3EPA
              United St
              Environmental Protection
              Agency
Off ice of
Solid Waste and
               DIRECTIVE NUMBER:  9443.07(85)

               TITLE: Permit Requirements Applicable to a Water/Methanol
                   Mixture
              APPROVAL DATE:  9-18-85

              EFFECTIVE DATE:  9-18-85

              ORIGINATING OFFICE: office of solid waste

              E FINAL

              D DRAFT

                LEVEL OF DRAFT

                 DA — Signed by AA or DAA
                 D B — Signed by Office Director
                 D C — Review & Comment

              REFERENCE (other documents):
  OSWER      OSWER     OSWER
VE   DIRECTIVE   DIRECTIVE   Dl

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PART 261  SUBPART C - CHARACTERISTICS
                                                DOC:  9443.07(85)
Key Words:    Ignitable Wastes, RCRA Permits

Regulations:  40 CFR 261.21, 26l.3(a)(2)(iil), 270.60(c)

Subject:      Permit Requirements Applicable to a Water/Methanol Mixture
Addressee:


Originator:

Source Doc:

Date:

Summary:
John Polich, Gabriel and Associates, 1814 North Marshfield,
Chicago, Illinois 60622

Peter Guerrero, Chief, Permits Branch

#9443.07(85)

9-18-85
     The letter clarifies RCRA permit requirements applicable to a water/
methanol mixture listed under 40 CFR 261.21.  To exempt the mixture from the
RCRA from regulations, the generator must demonstrate that the mixture is not
ignitable.

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                                                             9443.07 (85)
Mr. John Polich, P.B.
Gabriel and Aaaociatea
1§14 North Marahfield
Chicago, Illinoia 60622
                                                                         2
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                                                                         er
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Dear Mr. Polich s                                                         J:
                                                                         t»
     I «• responding to your letter of July 18, 1985 requesting          M
clarification of tha RCRA permit requirement a that apply to a            *.
•pacific wastewater stream, which ia a mixture of mathanol and    "       £
water, and which poaaaaaaa tha following char actariati cat                c

                   Volume (30,000-50,000 gpd)                            £
                   5-day BOD (25,000 mg/L)                               o
                   Suspended aolida (300 mg/L)                           «
                   Mathanol (20,000 mg/L)                                if
                                                                         o
     Thia waatawatar stream ia a liatad RCRA haxardoua waste (EPA        S"
No. P003) undar 40 CPR S261.21.  Sinca tha wasta ia liatad for           *"
tha characteristic of ignitability and because it ia a nixtura           z
of a aolid and haxardoua waata (S261.3U) ( 2} ( ill) ) , it can only
ba axaaptad fro* all RCRA requirements if you can demonstrate            ^
that tha waata is not ignitabla.  To maJce this demonstration,            |
you aiuat follow tha procedures in §261.21 using a raprasantative         n
aample of tha waatawatar stream.  If your wasta is not Igni table,        5"
aa a raault of analysis according to these teat methods, you             »
ahould notify Mr. Uorst Witschonke, Chief of the Illinoia RCRA
Onit, U.S. EPA Region V at (312) 886-0987.  He will evaluate the         £
taat data and conaidar exempting the waata from RCRA regulations.

     Another option is to seek approval frcai tha local POTW, which
haa an NPDBS permit, and which meats all tha other requirements
of 40 CPR S270.60(c) for a RCRA pernit-by-rule, to accept your
haxardoua waata*  Tha POTW could allow you to pipe the wastewater
atraaa directly into a sewer, pipe, or other similar conveyance
at tha point of generation, or to discharge the waate at the
POTW.  In the latter case, the hazardous waste must continue to
be manifested and tranaported according to tha RCRA requirements
of 40 CPR Part 262.

     Pinally, you ahould be aware of a new RCRA requirement (Section
3005(h)) mandated by the Raxardous and Solid Waste Amendments of
1984 requiring the owner or operator of an on-sita RCRA facility to

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fortify that ho hao • prograai 10 plaoo to roofeeo  tho *ol. .  • .  - +  -••*  " ** .•--» - •'.•-*'"
     If yoo hovo may, odditionol qoootlono oii  thooo  po
     o, pSoooo call  V*f»oy  fOMrloau at (202)  3t 2-4 MO.
                                  '  '   '               ~
                                   Votor Guorroro, Chiof
                                   Pormita Branch
cct  Art aiasor
     Bob Searborry  (WB-342B)
     Borst WitaehonkOf Kogion V

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