate  hazardous
 v/aste in both containers and tanks because  we bolievo that it
generators adhere  to  the standards  in  Part   2bb  Subparts  I
 and J that they can aately  accumulate hazardous waste  for *U
 uays or loss without Having  to obtain a pernit.  The require-
nunts of &462.J4 wore  uesiyneU  to oe consistent  with both goals
 of relieving generators of  KCtfA  petriittiny  ^rocodurus applic-
 aole to storage facilities wtme ensuring protection of human
 health and the  environment Uuring accumulation.

     Regarding  your corr.iuent that "an  uinpty tank has  not been
defined*,  the preamble to the January  il,.  1^82 final rule on
 yu-day accumulation (47  tj< 12SO)  gives the  following guidances
 "A tank  will  be considered 'empty1 whon  it's contents have
been drained to  the fullest extent  possible,  bince many, tank

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        do  not allow  tor conkroniae  in a real *orld ot  oay-to-day . opera-
t ion So
     Finally , you  stateu  in  your memo  fenat th*  ^coarioie to
-5,^u
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